Creativity, community and connection took center stage on Sunday as JASA, the go-to nonprofit serving older adults in New York City, brought together older New Yorkers, students and families for its latest JASANextGen Family Day, an intergenerational volunteer event celebrating the talents of older adults and the importance of building meaningful relationships across generations.
Held at JASA Cooper Square in Manhattan's East Village, the event brought participants of different ages together for an afternoon of hands-on activities, artistic collaboration and conversation in preparation for JASA's annual Art Show on November 10.
Students, their families and JASA older adults worked side by side creating watercolor certificates and boutonnieres to recognize the older adult artists whose work will be showcased at the upcoming exhibition. Volunteers also helped frame artwork for the show, transforming preparations for the exhibition into an opportunity to share experiences, forge friendships and celebrate the creativity of older New Yorkers.
More than an afternoon of volunteering, NextGen Family Day reflected JASA's broader mission to combat social isolation, challenge stereotypes about aging and create opportunities for people of all ages to contribute to their communities. By bringing young people and older adults together through shared activities, the initiative fosters mutual understanding and demonstrates how much generations can learn from one another.
"We want young people to see older New Yorkers for all they bring to our city: their creativity, their talents and their ability to inspire," said JASA CEO Gayle Horwitz. "NextGen Family Day gives youth, families and older adults the chance to create together, learn from one another and build genuine friendships. As we prepare for our Art Show, we're celebrating our older adult artists and reminding every generation that there is no age limit on creativity or contribution. That's the community JASA works to build every day: one where growing older means continuing to participate, connect, and belong."
JASANextGen is JASA's intergenerational volunteer program, connecting students ages 5–18 with older New Yorkers through meaningful service and engagement. Through quarterly Family Volunteer Days, virtual game nights and other activities, the program creates opportunities for young people and their families to develop lasting relationships with older adults while helping address loneliness and social isolation.
The artwork prepared during Sunday's event will be featured at JASA's annual Art Show on November 10, showcasing the artistic expression and talents of older adults and reinforcing the importance of providing opportunities for creativity, connection and lifelong participation in community life.
JASA is the go-to nonprofit serving older adults in New York City, providing critical services to over 40,000 people annually. Founded in 1968, JASA is a leading expert and innovator in aging services that recognizes the diversity among the aging population and honors older adults as vital members of society. JASA's life-changing support services, interventions and partnerships promote aging with a purpose and provide autonomy for older adults to remain in their homes and communities. JASA operates 12 affordable housing properties, is a licensed home care agency and offers a breadth of integrative services citywide spanning free legal services, health and mental health services, home-delivered meals, social programming at older adult centers and community trainings on elder abuse, peer health support, caregiver assistance and more. Intergenerational programs like JASANextGen Family Days help combat loneliness, strengthen understanding across generations and build volunteer pathways for teens and families who want to support older adults in their communities. For more information, please visit www.jasa.org or follow @JASASeniors on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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