Have you ever thought about what will happen when you age? Students in Dr. Mintus’s Aging and the Life Course class (SOC-R335) participated in a service-learning project to connect with individuals in older generations and take a deep dive into this idea. Through their partnership with the Center for At-Risk Elders (CARE), a local non-profit that advocates for at-risk older or vulnerable adults, they created some new cross-generational connections and learned more about the value of social interaction as we age.
Through their work with a real-world client, they engaged with individuals who may have a need for a bit more social connection, bridging the knowledge learned in the course with some hands-on experience. Students also got to use their own unique set of skills throughout the project, highlighting their strengths in their part of the larger group. The group curated a newsletter for CARE to put in their publication, complete with stories from their clients, our students’ experiences, and research exploring social isolation and generativity.
Shout out to the team involved in this, Dr. Kenzie Mintus, Winnah Beard, Tara Callahan, Luke Mancera, Regan Parsley, Leah Van Meter, Maura Weber, Clay Spencer, Chasity Woolsey, Michelle Niemier (from CARE), and CARE volunteers. Thank you for all your hard work!
Link to CARE’s website: https://www.indianacare.org/
Dr.Mintus: https://liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/sociology/directory/kenzie-mintus/