This presentation will share the story of the Napier Initiative, launched in 2010 to build intergenerational bridges between the residents of Pilgrim Place, a local retirement community, and The Claremont Colleges. Pilgrim Place is home to 330 residents, many of whom spent their careers in the United States and abroad as advocates for social change. As elders who continue to probe, connect and grow, they constitute a rich resource for helping talented undergraduates make enduring commitments to leadership for social change. Participants in this session will hear about the growth of the Napier Initiative from a post-graduate fellowship and mentorship program to the current format that also includes intergenerational courses taught throughout The Claremont Colleges. Each Napier course engages students and elder co-learners on issues related to peace, social justice, and/or environmental sustainability. The Napier courses include a community or civic engagement component, and also explicit discussions among instructors, undergraduates and elders regarding vocational commitment and leadership. The lessons learned from a five-year evaluation of the Napier Initiative will be shared and should be useful for spurring discussion about the challenges and opportunities of intentionally connecting community elders and college undergraduates in the collaborative pursuit of learning and social justice.
