Forum Activity for @michael-marcus

Aging and Villages

ABCD and Aging

Hi Barbara, sorry about the delay in getting back to you.

I have been involved with Villages, as a funder, a consultant, a coach, and as a (friendly) critic.  I have not, personally, started a Village, but know many people who have. 

The Village movement is in a moment of evolution. Last Spring I spoke with the Board of the Village to Village Network about their plans for expansion and urged them to use ABCD as their guide. In the Fall, I spoke at one of the plenary sessions of the 2021 Village to Village Network conference with the same message. I also talked about (at the V to V Network Board's request about the foundation funding prospects for a Village.

If you'd like to continue this conversation in detail feel free to write to me at mmarcus@communityresources.guru.

I hope to speak with you soon, stay safe.  Michael 

ABCD and Grandparents

ABCD and Aging

Hi Shayne, you are welcome. 

By the way, I just reread what you quoted.  It is not 8% of the world's population, I meant 8% of the world's older adult population (over 65) has dementia (according to Alzheimer's Disease International, a WHO affiliated organization).  That said, it is still likely that almost everyone knows, or knows of, someone with dementia.  

ABCD and Grandparents

ABCD and Aging

About 8% of the world's older adult population (over 65) has dementia. This means that in every community there is likely to be someone you know, or know of, with dementia. That said, what would a dementia-friendly community look like?

updated by @michael-marcus: 05/13/21 11:18:02AM

Aging and Villages

ABCD and Aging

In the field of aging, Villages are a form of mutual support for older adults.  There are many variations on the theme, but the basic tenet is that people support each other to the best of their ability. Some Villages are entirely voluntary; others have staff. The concept is not unique to the US.  There are Village models in Israel known as Supportive Communities, there is a Dutch example, and another in Germany. There's a national organization of Villages in North America, the US, and Canada, known as the Village to Village Network here's a link https://www.vtvnetwork.org/.  

Aging and Villages

ABCD and Aging

Within the larger aging movement is a subset of services arranged as villages. Neighbor helping neighbor. Many of the villages are now looking for ways to be more relevant to their larger communities.  The answer is through asset-based practice.

ABCD and Grandparents

ABCD and Aging

This week we began working with Crop Corps, a Florida organization, focused on creating intergenerational healthy eating opportunities using local agriculture focused on Southern food to bring together older adults and kids.  Has anyone out there done work with Southern agriculture?

Rural Indigenous Communities

ABCD and Rural Communities

Hi Allison, thanks for responding.  Well, the real work now begins.  The project I have been working to build for the past three months has just had its first-year pilot funded.  We are working with three tribes in the Reno area helping to build intergenerational indigenous food gardens. The pilot garden will be on land within Washoe County but north of the City.  A small hoop house will be adjacent to the garden where seeds and seedlings will be produced for planting, a larger hoop house will be built on tribal land East of the City we hope within a year.  The gardens will have raised beds so people using wheelchairs can work in them. The groups working on the gardens will be intergenerational, children and elders. We are very excited about the gardens, the opportunity to support tribal elders passing down cultural knowledge and wisdom, and supporting healthy diets among everyone.  

ABCD and Grandparents

ABCD and Aging

Consultants for Community Resources is working with the Center for Healthy Aging and Generations United on a project which seeks to help intergenerational groups of Native people develop indigenous food gardens in Reno Nevada.  Watch this spot for more information.  

ABCD and Grandparents

ABCD and Aging

[quote="Stan Rowland"]

I would like to learn more by working with grandparents as a great grandparent. 

[/quote]

I am sorry to lose this thread, please forgive me. One of the best places to see, or find, information about grandparenting is at grandfamilies.org.  Or to go to Generations United, gu.org. Good luck!

Rural Indigenous Communities

ABCD and Rural Communities

I am wondering if people have had experience working with, or maybe a member of, a rural indigenous community and if you have used an ABCD approach.  Do you have some examples? Some stories?