WWEA Educator Brings Students and Senior Center Together Through Art

Dr. Chris Grodoski, Ph.D. is a Visual Arts and Media Educator at Franklin Middle School in Community Unit School District 200. A few years ago, he arranged for his students to visit with the residents of Brighton Garden of Wheaton. Brighton Garden is a senior center that specializes in working with people in early and later stages of Dementia and Alzheimer's. This school year his 8th grade art students are part of re-launching this partnership. His students visited Brighton Gardens in October after being taught: (1) What to anticipate with residents, (2) How to interview residents, and (3) How to draw a portrait or artwork that represents the person/interview.

The experience was a great success and the Franklin Middle School art students are invited back to Brighton Garden in December to share their artwork with the person the resident they originally interviewed. In addition, the residents have invited Franklin students for lunch because they enjoyed interacting with them.

The WWEA would like to thank you, Dr. Chris Grodoski, for your dedication to our students and for broadening their perspective of art and our community. We wish your students the best of luck as they complete their artwork and hope that all of you enjoy your return trip to Brighton Garden in December.