Need

Children in the first grade often face the challenges of more work than play and during this critical learning phase they are away from home more than ever. Therefore, it is important that all children receive child-centered play and conversation experiences that support the relaxation and alertness necessary for social and academic learning at school. Furthermore, many senior and young adult citizens tend to disengage from their communities. Nevertheless, the adult volunteer typically has the time and experience to complement the family support that nurtures the child’s successful transition from home to school. Our youngest and oldest generations are often strangers to each other. Generation Two bridges this relationship gap. Generation Two also recognizes that on a systems level, education and health policies often require changes that promote child development on a local level. Based on the Generation Two experience, senior and young adult child advocates can better communicate about local policies that are in the best interest of the child.

Origin

The idea for Generation Two was researched and developed at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government where Dr. Bruce Gilberg, G2 Founder and Executive Director, received his Masters of Public Administration in 2001. Generation Two began at Brooks Hill Elementary School, Fairport, NY in January 2002.