it’s kind of surreal to be back up on this stage had you told me that the last
this stage had you told me that the last
this stage had you told me that the last time I was up on the stage that in just
time I was up on the stage that in just
time I was up on the stage that in just two years I’d be living next to a
two years I’d be living next to a
two years I’d be living next to a hundred and two-year-old woman who still
hundred and two-year-old woman who still
hundred and two-year-old woman who still makes her own vodka I would have never
makes her own vodka I would have never
makes her own vodka I would have never believed you ever I mean honestly I
believed you ever I mean honestly I
believed you ever I mean honestly I would have been really jealous of that
would have been really jealous of that
would have been really jealous of that premonition and I’ve always had a really
premonition and I’ve always had a really
premonition and I’ve always had a really special taste in my heart for the
special taste in my heart for the
special taste in my heart for the elderly population but again
elderly population but again
elderly population but again I wouldn’t have believed doing the
I wouldn’t have believed doing the
I wouldn’t have believed doing the slightest but that is exactly what one
slightest but that is exactly what one
slightest but that is exactly what one facet of my life looks like right now as
facet of my life looks like right now as
facet of my life looks like right now as the artists and residents at Milwaukee
the artists and residents at Milwaukee
the artists and residents at Milwaukee Catholic home which is a retirement
Catholic home which is a retirement
Catholic home which is a retirement community and health care facility for
community and health care facility for
community and health care facility for the elderly population on the east side
the elderly population on the east side
the elderly population on the east side of Milwaukee and though I’m the youngest
of Milwaukee and though I’m the youngest
of Milwaukee and though I’m the youngest resident by about sixty years it’s
resident by about sixty years it’s
resident by about sixty years it’s absolutely phenomenal I love it and so
absolutely phenomenal I love it and so
absolutely phenomenal I love it and so in exchange for programming based around
in exchange for programming based around
in exchange for programming based around the arts I received free housing
the arts I received free housing
the arts I received free housing professional development and by far my
professional development and by far my
professional development and by far my favorite part and never-ending series of
favorite part and never-ending series of
favorite part and never-ending series of challenging and lightining conversations
challenging and lightining conversations
challenging and lightining conversations and countless bouts of laughter and this
and countless bouts of laughter and this
and countless bouts of laughter and this all began with a conversation that I
all began with a conversation that I
all began with a conversation that I actually wasn’t even a part of but I’m
actually wasn’t even a part of but I’m
actually wasn’t even a part of but I’m so glad that I stepped into that
so glad that I stepped into that
so glad that I stepped into that conversation and really challenged
conversation and really challenged
conversation and really challenged myself in this role and I was catapulted
myself in this role and I was catapulted
myself in this role and I was catapulted into it
into it
into it and the thing is is that everything that
and the thing is is that everything that
and the thing is is that everything that I do is in efforts of something much
I do is in efforts of something much
I do is in efforts of something much bigger than myself
bigger than myself
bigger than myself everything I do surrounds combating
everything I do surrounds combating
everything I do surrounds combating stigma that surrounds the elderly
stigma that surrounds the elderly
stigma that surrounds the elderly population as well as social isolation
population as well as social isolation
population as well as social isolation and feelings of loneliness that also
and feelings of loneliness that also
and feelings of loneliness that also greatly plagues it too and so what I
greatly plagues it too and so what I
greatly plagues it too and so what I mean by social isolation and feelings of
mean by social isolation and feelings of
mean by social isolation and feelings of loneliness is that it’s not necessarily
loneliness is that it’s not necessarily
loneliness is that it’s not necessarily a sickness it’s not something that
a sickness it’s not something that
a sickness it’s not something that something to be prescribed for it’s not
something to be prescribed for it’s not
something to be prescribed for it’s not there’s no physical symptoms there’s no
there’s no physical symptoms there’s no
there’s no physical symptoms there’s no way to really kind of cure it that you
way to really kind of cure it that you
way to really kind of cure it that you can just give them medication yet after
can just give them medication yet after
can just give them medication yet after a while it starts to take a toll and
a while it starts to take a toll and
a while it starts to take a toll and those
those
those that have those feelings of social
that have those feelings of social
that have those feelings of social isolation and lonliness are more prone
isolation and lonliness are more prone
isolation and lonliness are more prone to long-term diseases especially
to long-term diseases especially
to long-term diseases especially Alzheimer’s and other dementias and so
Alzheimer’s and other dementias and so
Alzheimer’s and other dementias and so you know how do we combat this thing
you know how do we combat this thing
you know how do we combat this thing that we can’t give a prescription and
that we can’t give a prescription and
that we can’t give a prescription and it’s not as easy just to say yeah come
it’s not as easy just to say yeah come
it’s not as easy just to say yeah come to my program it’s going to be great
to my program it’s going to be great
to my program it’s going to be great so varenna medic who was a professor at
so varenna medic who was a professor at
so varenna medic who was a professor at McMaster University says that research
McMaster University says that research
McMaster University says that research on interventions for social isolation
on interventions for social isolation
on interventions for social isolation and loneliness are inconsistent and
and loneliness are inconsistent and
and loneliness are inconsistent and inconclusive and that’s really not
inconclusive and that’s really not
inconclusive and that’s really not surprising at all considering the fact
surprising at all considering the fact
surprising at all considering the fact that every single person has lived a
that every single person has lived a
that every single person has lived a very unique and different life so
very unique and different life so
very unique and different life so therefore we must engage them uniquely
therefore we must engage them uniquely
therefore we must engage them uniquely and differently right but I’ve through
and differently right but I’ve through
and differently right but I’ve through my program have found a kind of
my program have found a kind of
my program have found a kind of commonality that everyone kind of
commonality that everyone kind of
commonality that everyone kind of gravitates towards whether they’re 5 or
gravitates towards whether they’re 5 or
gravitates towards whether they’re 5 or 25 or 105 and that’s the arts and so
25 or 105 and that’s the arts and so
25 or 105 and that’s the arts and so when I started as artisan residents I
when I started as artisan residents I
when I started as artisan residents I was really kind of scared really kind of
was really kind of scared really kind of
was really kind of scared really kind of terrified because I was about to be
terrified because I was about to be
terrified because I was about to be living with people that were at least 60
living with people that were at least 60
living with people that were at least 60 years older than me who had seen life
years older than me who had seen life
years older than me who had seen life who had had all these challenges and
who had had all these challenges and
who had had all these challenges and Here I am 23 years old and I like fresh
Here I am 23 years old and I like fresh
Here I am 23 years old and I like fresh out of the gate how do I engage with
out of the gate how do I engage with
out of the gate how do I engage with them and you know what everything
them and you know what everything
them and you know what everything started to melt away when they begin to
started to melt away when they begin to
started to melt away when they begin to talk to them
talk to them
talk to them I especially leaned on the arts for this
I especially leaned on the arts for this
I especially leaned on the arts for this because as artists in residence and my
because as artists in residence and my
because as artists in residence and my kids in my title right but they began to
kids in my title right but they began to
kids in my title right but they began to talk about my love of music my love with
talk about my love of music my love with
talk about my love of music my love with the arts my love of theater and that’s
the arts my love of theater and that’s
the arts my love of theater and that’s when I really started to notice that we
when I really started to notice that we
when I really started to notice that we all have this inherent nature to want to
all have this inherent nature to want to
all have this inherent nature to want to relate to one another and as humans we
relate to one another and as humans we
relate to one another and as humans we also have this need to create or to
also have this need to create or to
also have this need to create or to externalize a piece of ourselves
externalize a piece of ourselves
externalize a piece of ourselves and we want others to be witness to that
and we want others to be witness to that
and we want others to be witness to that and what I mean by witnessing is being
and what I mean by witnessing is being
and what I mean by witnessing is being able to take the time to see or hear or
able to take the time to see or hear or
able to take the time to see or hear or touch smell taste
touch smell taste
touch smell taste something that someone else created so
something that someone else created so
something that someone else created so for example right now you are all
for example right now you are all
for example right now you are all sitting here and you’re witnessing me
sitting here and you’re witnessing me
sitting here and you’re witnessing me talk and so for example in what work I
talk and so for example in what work I
talk and so for example in what work I do is I run a community art group and we
do is I run a community art group and we
do is I run a community art group and we all get together so myself and about
all get together so myself and about
all get together so myself and about four or five of my other residents and
four or five of my other residents and
four or five of my other residents and we create art together we are there to
we create art together we are there to
we create art together we are there to witness each other’s process we’re we’re
witness each other’s process we’re we’re
witness each other’s process we’re we’re there to witness each other’s products
there to witness each other’s products
there to witness each other’s products that we make we are there to see the
that we make we are there to see the
that we make we are there to see the frustrations that come through making a
frustrations that come through making a
frustrations that come through making a piece of art because it can be
piece of art because it can be
piece of art because it can be frustrating we are there to see the
frustrating we are there to see the
frustrating we are there to see the triumphs that happen once we are able to
triumphs that happen once we are able to
triumphs that happen once we are able to overcome those frustrations and honestly
overcome those frustrations and honestly
overcome those frustrations and honestly through this process often times stories
through this process often times stories
through this process often times stories come up because you know when you’re
come up because you know when you’re
come up because you know when you’re creating a piece of art that’s a piece
creating a piece of art that’s a piece
creating a piece of art that’s a piece of your life that you’re externalize it
of your life that you’re externalize it
of your life that you’re externalize it you’re putting out there for everyone
you’re putting out there for everyone
you’re putting out there for everyone else to see and that can be very
else to see and that can be very
else to see and that can be very vulnerable and then my residents also
vulnerable and then my residents also
vulnerable and then my residents also link stories to that and they’ll start
link stories to that and they’ll start
link stories to that and they’ll start to kind of go on tangents to where you
to kind of go on tangents to where you
to kind of go on tangents to where you know we’ll be talking about you know a
know we’ll be talking about you know a
know we’ll be talking about you know a lighthouse that they visited one summer
lighthouse that they visited one summer
lighthouse that they visited one summer and then you know ten minutes later
and then you know ten minutes later
and then you know ten minutes later fifteen minutes later we’re talking
fifteen minutes later we’re talking
fifteen minutes later we’re talking about what the best recipe is to bake
about what the best recipe is to bake
about what the best recipe is to bake cookies like it’s completely tangental
cookies like it’s completely tangental
cookies like it’s completely tangental and it’s wonderful and so I really
and it’s wonderful and so I really
and it’s wonderful and so I really picked up on this this need to really
picked up on this this need to really
picked up on this this need to really share their stories and so I created a
share their stories and so I created a
share their stories and so I created a storytelling group as well just to allow
storytelling group as well just to allow
storytelling group as well just to allow for a little more structure and
for a little more structure and
for a little more structure and facilitation so every other week my
facilitation so every other week my
facilitation so every other week my residents come prepared with a story
residents come prepared with a story
residents come prepared with a story from their lives surrounding a certain
from their lives surrounding a certain
from their lives surrounding a certain topic so topics can range from
topic so topics can range from
topic so topics can range from travel to sports to scary stories to
travel to sports to scary stories to
travel to sports to scary stories to love to poetry just kind of a little bit
love to poetry just kind of a little bit
love to poetry just kind of a little bit of everything and I even have one person
of everything and I even have one person
of everything and I even have one person in my storytelling group that has a
in my storytelling group that has a
in my storytelling group that has a binder that’s like this thick of all the
binder that’s like this thick of all the
binder that’s like this thick of all the stories he’s written throughout his
stories he’s written throughout his
stories he’s written throughout his practice because he’s a retired doctor
practice because he’s a retired doctor
practice because he’s a retired doctor and he is one of the most phenomenal
and he is one of the most phenomenal
and he is one of the most phenomenal storytellers I’ve ever heard in my life
storytellers I’ve ever heard in my life
storytellers I’ve ever heard in my life every word that he says is so creative
every word that he says is so creative
every word that he says is so creative and captivating just the way that he
and captivating just the way that he
and captivating just the way that he uses his language and the words in his
uses his language and the words in his
uses his language and the words in his tone and my residents then are able to
tone and my residents then are able to
tone and my residents then are able to relate to him they’re able to witness
relate to him they’re able to witness
relate to him they’re able to witness these stories that he’s telling they’re
these stories that he’s telling they’re
these stories that he’s telling they’re able to internalize what’s happening but
able to internalize what’s happening but
able to internalize what’s happening but they’re being witness to and then
they’re being witness to and then
they’re being witness to and then they’re able to give feedback to him
they’re able to give feedback to him
they’re able to give feedback to him whether that’s through another story or
whether that’s through another story or
whether that’s through another story or oh my gosh that was just absolutely
oh my gosh that was just absolutely
oh my gosh that was just absolutely amazing
amazing
amazing and so I think this comes from again
and so I think this comes from again
and so I think this comes from again from this this inherent needs to relate
from this this inherent needs to relate
from this this inherent needs to relate to one another right we want to find
to one another right we want to find
to one another right we want to find those commonalities so that we’re able
those commonalities so that we’re able
those commonalities so that we’re able to say hey I’m like you in some way but
to say hey I’m like you in some way but
to say hey I’m like you in some way but I’ve also found that relationships can
I’ve also found that relationships can
I’ve also found that relationships can really be formed in differences and in
really be formed in differences and in
really be formed in differences and in my stories playing group I decided to
my stories playing group I decided to
my stories playing group I decided to practice what I preached one one time
practice what I preached one one time
practice what I preached one one time and I decided to share with my residents
and I decided to share with my residents
and I decided to share with my residents something that I loved but I didn’t
something that I loved but I didn’t
something that I loved but I didn’t think they were going to love and that’s
think they were going to love and that’s
think they were going to love and that’s slam poetry which can be very loud and
slam poetry which can be very loud and
slam poetry which can be very loud and abrupt sometimes abrasive and very sharp
abrupt sometimes abrasive and very sharp
abrupt sometimes abrasive and very sharp right I figured you know this is kind of
right I figured you know this is kind of
right I figured you know this is kind of similar to like rap it’s something
similar to like rap it’s something
similar to like rap it’s something that’s completely new and different
that’s completely new and different
that’s completely new and different something that they have probably never
something that they have probably never
something that they have probably never heard before and they month it or at
heard before and they month it or at
heard before and they month it or at least those that didn’t love it we’re
least those that didn’t love it we’re
least those that didn’t love it we’re really intrigued by it and they really
really intrigued by it and they really
really intrigued by it and they really appreciate it
appreciate it
appreciate it because somehow my generation had taken
because somehow my generation had taken
because somehow my generation had taken an art form that you know might have
an art form that you know might have
an art form that you know might have been dying out a little bit and we
been dying out a little bit and we
been dying out a little bit and we evolved it so that it’s still
evolved it so that it’s still
evolved it so that it’s still captivating and engaging I think there’s
captivating and engaging I think there’s
captivating and engaging I think there’s two big table takeaways from that story
two big table takeaways from that story
two big table takeaways from that story number one again we were able to relate
number one again we were able to relate
number one again we were able to relate to one another we were able to open each
to one another we were able to open each
to one another we were able to open each other up to new perspectives number two
other up to new perspectives number two
other up to new perspectives number two I had to eat my own words you see I had
I had to eat my own words you see I had
I had to eat my own words you see I had assumed that my residents were going to
assumed that my residents were going to
assumed that my residents were going to hate this art form because it was
hate this art form because it was
hate this art form because it was something completely new and it was
something completely new and it was
something completely new and it was something completely
something completely
something completely different and I had stigmatized them in
different and I had stigmatized them in
different and I had stigmatized them in that moment something I was actively
that moment something I was actively
that moment something I was actively trying to come back and just because you
trying to come back and just because you
trying to come back and just because you know it was something new and and I had
know it was something new and and I had
know it was something new and and I had to take a step back and really check
to take a step back and really check
to take a step back and really check myself in that moment and I know it
myself in that moment and I know it
myself in that moment and I know it comes as a shock and it comes as so
comes as a shock and it comes as so
comes as a shock and it comes as so surprising but the elderly generation is
surprising but the elderly generation is
surprising but the elderly generation is really intrigued and what the millennial
really intrigued and what the millennial
really intrigued and what the millennial generation is doing they really want to
generation is doing they really want to
generation is doing they really want to know what kids these days are up to and
know what kids these days are up to and
know what kids these days are up to and they’re always willing to try something
they’re always willing to try something
they’re always willing to try something new and that reminds me of a story that
new and that reminds me of a story that
new and that reminds me of a story that I really taken to heart one of my
I really taken to heart one of my
I really taken to heart one of my residents shared with me once that he
residents shared with me once that he
residents shared with me once that he has a sign that his daughter got him in
has a sign that his daughter got him in
has a sign that his daughter got him in his apartment that says I may be over
his apartment that says I may be over
his apartment that says I may be over the hill but the view was sure worth the
the hill but the view was sure worth the
the hill but the view was sure worth the climb and I was like okay yeah and then
climb and I was like okay yeah and then
climb and I was like okay yeah and then he was like I hate that side and I was
he was like I hate that side and I was
he was like I hate that side and I was like why he just said I don’t think we
like why he just said I don’t think we
like why he just said I don’t think we should ever stop climbing I don’t think
should ever stop climbing I don’t think
should ever stop climbing I don’t think we should ever stop learning and I think
we should ever stop learning and I think
we should ever stop learning and I think that’s something that I carried with me
that’s something that I carried with me
that’s something that I carried with me through this entire experience because
through this entire experience because
through this entire experience because that just gives you a whole new
that just gives you a whole new
that just gives you a whole new perspective that we should never stop
perspective that we should never stop
perspective that we should never stop climbing we should never stop learning
climbing we should never stop learning
climbing we should never stop learning from each other from new things from
from each other from new things from
from each other from new things from everything you know and so as I was
everything you know and so as I was
everything you know and so as I was thinking about you know okay so why
thinking about you know okay so why
thinking about you know okay so why don’t more people like me why don’t more
don’t more people like me why don’t more
don’t more people like me why don’t more Millennials engage with this elderly
Millennials engage with this elderly
Millennials engage with this elderly population I mean they’re so full of
population I mean they’re so full of
population I mean they’re so full of life they’re so full of resources and
life they’re so full of resources and
life they’re so full of resources and we’re just like oh you know maybe not I
we’re just like oh you know maybe not I
we’re just like oh you know maybe not I think it’s because they make us
think it’s because they make us
think it’s because they make us uncomfortable because they’re different
uncomfortable because they’re different
uncomfortable because they’re different from us
from us
from us and it’s just that feeling of other and
and it’s just that feeling of other and
and it’s just that feeling of other and I think the second part of it is it
I think the second part of it is it
I think the second part of it is it makes us face our own mortality I can
makes us face our own mortality I can
makes us face our own mortality I can say as a 23 year old I don’t think about
say as a 23 year old I don’t think about
say as a 23 year old I don’t think about that
that
that end-of-life case very often but the
end-of-life case very often but the
end-of-life case very often but the thing is is the people that I work with
thing is is the people that I work with
thing is is the people that I work with are dead they’re very much alive they’re
are dead they’re very much alive they’re
are dead they’re very much alive they’re so full of life in fact that I often
so full of life in fact that I often
so full of life in fact that I often have to try to keep up with them and I I
have to try to keep up with them and I I
have to try to keep up with them and I I guess from all of us I’m not saying you
guess from all of us I’m not saying you
guess from all of us I’m not saying you go out and be an artist and residence
go out and be an artist and residence
go out and be an artist and residence and live in a geriatric population what
and live in a geriatric population what
and live in a geriatric population what I’m asking from you is that next time
I’m asking from you is that next time
I’m asking from you is that next time you see them supposedly frail lady
you see them supposedly frail lady
you see them supposedly frail lady sitting across from you instead see the
sitting across from you instead see the
sitting across from you instead see the person sitting across from you see a
person sitting across from you see a
person sitting across from you see a body that has been lived in eyes that
body that has been lived in eyes that
body that has been lived in eyes that have seen so much and a soul that has
have seen so much and a soul that has
have seen so much and a soul that has seen countless challenges heartbreaks
seen countless challenges heartbreaks
seen countless challenges heartbreaks and joys ask that person the question
and joys ask that person the question
and joys ask that person the question whether that’s a simple how are you
whether that’s a simple how are you
whether that’s a simple how are you doing today or you know even what was it
doing today or you know even what was it
doing today or you know even what was it like to be alive when the Beatles were
like to be alive when the Beatles were
like to be alive when the Beatles were in full swing because I can guarantee
in full swing because I can guarantee
in full swing because I can guarantee you that that conversation you have with
you that that conversation you have with
you that that conversation you have with them it’s going to be so meaningful for
them it’s going to be so meaningful for
them it’s going to be so meaningful for both you and them you’re opening each
both you and them you’re opening each
both you and them you’re opening each other up to new perspectives and you’re
other up to new perspectives and you’re
other up to new perspectives and you’re together you can open the world up to
together you can open the world up to
together you can open the world up to each other so please never forget that
each other so please never forget that
each other so please never forget that you should never stop creating you
you should never stop creating you
you should never stop creating you should never stop relating and you
should never stop relating and you
should never stop relating and you should never stop learning thank you
should never stop learning thank you
should never stop learning thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment