Thursday, September 30, 2010
Photo of the Week: September 30, 2010
Executive Director Mary Gunn & New Deputy Director Helen Garrettson
Generations Incorporated would like to congratulate and welcome Helen Garrettson as our new Deputy Director. Helen has been with the organization for seven years.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Photo of the Week: September 23, 2010
The Rodman Ride for Kids Team Generations Incorporated
This Saturday 12 riders under team Generations Incorporated will participate in the Rodman Ride for Kids. They’ve currently raised $9,540, just $460 shy of their goal. It’s not too late to donate and show your support.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
National Falls Prevention Awareness Day 2010
Generations Incorporated volunteers participate in flexibility enhancing stretches as part of last winter’s falls prevention workshop.
For National Falls Prevention Day, we would like to recognize all of our Experience Corps members for the incredible work they are doing to improve student literacy. We also want to commend them for the actions that they are taking living a healthier lifestyle. This summer our walking group at Franklin Park was very active, and several new members joined us.. In Revere, another group of Experience Corps members met each week to walkl along Revere Beach, chatting and getting exercise simultaneously. Many of the older adults who serve at Generations Incorporated have informed us that they are utilizing local gyms to exercise regularly and improve their balance and strength, two key factors in preventing falls.
Our literacy programs are ready to start off a new year. We know that all of our volunteers will be up and about, making their way by bus, by car, by T, and even on foot to read with their students. The 2003 Washington University study on Experience Corps revealed that this activity leads older adult volunteers to use canes less and increase their physical activity in general.
When this day of recognition was created, the U.S. Senate called attention to a few statistics regarding falls amongst older adults, the fastest growing segment of our population; one in every three people age 65 and older falls each year and these falls are the leading cause of traumatic injury and hospital admission in this age group. With these facts in mind, we plan to bring our Experience Corps Members as much information as possible on how to prevent falls through exercise opportunities, guest speakers, and handing out fall prevention information. This is especially important as the leaves begin to fall and in the winter, when sidewalks are slippery.
Here are a few tips for preventing falls in and around the home:
- Check your vision: Poor vision can lead to dizziness and/ loss of balance. Get your vision checked at least twice a year to minimize problems.
- Stay Active: Regular exercise can help keep and maintain balance, flexibility, and strength.
- Secure Your Rugs: Make sure that all rugs are secured to the floor with anti-slip liners. Many falls happen when rugs slip out from under you.
- Reduce Clutter in your Home: Pick up all clutter, especially on the floor, that can restrict movement.
- Check the condition of walking surfaces for wet leaves, black ice, or uneven pavement
- Install grab bars in showers and bathtub surrounds.
On this National Falls Prevention Day, we are exceedingly proud of all of our volunteers and the efforts they are making to stay healthy, fit, and on their feet!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Photo of the Week: September 16, 2010
Program Associates Visit Cradles to Crayons
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Building Shared Responsibility
I come from a small town of about 1,800 people where everyone knows everyone else. Growing up in such a small town has taught me the importance of community involvement. We have a volunteer fire department and when a house in town burns down or someone in town gets gravely ill, the townspeople are there to help out – putting people up, raising money, pulling together. Generations Incorporated’s mission of uniting older adults and youth in partnership to strengthen individuals and communities espouses this same sense of shared responsibility, of pulling together to support one another. This is what drew me to serve at Generations Incorporated.
As one of 12 Program Associates serving at Generations Incorporated this year, I have the wonderful opportunity to serve in the field alongside our older adult volunteers. This past week we met the older adults serving as our site team leaders. Seeing them light up as they talked about helping their students and hearing how they talked about their service with such passion has truly inspired me. I will be serving at the Blackstone Elementary School and at St. Stephen’s after school program in the South End this year. I’m excited to explore the area and to get to know the community. I also look forward to serving with such committed and passionate people. Here’s to a great year!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
New Program Year, New Challenges
My short time at Generations Incorporated has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and experience that I feel will be valuable for the rest of my life. I am excited to know that I have an entire school year to continue to build on the personal and professional relationships that I have already made as well as make new connections with individuals from many walks of life.
As the incoming Program Evaluation and Training VISTA with Generations Incorporated, I was unsure of what to expect. Upon entering on site training, I learned quickly that I was going to have an extremely busy year, but I also learned that I would have the support of the extremely dedicated staff to utilize and guide me through my year of service.
Through my first month of service, I have been exposed to almost every facet of this great organization. I have been able to meet volunteers, prepare reports for principals at sites, and assist in building capacity for our field staff by creating tools and resources that they will use throughout the year. I have learned a great deal about the city of Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods as well as the communities that we serve.
One experience that stands out is my trip to a BPS back to school event at Fenway Park. This was an amazing and intimidating experience because I was actually getting to meet the parents and children that we would be serving. It was one of my first opportunities to represent Generations Incorporated in the field and I was nervous about speaking to parents, children, and other organizations about our program. I was unsure of how well I would be able to field questions about an organization that I had only been with for a month. At times, my inexperience showed, but I was accompanied by a Generations Incorporated staff member who was there to constantly show support, give feedback and build on my strengths while minimizing my weaknesses.
Thus far, my experiences with the people of Generations Incorporated have far surpassed my expectations. I have been given enough room to grow professionally and as an individual while understanding that my fellow AmeriCorps members and the Generations Incorporated staff are not only capable, but extremely willing to provide enough support to foster the development that I need to be successful. Overall, my hope is that through this year of service I will be able to change the lives of individuals that Generations Incorporated serves through my role within the organization while continuing to grow personally and professionally as a result.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Photo of the Week: September 9, 2010
New Generations Incorporated Program Associates Getting to Know the City
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Photo of the Week: September 2, 2010
New AmeriCorps State members have arrived!
