how many of you are 50 years old and older all right how many of you are
older all right how many of you are
older all right how many of you are under 50 years old okay good job you got
under 50 years old okay good job you got
under 50 years old okay good job you got it all right so those of you who are 50
it all right so those of you who are 50
it all right so those of you who are 50 and older outside of your family how
and older outside of your family how
and older outside of your family how many of you spend time with people under
many of you spend time with people under
many of you spend time with people under 50 years old okay look around at each
50 years old okay look around at each
50 years old okay look around at each other that’s important later all right
other that’s important later all right
other that’s important later all right and how many of you under 50s spend time
and how many of you under 50s spend time
and how many of you under 50s spend time with people outside of your family who
with people outside of your family who
with people outside of your family who are over 50 oh look at you guys we are
are over 50 oh look at you guys we are
are over 50 oh look at you guys we are isolated and if we continue to live this
isolated and if we continue to live this
isolated and if we continue to live this way our lives will not be fulfilled or
way our lives will not be fulfilled or
way our lives will not be fulfilled or enriched and we will shorten our lives
it’s a sunny summer day and a
it’s a sunny summer day and a ten-year-old little girl is so excited
ten-year-old little girl is so excited
ten-year-old little girl is so excited she’s just spent the night at her
she’s just spent the night at her
she’s just spent the night at her grandma’s house and they’re going to go
grandma’s house and they’re going to go
grandma’s house and they’re going to go make pierogi all day long with grandma’s
make pierogi all day long with grandma’s
make pierogi all day long with grandma’s friends at church pierogi are these tiny
friends at church pierogi are these tiny
friends at church pierogi are these tiny little dumplings full of just great
little dumplings full of just great
little dumplings full of just great stuff like mashed potatoes and
stuff like mashed potatoes and
stuff like mashed potatoes and sauerkraut and all kinds of other
sauerkraut and all kinds of other
sauerkraut and all kinds of other fillings but mashed potatoes is this
fillings but mashed potatoes is this
fillings but mashed potatoes is this little ones really favorite kind they go
little ones really favorite kind they go
little ones really favorite kind they go on to the church and when the child
on to the church and when the child
on to the church and when the child arrives at the church she’s overwhelmed
arrives at the church she’s overwhelmed
arrives at the church she’s overwhelmed by all of this love of by her grandma’s
by all of this love of by her grandma’s
by all of this love of by her grandma’s friends they’re hugging on her and
friends they’re hugging on her and
friends they’re hugging on her and they’re kissing her and they’re punching
they’re kissing her and they’re punching
they’re kissing her and they’re punching her cheeks and she feels so loved they
her cheeks and she feels so loved they
her cheeks and she feels so loved they assure her off to the packaging pierogi
assure her off to the packaging pierogi
assure her off to the packaging pierogi packaging station because it’s probably
packaging station because it’s probably
packaging station because it’s probably where she’s not gonna make a lot of
where she’s not gonna make a lot of
where she’s not gonna make a lot of problems and she’s hearing the Polish
problems and she’s hearing the Polish
problems and she’s hearing the Polish and the English languages mingle
and the English languages mingle
and the English languages mingle together and she’s listening to the
together and she’s listening to the
together and she’s listening to the sound of the water boil and she smells
sound of the water boil and she smells
sound of the water boil and she smells butter and onions frying is there
butter and onions frying is there
butter and onions frying is there anything better than that these women
anything better than that these women
anything better than that these women then go through with this young lady all
then go through with this young lady all
then go through with this young lady all through her life they are there when
through her life they are there when
through her life they are there when she’s one of the first granddaughters to
she’s one of the first granddaughters to
she’s one of the first granddaughters to grad
grad
grad from high school in college they are
from high school in college they are
from high school in college they are there at her wedding shower and she even
there at her wedding shower and she even
there at her wedding shower and she even lets them sing polish songs at her
lets them sing polish songs at her
lets them sing polish songs at her wedding and they’re really bad singers
wedding and they’re really bad singers
wedding and they’re really bad singers it’s how much she loved them I
understand this deeply because I was
understand this deeply because I was that 10 year old little girl and these
that 10 year old little girl and these
that 10 year old little girl and these women created such a powerful safety net
women created such a powerful safety net
women created such a powerful safety net under me that I went on to be the only
under me that I went on to be the only
under me that I went on to be the only granddaughter to earn a PhD safety nets
granddaughter to earn a PhD safety nets
granddaughter to earn a PhD safety nets are what support us when we’re
are what support us when we’re
are what support us when we’re struggling they help us to propel us
struggling they help us to propel us
struggling they help us to propel us when we’re succeeding and we all need
when we’re succeeding and we all need
when we’re succeeding and we all need safety nuts and they need to be made in
safety nuts and they need to be made in
safety nuts and they need to be made in an intergenerational way when we unite
an intergenerational way when we unite
an intergenerational way when we unite the generations we build incredibly
the generations we build incredibly
the generations we build incredibly strong safety nets you may not think you
strong safety nets you may not think you
strong safety nets you may not think you need a safety net but I’m here to
need a safety net but I’m here to
need a safety net but I’m here to challenge you that you do and I’m also
challenge you that you do and I’m also
challenge you that you do and I’m also going to hear to challenge you that it
going to hear to challenge you that it
going to hear to challenge you that it needs to be more than just the people
needs to be more than just the people
needs to be more than just the people who are your same age because it needs
who are your same age because it needs
who are your same age because it needs to be deeper and stronger and wider so
to be deeper and stronger and wider so
to be deeper and stronger and wider so it has like titanium made out of it so
it has like titanium made out of it so
it has like titanium made out of it so you have the wisdom of your elders and
you have the wisdom of your elders and
you have the wisdom of your elders and the joy and the perspective of youth it
the joy and the perspective of youth it
the joy and the perspective of youth it used to be we lived that way I’m sure
used to be we lived that way I’m sure
used to be we lived that way I’m sure many of you remember that we used to go
many of you remember that we used to go
many of you remember that we used to go to school all in one schoolhouse we used
to school all in one schoolhouse we used
to school all in one schoolhouse we used to have intergenerational neighborhoods
to have intergenerational neighborhoods
to have intergenerational neighborhoods and houses it was normal and now it’s
and houses it was normal and now it’s
and houses it was normal and now it’s kind of like this coal idea that we’re
kind of like this coal idea that we’re
kind of like this coal idea that we’re doing which I’m really excited about and
doing which I’m really excited about and
doing which I’m really excited about and I’m sure that some of you in this room
I’m sure that some of you in this room
I’m sure that some of you in this room had this experience you’re getting into
had this experience you’re getting into
had this experience you’re getting into a little mischief in my neighborhood and
a little mischief in my neighborhood and
a little mischief in my neighborhood and somebody’s grandma says what are you
somebody’s grandma says what are you
somebody’s grandma says what are you doing
doing
doing does your mother know what you’re doing
does your mother know what you’re doing
does your mother know what you’re doing get back home right well what happened
get back home right well what happened
get back home right well what happened how is it that we got separated from
how is it that we got separated from
how is it that we got separated from each other we created social programs
each other we created social programs
each other we created social programs here’s a few of the reasons we created
here’s a few of the reasons we created
here’s a few of the reasons we created social programs where we divided people
social programs where we divided people
social programs where we divided people by their ages we put little ones
by their ages we put little ones
by their ages we put little ones in little programs and little bee
in little programs and little bee
in little programs and little bee programs and we put elders in their own
programs and we put elders in their own
programs and we put elders in their own programs wouldn’t it be really nice if
programs wouldn’t it be really nice if
programs wouldn’t it be really nice if there was an elder reading to those
there was an elder reading to those
there was an elder reading to those children and would it be fun if the kids
children and would it be fun if the kids
children and would it be fun if the kids were playing in the pool
were playing in the pool
were playing in the pool okay maybe for just a little while it
okay maybe for just a little while it
okay maybe for just a little while it might not be totally fun for those
might not be totally fun for those
might not be totally fun for those elders but the point is wouldn’t it be
elders but the point is wouldn’t it be
elders but the point is wouldn’t it be better if they were together and we were
better if they were together and we were
better if they were together and we were serving two populations with one idea
serving two populations with one idea
serving two populations with one idea look how much more economical and
look how much more economical and
look how much more economical and efficient and effective this would be
efficient and effective this would be
efficient and effective this would be what else took us away
what else took us away
what else took us away well planes trains and cars took us away
well planes trains and cars took us away
well planes trains and cars took us away from our families and our fabrics of our
from our families and our fabrics of our
from our families and our fabrics of our communities we moved all around the
communities we moved all around the
communities we moved all around the world we also built 55 and older
world we also built 55 and older
world we also built 55 and older communities and assisted living centers
communities and assisted living centers
communities and assisted living centers that also divided us and then you just
that also divided us and then you just
that also divided us and then you just lay around technology and we are
lay around technology and we are
lay around technology and we are completely isolated from one another
here’s what we lose when we are not
here’s what we lose when we are not united as the generations we lose
united as the generations we lose
united as the generations we lose respect for all ages how many of you
respect for all ages how many of you
respect for all ages how many of you hear these funny things ah they’re not
hear these funny things ah they’re not
hear these funny things ah they’re not so funny how do you hear these all those
so funny how do you hear these all those
so funny how do you hear these all those old people they don’t know how to do
old people they don’t know how to do
old people they don’t know how to do technology oh or you say this I know I
technology oh or you say this I know I
technology oh or you say this I know I say this where’s my teenager fix my
say this where’s my teenager fix my
say this where’s my teenager fix my phone I don’t know what I’m doing also
phone I don’t know what I’m doing also
phone I don’t know what I’m doing also we lose political solidarity think about
we lose political solidarity think about
we lose political solidarity think about it if the young and the elder were
it if the young and the elder were
it if the young and the elder were combined in strength with political
combined in strength with political
combined in strength with political solidarity how amazing would our country
solidarity how amazing would our country
solidarity how amazing would our country be instead this is what we do we take
be instead this is what we do we take
be instead this is what we do we take our priorities and we start having them
our priorities and we start having them
our priorities and we start having them be competitive should we invest in
be competitive should we invest in
be competitive should we invest in Social Security or should we invest in
Social Security or should we invest in
Social Security or should we invest in early childhood education it’s an and
early childhood education it’s an and
early childhood education it’s an and conversation everybody it is not or it
conversation everybody it is not or it
conversation everybody it is not or it is not as though one population is
is not as though one population is
is not as though one population is better than the other they’re both
better than the other they’re both
better than the other they’re both valuable and treasured in our world and
valuable and treasured in our world and
valuable and treasured in our world and they both it needs to be an and
they both it needs to be an and
they both it needs to be an and conversation we lose the transfer of
conversation we lose the transfer of
conversation we lose the transfer of nine
nine
nine Lynch and life experience how nice is it
Lynch and life experience how nice is it
Lynch and life experience how nice is it for somebody in their 30s to hear
for somebody in their 30s to hear
for somebody in their 30s to hear somebody in their 80s go oh yeah honey
somebody in their 80s go oh yeah honey
somebody in their 80s go oh yeah honey been there done that don’t make that
been there done that don’t make that
been there done that don’t make that mistake I’m here to help you out with
mistake I’m here to help you out with
mistake I’m here to help you out with that how nice is it for the children
that how nice is it for the children
that how nice is it for the children with their joyfulness about a new
with their joyfulness about a new
with their joyfulness about a new experience inspire us who have might
experience inspire us who have might
experience inspire us who have might have got been a little jaded and we lose
have got been a little jaded and we lose
have got been a little jaded and we lose our safety and our stability because we
our safety and our stability because we
our safety and our stability because we are ripping that social that safety net
are ripping that social that safety net
are ripping that social that safety net apart here’s what living in isolation
apart here’s what living in isolation
apart here’s what living in isolation does to your health we are more at risk
does to your health we are more at risk
does to your health we are more at risk for cardiac problems it’s a long list so
for cardiac problems it’s a long list so
for cardiac problems it’s a long list so get comfy huh cardiac problems cognitive
get comfy huh cardiac problems cognitive
get comfy huh cardiac problems cognitive decline we are live excuse me we are at
decline we are live excuse me we are at
decline we are live excuse me we are at risk for losing our sense of belonging
risk for losing our sense of belonging
risk for losing our sense of belonging when we are living in isolation this is
when we are living in isolation this is
when we are living in isolation this is what some medical folks have said that
what some medical folks have said that
what some medical folks have said that it’s like smoking 15 cigarettes a day or
it’s like smoking 15 cigarettes a day or
it’s like smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being obese and when children live in
being obese and when children live in
being obese and when children live in isolation 20 years later they have
isolation 20 years later they have
isolation 20 years later they have terrible health consequences the US
terrible health consequences the US
terrible health consequences the US Surgeon General is so concerned about
Surgeon General is so concerned about
Surgeon General is so concerned about this he has made it a public epidemic we
this he has made it a public epidemic we
this he has made it a public epidemic we have got to stop living isolated let’s
have got to stop living isolated let’s
have got to stop living isolated let’s talk about a problem that
talk about a problem that
talk about a problem that intergenerational living could solve how
intergenerational living could solve how
intergenerational living could solve how about foster care 25,000 kids a year
about foster care 25,000 kids a year
about foster care 25,000 kids a year leave foster care without a family that
leave foster care without a family that
leave foster care without a family that means they have nothing they’re 18 years
means they have nothing they’re 18 years
means they have nothing they’re 18 years old they have no family
old they have no family
old they have no family they have no guidance they have no
they have no guidance they have no
they have no guidance they have no housing they have nothing now I want you
housing they have nothing now I want you
housing they have nothing now I want you to think about yourselves at 18 years
to think about yourselves at 18 years
to think about yourselves at 18 years old without a safety net
old without a safety net
old without a safety net could you do it let’s what talk about
could you do it let’s what talk about
could you do it let’s what talk about what this costs our country it costs
what this costs our country it costs
what this costs our country it costs $300,000 per kid but what’s the bigger
$300,000 per kid but what’s the bigger
$300,000 per kid but what’s the bigger loss the bigger losses they’re gifts
loss the bigger losses they’re gifts
loss the bigger losses they’re gifts that they could give to us they’re gems
that they could give to us they’re gems
that they could give to us they’re gems of wisdom their gifts their talents
of wisdom their gifts their talents
of wisdom their gifts their talents their experiences that we could all
their experiences that we could all
their experiences that we could all learn from they end up unemployed and
learn from they end up unemployed and
learn from they end up unemployed and uneducated
uneducated
uneducated and in poverty and that’s just
and in poverty and that’s just
and in poverty and that’s just unconscionable everybody so wouldn’t it
unconscionable everybody so wouldn’t it
unconscionable everybody so wouldn’t it be nice if there was a place that had
be nice if there was a place that had
be nice if there was a place that had the open arms of elders to welcome these
the open arms of elders to welcome these
the open arms of elders to welcome these children home there is and it’s called
children home there is and it’s called
children home there is and it’s called bridge Meadows bridge Meadows
bridge Meadows bridge Meadows
bridge Meadows bridge Meadows communities our three generation
communities our three generation
communities our three generation neighborhoods that help children from
neighborhoods that help children from
neighborhoods that help children from the foster care system find their
the foster care system find their
the foster care system find their forever families in these communities
forever families in these communities
forever families in these communities children have the love of family they
children have the love of family they
children have the love of family they have the beautiful housing and they have
have the beautiful housing and they have
have the beautiful housing and they have elders who care about them and do that
elders who care about them and do that
elders who care about them and do that whole does your mother know what you’re
whole does your mother know what you’re
whole does your mother know what you’re doing thing that we all benefit from it
doing thing that we all benefit from it
doing thing that we all benefit from it is one gigantic safety net let me give
is one gigantic safety net let me give
is one gigantic safety net let me give you a story in this intergenerational
you a story in this intergenerational
you a story in this intergenerational community this is how it works
community this is how it works
community this is how it works imagine you’re in your 60s and for some
imagine you’re in your 60s and for some
imagine you’re in your 60s and for some of you you’re 60 so you’ll that’ll be an
of you you’re 60 so you’ll that’ll be an
of you you’re 60 so you’ll that’ll be an easy imagination for you you are you get
easy imagination for you you are you get
easy imagination for you you are you get a call
a call
a call hello Ms Teddy I’m so sorry to bother
hello Ms Teddy I’m so sorry to bother
hello Ms Teddy I’m so sorry to bother you but this is the child welfare office
you but this is the child welfare office
you but this is the child welfare office in Portland Oregon and your
in Portland Oregon and your
in Portland Oregon and your grandchildren are in foster care because
grandchildren are in foster care because
grandchildren are in foster care because something really tragic happened with
something really tragic happened with
something really tragic happened with their parents and for them could you
their parents and for them could you
their parents and for them could you please be there forever family there’s
please be there forever family there’s
please be there forever family there’s only one answer of course you pack up
only one answer of course you pack up
only one answer of course you pack up everything you leave your life and you
everything you leave your life and you
everything you leave your life and you come to a city you’ve never been to and
come to a city you’ve never been to and
come to a city you’ve never been to and in that city you don’t know anybody the
in that city you don’t know anybody the
in that city you don’t know anybody the kids have problems they’re traumatized
kids have problems they’re traumatized
kids have problems they’re traumatized you they have school problems and you
you they have school problems and you
you they have school problems and you don’t know where to live and somebody
don’t know where to live and somebody
don’t know where to live and somebody says to you have you heard about bridge
says to you have you heard about bridge
says to you have you heard about bridge meadows you show up and what happens is
meadows you show up and what happens is
meadows you show up and what happens is you get beautiful housing but more
you get beautiful housing but more
you get beautiful housing but more importantly you get an entire community
importantly you get an entire community
importantly you get an entire community wrapped around you caring about you and
wrapped around you caring about you and
wrapped around you caring about you and loving on you how nice would that be as
loving on you how nice would that be as
loving on you how nice would that be as a family to have that incredible safety
a family to have that incredible safety
a family to have that incredible safety net we need to bring the generations
net we need to bring the generations
net we need to bring the generations together our culture and society don’t
together our culture and society don’t
together our culture and society don’t want us to be together and I’m asking
want us to be together and I’m asking
want us to be together and I’m asking you to fight and resist that tendency to
you to fight and resist that tendency to
you to fight and resist that tendency to be separated and isolated from each
be separated and isolated from each
be separated and isolated from each other we can do this I will
other we can do this I will
other we can do this I will even us okay but I just want you to know
even us okay but I just want you to know
even us okay but I just want you to know I’m not asking you to be the executive
I’m not asking you to be the executive
I’m not asking you to be the executive director of a non-profit and I’m
director of a non-profit and I’m
director of a non-profit and I’m certainly not asking you to go back home
certainly not asking you to go back home
certainly not asking you to go back home and live with your parents that’s the
and live with your parents that’s the
and live with your parents that’s the look of parents what I’m going to ask
look of parents what I’m going to ask
look of parents what I’m going to ask you to do is I’m going to ask you to
you to do is I’m going to ask you to
you to do is I’m going to ask you to spend time in your front yard not your
spend time in your front yard not your
spend time in your front yard not your back yard I’m gonna ask you to smile at
back yard I’m gonna ask you to smile at
back yard I’m gonna ask you to smile at somebody older or younger than you I’m
somebody older or younger than you I’m
somebody older or younger than you I’m gonna ask you to start a conversation
gonna ask you to start a conversation
gonna ask you to start a conversation with somebody you saw in this auditorium
with somebody you saw in this auditorium
with somebody you saw in this auditorium that was in the other age group than you
that was in the other age group than you
that was in the other age group than you see that’s where that came back in I
see that’s where that came back in I
see that’s where that came back in I want you to volunteer as a mentor to a
want you to volunteer as a mentor to a
want you to volunteer as a mentor to a young person because it only takes one
young person because it only takes one
young person because it only takes one person to make a difference in a child’s
person to make a difference in a child’s
person to make a difference in a child’s life there is research that proves that
life there is research that proves that
life there is research that proves that I want you to throw a party that
I want you to throw a party that
I want you to throw a party that includes babies and 80 year olds
includes babies and 80 year olds
includes babies and 80 year olds I want you to interview your
I want you to interview your
I want you to interview your grandparents and when you do ask them
grandparents and when you do ask them
grandparents and when you do ask them what was their life like when they were
what was their life like when they were
what was their life like when they were your age and grandparents I want you to
your age and grandparents I want you to
your age and grandparents I want you to ask your grandchildren what they think
ask your grandchildren what they think
ask your grandchildren what they think their life will be when they’re your age
their life will be when they’re your age
their life will be when they’re your age share a meal with a neighbor maybe some
share a meal with a neighbor maybe some
share a meal with a neighbor maybe some pierogies I’m asking you to come
pierogies I’m asking you to come
pierogies I’m asking you to come together to bridge the generations to do
together to bridge the generations to do
together to bridge the generations to do what we are wired to do which is to be
what we are wired to do which is to be
what we are wired to do which is to be connected we can do this and when we do
connected we can do this and when we do
connected we can do this and when we do this because I believe we will we will
this because I believe we will we will
this because I believe we will we will live fulfilled and enriched lives and we
live fulfilled and enriched lives and we
live fulfilled and enriched lives and we will live longer lives
will live longer lives
will live longer lives I’m a pierogi and help and lead bridge
I’m a pierogi and help and lead bridge
I’m a pierogi and help and lead bridge Meadows what are you gonna do
Meadows what are you gonna do
Meadows what are you gonna do [Applause]
”
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