The Artmobile in Worthington teamed up with local high school students this past summer to make art with older adults in the community thanks in part to grant support from the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Endowment Fund at Southwest Initiative Foundation.
The Artmobile is a traveling art lab that strives to educate, engage and enrich the surrounding community. For the Creating Art with the Young and Young at Heart project, Gail talked to some of Worthington’s High School and Learning Center summer program students and teachers to develop inclusive project ideas. The students then joined creative forces with local nursing home residents. Week by week, students and residents worked side by side decorating ceramic tiles together to decorate two concrete benches.
In September, the bench installed at Ecumen Meadows in Worthington was dedicated with a celebration. Another bench will be placed at South Shore Care Center. The final artwork showcases contributions from different ages and backgrounds.
“This grant allowed us the opportunity to enjoy building relationships through our intergenerational project, Creating Art with the Young and Young at Heart. Many wonderful connections were made and the smiles and laughter lit up the room,” said Artmobile founder Gail Holinka, who led the project.
Thanks to the project, older adults had more social interactions, reducing isolation. The resulting public art benches celebrate the community’s creativity. They will be enjoyed by the residents and visitors for years to come.
“I call projects like these ‘sandwich projects’ because the middle generation does the work of bringing the older and younger generations together. All three need each other, but someone has to step up and make it happen,” said Amy Brustuen, SWIF Youth & Community Program Officer.
The Artmobile’s grant was one of 15 grants awarded in 2024 from the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Endowment Fund totaling $168,322 to foster social connection in later life.
Approximately one-quarter of Americans aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness and sensory impairments. Fostering social connection in later life means older adults can continue to thrive and be valued members of our communities.
Strengthening Community through the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund
Southwest Minnesota leads the state in percentage of population age 85 or better, according to data from Minnesota Compass. Our Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund Endowment maximizes the social and economic contributions of elders throughout southwest Minnesota by keeping them well and engaged in community life.
