Harris Lawton, P: Artstories

The decline of extended family networks that resulted in thegeneration gap has given rise to concerns regarding the social andmoral education of children, the isolation of older adults and anincrease in negative stereotypes and attitudes about the aged andaging. In an effort to address these concerns, government andcommunity service organizations established intergenerationalservice learning programs that seek to connect youth with olderadults through educational and creative activities that benefit eachgeneration.This book examines the nature of the learning and socialrelationships that evolved among three generations of women andgirls previously unknown to one another, working together on acollaborative narrative based in their lived experiences. Artstories©is an age-integrated arts learning program ed to emulate thecreative learning environment of extended family networks, fostersocial and moral learning and development, arts learning, culturaland racial harmony, and a sense of community.Educators, artists, arts administrators and museumprofessionals interested in developing age-integrated communityarts programs should find the ideas here beneficial.