Bringing generations together

NORTH BALTIMORE — An intergenerational program has brought some of North Baltimore's oldest and youngest residents together this summer. The North Baltimore Public Library and Briar Hill Health Campus partnered to present the first ever "Reading Through the Ages" program. Residents who live at Briar Hill met with local youth every Monday afternoon at the library for activities that included games of kindness bingo, painting and visiting with a therapy horse. "It was, I would say, a huge success," said Stephanie Walters, community services representative at Briar Hill. "It exceeded my expectations, which was wonderful," added library director Holly Emahiser Ryder. They said the impetus for the program was a little girl who wanted to read to seniors. "A parent reached out and had said she wanted her daughter to come and practice reading with residents," Walters said. "And that came a lot from her mom wanting her to practice." Walters said it can be hard for parents who are working to find time for reading with their children during the summer when school is not in session. "So what better way than to be part of a summer reading program that keeps them going throughout these months where they don't have that structure of the school system," she said. "So the fact that the library does that is phenomenal, and that they let us kind of partner on it is huge, too." They said it also fit in with the library's annual summer reading program. "It was a great way to kick off summer reading and get people in the library," said Ryder. Walters said Briar Hill residents from both assisted living and memory care participated, while the library opened sessions up to any child who wanted to attend. "We had infants. We had some new moms that came out," said Walters. "We had, I think, almost everybody came with an adult, but we had some that just rode their bikes." "Talk about good old-fashioned community programming," she said. "We had kids on bikes coming in and painting with seniors." Each week started with both a youngster and an adult reading to the audience. Former North Baltimore Schools Superintendent Rick Van Mooy was one of the readers. He is now president of the library board and his wife, Pam, works at the library. Mark and Bonnie Detamore, who are both retired teachers, also came in, Ryder said. "He brought his guitar, and he and his wife sang," said Ryder. "They're big library supporters." Each program featured a different theme. Walters said it was interesting to see the interaction between the seniors and children. "The bingo especially, my seniors couldn't read the cards because they were smaller. So you saw these young kids helping the seniors read the cards. What better way for a summer reading program then showing your seniors how to do it," she said. Erika Miklovic of the Happy Camper Art Studio in North Baltimore led the painting classes. "She does a painting program with us and we have been hosting it at the library," said Walters. "So this time, instead of just seniors, we opened it up to the kids as well. Oh my gosh, the room was full." A total of 223 people participated throughout the six weeks, including 129 children, 66 adults and 28 Briar Hill residents. "It's kind of an unlikely partnership, I think," said Walters. "When you hear intergenerational painting, for example, I think a lot of people assume that kids wouldn't be able to sit still long enough or spend time with seniors long enough, or be as patient, and they absolutely blew my expectations out of the water." She noted that many memory care patients thrive on that relationship with youth and children. "It was so nice to see that connection as well between our individuals suffering from dementia and the smiles. They loved seeing all the kids even if they needed direction on the painting," Walters said. The two organizations work well together, they said. And other businesses in town are just as quick to help when needed. The Virginia Motion Pictures theater, for example, opens its doors to show movies for both the library and for Briar Hill residents. "That's another testimony to this community," said Walters. "Anytime you go up to somebody and say, 'Can we make this happen?' Instead of excuses it's like what do we need to do to make this happen which is huge in this community." The women are already planning to offer the program again next summer.