programs
brief overview of programs
When people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, teacher and pupils, worker and boss. They become a single group of human beings.
~W. Lee Grant
While LightShare’s programs are tailored to fit the communities we serve, our goal for each program is the same: we can build community by bringing together young and old. Whether we are laughing together, learning together, or leading together, connecting generations brings with it an array of gifts and experiences that only serve to strengthen the community.
LightShare develops its programs based on several key premises:
- We are in partnership with the community we serve - we are not there to offer short-term outreach, rather we commit to long-term sustainability
- We listen to and learn from the community - we spend 6-12 months assessing the community, listening to residents, and determining the priorities and concerns that people want to address
- We find the strengths in the community - even if a group of residents are living in poverty or if an area of town is underserved, there are resources and assets available that can become the foundation for programming
- We include all people involved in the community - young and old, privileged and marginalized, male and female, neighbor and stranger.
- We are all lifetime learners in the community - regardless of age, each of us has experiences to offer to knowledge to gain from those around us
Our programs are housed in the communities we partner with to support residents’ access and to build mutual trust. We do not duplicate other services that may already be there, rather we enhance what is in existence or develop new programming that addresses other priorities. We encourage anyone to take part in our programs whether it be through participation, volunteering, or administration. We find that by being open, available, and collaborative, we develop intergenerational connections that build community.
