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History of Community for All Ages
A Community for All Ages is a partnership between People Plus of Brunswick, Maine and the Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning.
Brunswick is a community in transition. The Brunswick Naval Air Station is targeted for base closure in 2011. The downsizing of the base will begin in 2009 and end two years later. The loss of military and civilian jobs will have a profound effect on housing stock, local businesses, and the tax base. Brunswick will also lose an active volunteer corps when military personnel are relocated through the base closure process.
All of these factors contributed to People Plus’ decision to begin the process of creating a community for all ages in 2006. The purpose of this initiative is to bring the Brunswick community together to create a place that promotes the well-being of residents of all ages; makes full use of people’s skills, talents and abilities; and promotes values such as reciprocity, individual worth, diversity, equity and social connection.
With support from the Florence V. Burden Foundation, Brunswick is part of the national Communities for All Ages (CFAA) network coordinated by the Center. This growing network, which currently involves 13 communities in Arizona, New York and Maine is demonstrating the value of bring residents of all ages, nonprofit organizations, public institutions, and policy-makers together to address common concerns and promote the well being of individuals and families across the life cycle.
Dr. Nancy Henkin, Executive Director of the Center for Intergenerational Learning, provides ongoing technical assistance to the CFAA Steering Committee and helps conduct training for nonprofits interested in developing compelling volunteer opportunities. She also helps facilitate the replication of CFAA across the state of Maine and includes the Brunswick project in all of her national presentations related to Communities for All Ages.