Intergenerational Community Learning
San Mateo County Library, Calif.
Innovation Synopsis
San Mateo County Library's Toyota Family Learning program is a modern-day movement for families learning together. We enrolled high need families in the communities of East Palo Alto and Half Moon Bay to support intergenerational learning and realize participants' community service ideas over the months of the school year.
Challenge/Opportunity
The program launched in the fall of 2014 with families graduating from the program in spring 2015 and consists of developing content and supports driven by the input and needs of the enrolled families. The next session will begin fall 2015. Real change cannot occur without an intergenerational approach and mentoring which allows families to build relationships and share knowledge and strengths. Families in East Palo and Half Moon Bay were recruited to participate in weekly sessions to develop strengths in supporting the success and learning of their children. Families participate six hours per week and have all been paired to mentor other families in areas of strength, whether that be computer skills, networking, literacy skills, or other areas to build everyone's knowledge base.
Key Elements of Innovation
Families identify and plan community service that highlights needs in the community and empowers participants to effect the changes their communities will benefit from. Each site will conduct three service events. In our first year, highlights have included a community wide clean up effort in East Palo Alto and a coastal clean up in Half Moon Bay. Families learn how to plan and publicize events, develop partnerships and relationships, build a comfort level in speaking out and having their voices heard, and develop deeper connections to and pride in their communities.
Achieved Outcomes
The first project the families in East Palo Alto organized had the following outcomes:
- This event was organized with the help of approximately 130 volunteers
- About 2,000 gallons of trash were collected, which was an average of 16 gallons per volunteer!
- Residents were informed about services Recology provides for bulky or large items in order to deter illegal dumping around the city
- This event had many partners including the National Center for Families Learning, Second Harvest Food Bank, IKEA, Starbucks & the City of East Palo Alto
- This event concluded with activities, food and music at Jack Farrell Park Staff has been able to develop authentic family engagement and facilitation strategies to allow space for those we serve to shine.
