Oasis tutor Betty Dotson has been reading good books with children for quite some time, but she recently had the opportunity to explore the meaning of a story a little more deeply with a second grader named Trenedy. Together, the two took a trip back in time, a history lesson came alive and the intergenerational nature of their relationship took on a whole new meaning.

They read “Following the Drinking Gourd,” a book by Jeanette Winter that tells the story of how slaves risked their lives to reach freedom by taking the Underground Railroad. And then Betty was able to share her own family’s rich history, including the true story of Lyles Station, an early African-American farming settlement in southwestern Indiana. Her family’s ties with slavery several generations back were something she was happy to share, as they created a journal that melded Trenedy’s writing and drawings with Betty’s family photos.

“Trenedy seemed most fascinated about the Underground Railroad, how people had to travel to freedom,” says Betty. “They didn’t bring a suitcase and had to live off what they could find to eat.”

More than 70 other tutors and their students also created journals throughout the year-long Bicentennial Bi-Generational Project, celebrating the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial. With funding from the Indiana Humanities and Hoover Family Foundation, the project provided tutors and students some interesting glimpses into the state’s history.

“This project allowed us to purchase select books to integrate the study of U.S. and Indiana history, families and culture into the traditional Intergenerational Tutoring Program with great success,” says Mary Dorney, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Oasis. “The goal of the project was to help children and their tutors see that they and their families will be the threads of the fabric woven into our history another 100 years from now.”

More than 500 Oasis tutors are volunteering in the Indianapolis area, providing weekly tutoring throughout the school year to hundreds of children in grades K-3 who need additional support. Nationally, more than 5,000 tutors serve in 20 U.S. cities. For more information about Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring visit https://tutoring.oasisnet.org/.

 

Oasis is a foundation partner with Generation to Generation, a new national campaign that aims to mobilize one million adults age 50+ over the next five years to support young people. To learn more, visit http://generationtogeneration.org/.

“The best way to release feelings is to open up and talk about it,” says Brenda Kirkland, 67.

Brenda and 26 other volunteer facilitators for the Oasis Peers for Productive Aging program are working to combat a common emotion for older adults: isolation. Their weapon of choice? Just talking.

“For many seniors, the isolation starts as a matter of privacy. They think they can and should handle things on their own. But I tell them when we let stuff stay inside, it begins to feed on us. It helps a lot to open up. That’s the job of a good facilitator,” she says.

Research shows that group and activity-based methods are more effective in reducing feelings of isolation than those that are individual-based and non-participatory. When Brenda meets a tough customer in her group at Kennedy King Center, she has a magic trick that works just about every time.

“Hugs. I’m a hugger,” she says. “People almost always respond to a good hug.”

Something to talk about

Seasons of change. Losing a loved one. Making friends.  Even the subject of the power of laughter. All are up for discussion with Peers for Productive Aging. Facilitators find that almost everyone has something to say and the key is making people feel comfortable enough to do so.

“The world still needs you.”

That’s one of the messages Tyrone Hayes tries to send to the adults he meets with each week at the AHEPA Senior Living Community in Indianapolis.

 “They have so much to talk about and just want to be heard,” says Tyrone. “It is really satisfying to watch the lightbulb come on for somebody and to see them open up. Recently, I brought my laptop and played some songs that all knew from their youth. They got up and danced. One woman said, ‘You know what? The way I danced today? I want to feel that way again. For me, that’s beautiful.’”

Tyrone has watched members of his group form connections with one another, and he’s included in this newfound community, something he never expected.

Successful in St. Louis since 2006, Peers for Productive Aging was expanded in 2015 to Indianapolis with support from Central Indiana Community Foundation Senior Fund. The program has been implemented in seven senior living communities and two senior centers in the Indianapolis area, impacting over 750 older adults since March 2015.

“I call them my family,” Tyrone says. “I really am a better person for having known these people.”

Linda Madagame, resident services coordinator at the Crestwood Village North, was one of the first to come on board with the program, and started identifying people who would be good facilitators right away. 

“Many of our residents retired from occupations where they were leaders of team projects, business offices and government programs,” says Linda, who approached potential facilitators with an outline of the project and materials about Oasis. They agreed without any hesitation.

Making changes easier with friends

Judy Park, a Crestwood Village North resident, says she likes participating in the discussion group and thinking about the questions that come up. It has helped her get through a time of challenging change.

“For a lot of us, our living arrangements have changed dramatically,” she says. “When I arrived, I’d lived in a house and came with too much stuff. I was gradually able to break it down to the stuff I needed. I had to learn that it’s okay to give it up!”

It’s this kind of transition and many other life changes that get good responses in group, because they elicit a full spectrum of emotions: fear, sadness, anger, sometimes relief. The peer group model encourages lots of talking, but listening is also a key piece of any support group. It’s a skill that facilitator Bob Harkness has developed over time working on the project.

“I’ve never had trouble speaking in front of a group,” says Bob, who also helps analyze survey data for the project. “The thing to remember is that it’s not a lecture. We’re facilitating the discussion. A lot of the questions are open-ended. We were trained on how to handle certain situations, for instance, how to recognize personality types. I’ve learned how to appreciate others’ feelings more. I think I’m benefiting as much as the participants.”

Visit Indianapolis Oasis

Brenda is featured in the 2015 Oasis Annual Report.

Things happen for a reason, and after her first year as an Oasis tutor, Flora Bryant is certain that she and one little boy, a third grader named Marquis, were meant to cross paths.

“He appreciated my promise and commitment to him,”

she says, reflecting on the extraordinary progress that he was able to make in just one semester. Marquis showed the highest growth on his SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) test in his class. His score improved by 421 points. Typical growth is 75 to 100 points.  Bryant is naturally pleased with the strides her student has made, but she is not surprised.

Establishing a positive, trusting relationship

“Stepping across the threshold of Elder W. Diggs School 42, I felt a joyful challenge with memories flashed before my eyes,” says Bryant. “Good days surfaced in my mind, so I knew good days would be on the way. I attended first grade here. I knew that working with my student would be a great and welcome challenge.”

Bryant came into the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program in Indianapolis expecting to make an impact. As a social worker, she directed the Employee Assistance Program for a public school system, and received high student accolades as a university professor for 24 years.

After receiving the required Oasis Intergenerational Tutor training, she was drawn to her elementary school to tutor. She knew that the tutoring program exemplified excellent learning. When she learned about Marquis and the support he needed with reading, she knew he was the one.

“I said to myself, ‘I’d like to be a part of the school world for this young man.’ The first thing we needed to do was get to know one another,” she says.

The key, Bryant points out, was the relationship.

“The first thing I did was to get to know him by completing the Oasis Intergenerational book, All About Me. Using the book helped me to find his strengths and skills. He was competitive and a quick thinker. After that first couple of weeks, as I figured out what motivated him, his enthusiasm grew. He saw that I was connecting to him on things,” says Bryant.

She adds, “Each time I opened his classroom door, I scanned the seats, looking for him. Once our eyes locked, Marquis got ready. Our relationship was extended for another day. Marquis has good people skills. He is active and bright and comfortable saying ‘I don’t know.’ It’s one of the things I like about him. One day, I asked him, ‘Why do you like working with me?’ He responded, ‘Because I learn things about words and what they mean.’ Neither of us missed a tutoring session.”

An unexpected and pleasant gift

As it turns out, being a tutor has changed this seasoned educator as well.

“It’s changed my life. I’m more positive about my purpose in the world. I think about him day and night, and pray for his success. He’s really given me a gift, too; the gift of a friendship. As long as he lives, he will remember my name. Marquis is now in the fourth grade!”

As for continuing as a tutor and introducing others to the opportunity?

“I’m in,” she says. “I’m in.”

Learn more about the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program and how to become a tutor today!

Oasis Tutoring in the Indianapolis region is made possible in part through the support of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis.

Even though she must be watchful about what, how much, even when she eats, Ava Bush, 58, refuses to consider herself on a diet.

“I just tell myself that I’m being healthy. I’m doing what I must do to keep my body working as it should,” she says.

For Ava and thousands of other adults with diabetes, the monitoring must be constant and careful. It can be overwhelming if there is no support.

Ava’s boots-on-the-ground experience with diabetes made her the perfect candidate for serving as a facilitator for a national program OASIS offers called Better Choices, Better Health^®—Diabetes. The program is offered regularly in San Antonio, St. Louis, Los Angeles and  Indianapolis – where Ava is one of the workshop leaders.

Developed and tested at Stanford University, this free discussion-based workshop offers adults with Type 2 diabetes strategies for common challenges, including: understanding what to eat and how to make it enjoyable; monitoring and managing blood sugar; starting or maintaining an exercise program; communicating better with family, friends and medical team; and designing a personal self-management program.

Ava started out to help others, but has gained new insights for herself in the process.

“The material and the approach of this program are quite different than other programs,” says Ava. “The goal-setting guidance is especially helpful.  I’ve seen several people come to the class almost having given up and literally light up when they leave six weeks later. They have confidence that they can manage.”

Oasis offers Better Choices, Better Health^®—Diabetes in partnership with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and with financial support from Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.

The Impact of Better Choices, Better Health – Diabetes in 2014:

• 630 participants
• 76 facilitators trained