At Hope & A Future we have been meeting new people and celebrating accomplishments this month. UW students from the nursing 541 program have begun making weekly visits as part of an assignment to learn about dementia in community settings. Our staff is encouraging them to to help string happy moments together with our residents. This is a skill essential for helping people with memory problems. It can benefit the helper as much as the person being helped. Seeing each moment as new is a skill all of us can benefit from.
On February 17th, I had the opportunity to join a panel for the Wisconsin Coalition for Social Connections. The panel included Andy Di Mezze from Denmark Connects, Julie Filapek from NeighborhoodWorks Green Bay and me (Karin) from Hope & A Future. We each discussed our approaches for creating intergenerational connections. Following our presentations there was time for what turned out to be a very energetic question, answer and discussion session. Enthusiasm and excitement about Hope & A Future’s new intergenerational neighborhood model was encouraging! People expressed gratitude for our perseverance to create this new model, where caring and sharing become an intentional part of community life. For many, caring and sharing has become a lost art, yet both are essential elements to meaningful social connections–at all ages.
This year I have also been in the Madison Chambers Leadership Greater Madison Cohort. This group explores strengths and challenges in our city and how businesses can help. This month we explored Cradle to Career education. Challenges, needs, failures and successes were explored. Multigenerational needs and intergenerational solutions continue to be a theme that offers hope. We are better when all ages are together.
As Hope & A Future works to move our expansion forward, we are meeting with bankers, foundations, organizations and individuals that are working with us to put a “financial stack” together to bring our intergenerational neighborhood to fruition. Although there is still work to do, we know we are going to get there! And that is exciting!
On March 3rd we attended Brava Magazine’s 2026 Women to Watch Celebration. Being in a room full of passionate business women and the wonderful people who have joined them in their mission to strengthen our community was emotional and inspiring! Women shared vulnerable times in their own lives, that lead to ideas that will help others live more hopeful lives. All were unique yet like minded in their desire and ability to help vulnerable community members live better lives. Resilience and joy are rewards of overcoming. I am so grateful to everyone that made this night so special and to have been included with this amazing group of courageous women. It was so much fun!
Photos in slideshow by Azena Photography; last photo by Janet Nebel
For me, spring is all about coming through the challenge of winter and watching new birth and warm times return. That is what Brava’s celebration felt like to me. The joy of overcoming! And for those of us who celebrate Easter, that is what it is all about on a spiritual level too. So many people are currently dealing with overwhelming challenges. Let’s be the kind of community members that help each other overcome. Resilience and joy will be our reward!
And speaking of New Beginnings, I hope to see some of you at our March 14th New Beginnings Conversation! There we will talk about this vibrant new neighborhood! You will also learn how to make a reservation to become a part of this exciting new community! Please let us know you plan to come by emailing us at [email protected] I hope to see you there!
