What
Is the Life of the Mind?
The
Life of the Mind celebrates
the fact that life is
an ongoing quest for ideas,
for knowledge, for understanding,
and for joy. Learning, working,
and serving others are
not the prerogatives of
any one age or stage of life,
and young people
and mature adults working
together can make a significant
difference in their own
lives and ultimately in
the world.
Our goal is to engage in joint ventures that combine the experience, the maturity, and hopefully the wisdom of retirees with the new ideas and youthful exuberance of college and university students. Through these ventures, we share our imaginations, our humor, and our visions for the future and then work together to try to make those visions a reality.
Getting it right!
The
extensive resources of
Willow Valley Retirement
Communities, the large
number of well-educated
and highly motivated residents,
and the proximity to major
institutions of higher
education make this an
ideal site for one of
the most lively and most
productive intergenerational
programs in the nation.
Franklin & Marshall
College, Millersville
University, and Pennsylvania
College of Art & Design
have entered into a partnership
with Willow Valley.
Seniors/Students as Change Agents
Dr. Leon A. Pastalan and others write: "Colleges and universities have traditionally served as agents of social change. Institutions of higher learning have a responsibility to seek solutions to what is perhaps one of the most significant social challenges of the 21st century. There are a number of ways that colleges and universities can serve in a leadership role by laying a foundation for attitudinal changes and the creation of new models for retirement. What is suggested is fundamentally about the personal growth of older adults and a supportive intellectual and cultural ambiance that relates to the development of new and more valued roles in retirement." Given opportunities, retirees also serve as change agents. They have the time, the experience, and the commitment to make the world a better place for the generations to come.
This consortium allows Willow Valley residents and college/university faculty and students to engage in a broader and a deeper exchange of ideas in sustained, interactive, intergenerational educational pursuits. The differing perspectives this kind of activity brings is critical to all participants in today's society. Both academic communities and leading retirement communities, as change agents, must look at the broader issues and develop an enabling culture to sustain and nurture older adults and the young people with whom they interact. Anything less is a tragic waste of human potential.
We're alive! Each of us has a life of the mind. So why not make it better!
Digital faux photo by Richard Scribner
Look. Think. Laugh. Enjoy!
"At Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, we continually look for opportunities for our students to grow professionally and intellectually. The Life of the Mind Consortium has the potential to provide this growth while offering valuable mentorship and experience-sharing moments between students and Willow Valley residents. We are delighted to be among the founding members and look forward to developing programs and relationships that will flourish in both communities."
~ Mary Colleen Heil, President, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
"Willow Valley Retirement Communities is proud to host The Life of the Mind Consortium. We are pleased that Franklin and Marshall College, Millersville University, and the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design have partnered with us in the creation of this initiative which is designed to promote cross-generational and cross-institutional learning. As a leader in the retirement field, Willow Valley Retirement Communities is committed to facilitating a broad range of intellectual and cultural pursuits for our Residents. We see The Life of the Mind Consortium as an important means of helping us accomplish this goal."
~ John Swanson, President, Willow Valley Retirement Communities
"The Life of the Mind Consortium offers college students, staff and faculty, older adults, and other members of the Lancaster community the opportunity to become fully engaged citizens by learning from each other. One of Franklin & Marshall's founders, Benjamin Franklin, said that "without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." Participants in the Consortium help each other grow in ways that add significant value to their contributions to our democratic society. Franklin & Marshall College is pleased and privileged to be a member of the Consortium, and welcomes the chance to help contribute to the vitality of its programs."
~ John Fry, President, Franklin & Marshall College
"Millersville University is pleased to join the Life of the Mind Consortium and celebrate the commitment to broad, lifelong learning.
By providing critical opportunities for interaction, education, and service, this intergenerational community engagement effort will provide important benefits for all of us. Partnerships, such as this, demonstrate the power of collaboration and the importance of working together on local projects of mutual interest.
Millersville University is proud to associate itself with the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Franklin and Marshall College in this endeavor.
"
~ Francine G. McNairy, President, Millersville University
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