Joey Moore: Bringing together trailblazers and future change makers
This year, Intergenerational Programming has been brought back in full swing!
Our Youth Program (ages 10-21) and Older Adult Program “Over the Rainbow” (ages 55+) have come together for joined programming multiple times throughout the year to decrease feelings of isolation by building meaningful connections, as well as developing an increased feelings of purpose and well-being through story telling and sharing new perspectives.
In June, after the hustle and bustle of Pride in Winnipeg, Dalnavert Museum hosted us for our annual Intergenerational Tea Party. Over 50 participants came to share stories about their first Prides through the generations and reflected on what futures they imagine for 2SLGBTQ+ communities to thrive.
Throughout the summer and fall, youth and older adults joined us at Cinematheque for Intergenerational Film Screenings of “Wildhood”, a film about a Two-spirit Mi’kmaw teen discovering — and asserting — his sexuality, and “Paris is Burning”, a chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality. Conversations around intersectionality, identity and community were at the core of following discussions between the groups.
Youth program coordinator Madison Neapew/Blue Thunderbird Ikwe (left) and Older Adult Program Coordinator Elizabeth McMechan (right) have been bringing together Manitoba's 2SLGBTQ+ older and younger generations to create special opportunities to learn, share, experience joy.
Lastly, our Intergenerational Book Club has returned thanks to the “Intergenerational Connections” grant from the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres. With the funds received, our Youth Program Coordinator (Madison/Blue Thunderbird Ikwe) and Older Adult Coordinator (Elizabeth McMechan) planned an in-person “Brunch for Bookworms” book club in November and December. Participants each received a copy of the novel from local queer-owned bookstore Willow Press and were invited to come discuss the themes of the book with others over breakfast snacks. This fall, we read “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong, which is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read that explores race, class, sexuality, and masculinity. Stay tuned for our virtual book club happening in the new year, along with upcoming Intergenerational Potlucks!
Intergenerational Programming in our 50th anniversary has provided opportunity for our participants to reflect on the trailblazing of the past 50 years, and imagine 2SLGBTQ+ for the next 50.
Together in the room we have trailblazers and future change makers, each with important and valuable knowledge to contribute towards the fight for queer and trans joy.