Riis Partners with ESTA to Bridge the Generational Gap

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY – Participants young and old are used to sharing space at Riis Settlement. The classrooms, gym, computer lab and cafeteria that make up the agency’s main facilities in the Queensbridge Houses host art classes, tutoring sessions, bingo, job readiness prep, exercise classes,  health and literacy workshops, meals, technology training, clubs, and community-wide special events.   However, rarely in the course of a day do participants from our Senior Services and our Youth Services meet in a common forum.

Thanks to a grant from the UJA Federation of New York and a partnership with the arts group Elders Share the Arts, Riis participants from different generations finally came together this winter to create an “intergenerational” quilt that would represent their experiences as a community.  The purpose of the project was to allow seniors and youth to learn from each other and gain a better understanding of their diverse experiences, while engaged in a fun, creative activity.

 Working under the skilled guidance of teaching artist Esperanza Cortes, the adults and youth dedicated eight weeks to hand-making the quilt, which is scheduled to be installed permanently in the lobby of the center. During their time together, the two groups swapped life stories and shared what living in the community meant to them. Participants in the project created their own patch to reflect individual values and experiences that have played a significant role in their lives.  

As the first program of its kind, the intergenerational quilt project garnered much enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the center, and the quilt’s unveiling was greatly anticipated by staff and participants alike. After eight sessions of hard work and many laughs, the quilt was finally presented to the Riis community on January 22nd during a short ceremony in which seniors, youth, staff members, and Cortes recounted their experience making the quilt.

“It really was an extraordinary event,” said Executive Director William Newlin. “And the quilt was beautiful!”

OurKids Program Coordinator Veronica Franklin and Senior Program Case Manager Kim Dudley were also in attendance and presented participants from their respective programs with certificates to commemorate their involvement in the groundbreaking project. Beaming like proud parents, both Franklin and Dudley expressed their delight with the outcome of the program and their gratitude for the work done by Cortes.

“Working with Elders Share the Arts was a great success, and it was a pleasure to work with Esperanza,” said Dudley.

After introductions were made, youth participants DeSean Franklin, Ny-Treasure Bartee and Kareem Williams described working with the older adults and explained what their respective quilt squares represented.

Articulating his feelings about the wiser generation at Riis, DeSean Franklin said simply, “I liked working with the seniors because they’re really funny.”

Other youth participants seemed to be in agreement that their longer-lived counterparts were the life of the party, both Bartee and Williams parroting the sentiments of their friend. The youth’s shyness about sharing more colorful highlights from the program extended into their descriptions of their quilt patches.

“I made flowers on mine because I think they’re beautiful, but I thought my patch was a little boring so I added more to it,” Bartee said, giving only a hint of the vibrant collage she created.

Senior participants also admitted that spending time with the kids was “a lot of fun,” and many of them expressed that they did not know what to expect going in to the project. Neverthless, some seniors saw the intergenerational adventure as an opportunity to connect with the younger generation.

“It’s really important to talk to and listen to the youth because they’re growing up in the neighborhood now and it’s not like it was when we were growing up,” one senior participant said.

In fact, unlike the youth participants, the adult half of the population was much more eager to explain what the project meant to them. Striding confidently to face their audience, Margaret Barnes, Marion Jeffries, Isalean McClary and Maude Askin exuded the articulate charm of experienced public speakers.

“Throughout my life dancing has been very important to me, and I always want to share my love of music and dance with others,” said Ms. Jeffries, who is the choreographer for the community-based dance group the Senior Shakers. Ms. Jeffries’ quilt square features a lone dancer at the heart of a musical ensemble.

And love was certainly in the room as the participants shared their stories, cheered one another and embraced. However, as the unveiling drew closer, the anticipation became palpable.

When the quilt was brought out, more cheers filled the cafeteria and a crowd-inspired drum roll set the stage as the quilt was finally unfurled to collective “ohs” and “ahs”.  Participants eagerly pointed out their patches and shared more hugs as the rest of the project participants were called to the front of the room.

The work of the youth ranged from depictions of various sports and monsters to flowers and butterflies. A common theme for the senior participants was peace and tranquility represented by water in their quilt patches. Several seniors described their love of swimming and relaxing near bodies of water. Similarly, the theme of love in the community struck a chord, particularly with the older adults.

Ms. McClary’s description of her heart-covered patch was warmly received by the participants and other guests in attendance.

 “Love is everything,” said Ms. McClary to a chorus of approval from her audience.