Creating Community Capacity at a Shared Site Intergenerational Program: “Like a Barefoot Climb Up a Mountain”

Abstract

We used a social organization framework to pilot a community- capacity building project at a shared site intergenerational program. Such programs possess potential to build relationships among participants that contribute social capital to the program and support individual development. Our approach addressed infrastructure development, intergenerational cross-training, and increased intergenerational programming. We conducted a multimethod, multi-informant assessment during the first year of the project. Results revealed the importance of infrastructure in enhancing formal and informal network ties, shared knowledge, reciprocity, trust, and sense of community. Our approach may be replicated by other programs seeking to build and utilize social capital by connecting disparate groups frequently segregated by age and institution.

Keywords:

• adult day services
• child care
• network
• community
• social capital
• social organization

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a faculty affiliate grant from Virginia Tech's Center for Gerontology.