Sweetwood of Williamstown’s Executive Director, Taylor Conrow, and Director of Recreation, Janice Paquette, have observed how Sweetwood’s commitment to creating intergenerational connections has enlivened the community, sparked friendships between local students and residents, and improved residents’ wellbeing. Research highlights the value of intergenerational connections, and the sense of familiarity and fun that comes from getting to know someone of a different generation. Shared experiences and friendships between younger and older people engender empathy, develop new perspectives, and reduce ageism, and positively influence behavioral and physical health. At Sweetwood of Williamstown, Taylor, Janice, their colleagues, and residents experience this every day.
An admired national program, Generations United, recently issued a report, Making the Case for Intergenerational Programs, which underscores the value across every decade of intergenerational connections. Generations United demonstrates multiple benefits including a stronger sense of community and greater sense of purpose and life satisfaction.
Sweetwood named a certified University Retirement Community
Sweetwood of Williamstown has doubled down on building multigenerational programming and is pleased to be one of the top three most searched University Retirement Communities in the country.
With its range of multigenerational events, educational offerings, fitness, and cultural activities, Sweetwood of Williamstown attracts and engages a community of people who are drawn to life-long learning and community engagement.
Sweetwood offers classes, events, and partnerships with Williams College, Mass College of Liberal Arts, Berkshire Community College, Mount Greylock Regional School, The Clark Institute, Mass MOCA, Williams College Museum of Art, and a wide range of theatres, cultural institutions, libraries, youth groups, and more throughout the region.
Giving back: A multigenerational partnership with Williams College
Educational partnerships span all stages in life. Nearby Williams College’s Center for Learning in Action has been an active partner, generating undergraduate connections with Sweetwood residents. Many Williams College students are drawn to Sweetwood for projects that match their personal and professional interests, with the added benefit of making new friends who offer different perspectives.
In the fall and spring, Williamstown’s Great Day of Service draws students from Williams College and community members, including Sweetwood residents, to volunteer their time and energy throughout the town. Sweetwood is now a regular stop for community projects. For one project a handful of students came to Sweetwood sat side by side with residents updating and compiling resident biographies and hearing and sharing stories.
For another Great Day of Service project, a group of college students met with the Sweetwood resident volunteer librarian, Peter, and the Sweetwood library committee to help organize the extensive library at Sweetwood. The students soon learned that they were rubbing elbows with a former New York City librarian with more than 34 years of experience. With the Sweetwood community’s input, Peter now lovingly selects and organizes contemporary and classic fiction and non-fiction books located in a bright, centrally located library at Sweetwood. The Library Committee was delighted to swap favorite book selections with students, and very happy to have their help with a physically demanding project.
Music comes to life at Sweetwood with Williams College student partnerships
Music comes to life at Sweetwood with student partnerships. Undergraduate students at Williams College often perform at Sweetwood. After a concert series with Sweetwood residents, a precocious Williams College student, Michael, so enjoyed performing and getting to know residents, that he now volunteers regularly, playing his multiple instruments, and bringing along a friend and fellow student singer, Brielle.
As the Sweetwood Director of Recreation, Janice Paquette noted, Michael shares what he loves most: First, he enjoys performing music that his parents introduced him to (such as the Beatles, Neil Diamond, and Neil Young). Janice said, “Michael will introduce his performance by saying, “I heard this great piece of music, and maybe you know it?” – and of course everyone knows it!” He plays piano, guitar, harmonica and sings, while his friend Brielle also enchants with her beautiful voice. Janice smiled as she noted, “If he doesn’t bring his harmonica, residents make a request. He has a big fan club.”
Beyond music, Michael and Brielle are both Williams College swimmers. They were delighted to meet Sweetwood resident and legendary “Coach Sam,” the long-time, beloved former Williams College Swim Coach. Coach Sam couldn’t be happier than when he hears that the Swimming Musicians (as he calls them) will be performing at Sweetwood.
These students keep coming back because of the friendships they’ve made at Sweetwood. A student academic capstone project was the catalyst. The capstone project introduced Michael and multiple public health students and musicians to Sweetwood. The students get hooked.
One Williams College capstone project provided an opportunity for students to conduct research at Sweetwood. Three public health students designed a project to evaluate the impact of music on the mental health of older adults. The students organized student musical concerts at Sweetwood and conducted a survey before and after a month of the student concerts to measure people’s stress levels.
The students learned from their survey tools that musical performances had a positive impact on mental health. But moreover, they learned that the responses did not begin to capture the unexpected joy resulting from the relationships that developed between residents and students from those gatherings.
The real nourishment of each afternoon happened over Sweetwood’s Chef Bill’s platters of cookies and refreshments. Conversations continued long after the music stopped. One resident, a former faculty member at Williams College, shared stories of anthropology expeditions; the students were enraptured. The lead student researcher was also overjoyed to meet Coach Sam and enjoyed swapping swim meet highlights.
Getting to know your neighbors: Mount Greylock and Sweetwood friendships
On a warm spring afternoon, neighboring Mount Greylock Regional School middle school and high school students may be walking the trails through the woods for a health and wellness class at Sweetwood, or for a lunchtime conversation with residents.
One student, whose art was highlighted at the esteemed MASS MoCA, a contemporary art museum located in nearby North Adams, had a wonderful idea after she visited Sweetwood. She saw the inviting gallery space at Sweetwood and volunteered to be the “art scout” to scope out and recruit student art for future gallery shows.
What a win-win, with students eager to build their art portfolios able to showcase their work in a bright gallery space with unparalleled views of Mount Greylock, and for residents and the community to enjoy talented students’ artwork.
Another group of students sought out residents for a different purpose: Eight members of the Mount Greylock Regional School Student Council and seven members of the Sweetwood Resident Council are meeting together. The students initiated this interaction with Sweetwood, wanting to gain leadership and meeting skills from the more experienced residents. The learning was bi-directional! After a discussion of the Student Council Bylaws, the students inspired the Sweetwood Resident Council to update and clarify their Resident Council Bylaws. The two governance groups will soon meet again. This is an example initiated by students, of a collaboration that has gained momentum because of mutual enjoyment and benefit.
In another example, Mount Greylock Regional school, student journalists started a column in their newsletter, Mount Greylock Tales, featuring profiles of their neighbors at Sweetwood. A recent issue featured Mike, a former engineer, and an accomplished musician who wows the students and admirers of all ages with his extensive repertoire. His performance, “50 Years in 60 Minutes” is an audience favorite.
Elementary students share letters, poetry, and art with Sweetwood friends
What do you get when you start a pen pal project between people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s and students who are in second and fifth grade? A lot more than the pen pals imagined when they wrote their first letters. What started as an exercise in letter writing initiated by the head of school at the local Pine Cobble School led to continuing correspondence featuring student creativity. Letters included elaborate pop-up cards and self-portraits. What started as a school exercise has evolved. The students enjoy their writing exchange so much that they want to meet their pen pals.
Valentine’s Day will be extra sweet when the students visit Sweetwood for a meet-and-greet cookie social with their Sweetwood pen pals. The students and residents are imagining an exhibit of some of their letters. Cursive is a curiosity for this next generation of letter writers, raised on printing, and the smooth looping cursive remains a beguiling art form to the young students.
Another collaboration with Pine Cobble school resulted in a display of imaginative Haikus from poets aged five to 85. The entire school, from kindergarten through eighth grade, wrote Haikus, displaying them along with Sweetwood residents’ contributions for enjoyment by family and community members, alike.
For a program at Williamstown Elementary School’s Adventure in Learning Program, a group met for a multigenerational partnership. What resulted was a shared experience created by a Sweetwood resident, a Williams College student, the Sweetwood Director of Recreation, and a Williamstown Elementary School teacher. The Williams College student and Sweetwood resident, also a docent at The Clark Institute, co-taught an art class for 4th,5th, and 6th graders. The vibrant discussions of artwork from The Clark Institute brought to life a range of styles, featuring student favorites: animals, people, and landscapes. Most importantly, for Mary, a former teacher, school principal, and now art docent who co-organized the class with the Williams College student, it was an opportunity to enjoy being back in the classroom. Everyone involved is delighted to continue the multigenerational Adventures in Learning collaboration. Plans are underway to co-design another class.
Building multigenerational community is the foundation of a positive experience
The sense of community created by multigenerational interactions spreads across the entire community, including Sweetwood’s leadership and frontline employees.
Sweetwood’s Director of Recreation, Janice, noted how wonderful it is to walk across the Williams College campus and bump into students whom she knows through shared programs. Janice underscores: “Multigenerational options engage residents in new ways.”
Janice constantly seeks community partnerships to create options for residents, “I’m all about opportunity,” she says. “One person may say, “I have no interest in going to Happy Hour or watching an Opera, but I love to write poetry.””
The Sweetwood leadership team sees endless opportunities to bring people together and generate meaningful relationships. They emphasize that momentum is built from intentional connections between students, residents, faculty, and community partners of all ages. They know the value of building strong relationships and remaining flexible. Sweetwood of Williamstown’s Executive Director could not be more proud of her team’s and the residents’ ingenuity and commitment to learning and collaborating. The entire community can’t wait to see what’s next.
Guest contributor, Anne E. Doyle, CEO, Spark Living and Learning, LLC