With the generous support of The Eisner Foundation, KYCC has been integrating intergenerational strategies into our services to connect community members across the age spectrum since 2017. The Eisner Foundation identifies, advocates for, and invests in high-quality and innovative programs that unite multiple generations. The Eisner Foundation awards an estimated $7 million per year to nonprofit organizations based in Los Angeles County.
Currently, KYCC’s Koreatown Storytelling Program, an intergenerational, multilingual and multiethnic oral history and digital media program funded by the Eisner Foundation, teaches ethnographic and storytelling techniques to high school students and elders to investigate cultural practices and racial, economic and health inequities in our community. The program promotes greater understanding and respect between generations and documents marginalized narratives for preservation in public archives while also cultivating wellness outcomes for all participants.
KYCC strives to unite multiple generations to improve the quality of life for our community. Whether that means recruiting older adult volunteers to mentor our youth, or integrating our parent leaders into our after-school programs, our goal is always about genuine connections and mutual growth. The recent pandemic has shown how important this work is, as psychologists worry that the coronavirus pandemic is triggering a loneliness epidemic, with teens and older adults reporting highest levels of loneliness.
“These organizations are bringing together different generations in creative ways – something our society desperately needs as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Trent Stamp, CEO of The Eisner Foundation. “We’re grateful to these partners for their dedication to building generational trust, creating opportunity, and making Los Angeles stronger.”
Now more than ever, intergenerational programming efforts are integral to keeping our community members connected and supported. This year, we’re pleased to announce that The Eisner Foundation has generously awarded KYCC a two-year grant to continue our intergenerational initiative, which includes our ongoing Koreatown Storytelling Program and our new intergenerational approach to mental health services. A special thanks to The Eisner Foundation for supporting KYCC’s continued efforts to connect people from across the generational spectrum.
