This summer was all about collaboration for our weekly Walking Wellness Uplift, an age-friendly holistic health program. The theme of this summer session was “intergenerational collaboration.” Ecolibrium3 teamed up with the Duluth Community School Collaborative (DCSC) to invite students and alumni from Denfeld High who expressed a desire to work with elders. The elders of Walking Wellness Uplift were excited to learn that young folks wanted to join them during the summer sessions. During the five sessions in which the collaboration took place, elders and youth sat side by side, got to know each other, and participated in every activity together. The energy of the class took off, and the collaboration elevated the energy of everyone involved.
During the last session, we not only had high school students and graduates from Denfeld High attend the class, but a dozen college students from the Native Americans into Medicine Program (NAM). The NAM program is a seven-week summer program for Native American sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in health careers. These students represented tribes from all over the state and country, some from as far away as California and New York. These students came to witness our intergenerational collaboration and wanted to learn more about how we facilitate preventative lifestyle activities with our elders. They were interested in our holistic approach, and the experience aligned with their tribal values of serving elders, thinking about seven generations ahead, and honoring seven generations before.
From elders feeling invigorated and appreciated by the future generations, to young people gaining experience and wisdom by working with our elders, and future indigenous healthcare professionals feeling inspired by the intergenerational and preventative health format of Walking Wellness Uplift, the program was a success.