Friday, December 31, 2010

Memory Bridge Connects CPS Students with Seniors

Students from five CPS high schools are currently participating in Memory Bridge, a service-learning project that connects high school students with senior citizens who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Students at Corliss, Brooks, Kelvyn Park, Walter Payton, Roosevelt, and Taft meet on a weekly basis to learn about Alzheimer's Disease, engage in pretty deep personal reflection about their own life journeys, learn how to connect with seniors with Alzheimer's and then gather to participate in three trips to a local senior care facility. While the first visit(s) prove to be a bit awkward, by the end of the experience, both students and seniors have created a human bond that is powerful.

The mission of Memory Bridge is to promote communication with, and memory preservation for, individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Guiding teachers at each school teach students communication and intergenerational relationship-building skills that even adults may lack. Along the way, students have the incredible opportunity to to enhance the lives of the facility residents, and students typically find that their own lives are enriched and enhanced.

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