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A simple concept can create profound impact — such as a dinner party with a twist.
The San Antonio Area Foundation is all about creating connections, serving as our region’s leading community convener through the lens of philanthropy.
One recently-launched program brings people together to break bread — hence the simple concept. The twist is that it’s all part of a well-organized and moderated activity meant to promote cross-generational learning and understanding.
The Area Foundation’s Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio (SALSA) initiative — which brings together more than 70 local nonprofits advocating for older adults — is calling for the community to join in the new effort: Generations Over Dinner.
The point is to provide a welcoming, inclusive setting involving people from various generations — from the Greatest Generation to Generation Alpha — sitting down for dinner to connect in a unique and unprecedented way.
“These gatherings give people, especially our older adults, a chance to be seen, heard and appreciated,” explained Sarah Davis, SALSA Project Associate.” In today’s world, that kind of exchange feels rare and incredibly valuable. People leave having made a real connection — and usually feeling a little more hopeful than when they arrived.”
Everyone benefits from that connection — starting with older adults, who have so much to share and inspire yet in many instances they have no one on whom to impart their wisdom.
According to the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, many Americans are living in a “loneliness epidemic” The AARP Foundation reported that roughly 35% of adults 45 and older report living in chronic loneliness. Another study, from Aging & Mental Health journal, also found that intergenerational contact has dropped by 40% over the last 20 years.
This is where SALSA and Generations Over Dinner come into play. Conversations become the catalyst for social change, helping to break down barriers between the generations and helping to form social bonds. Small-scale events were launched last year to great success — leading to the program’s first-ever large-scale gathering planned next month.
“I retired almost three years ago, and with that, I was no longer seeing my long term ‘work friends’ on a daily basis,” explained former Area Foundation employee Sandie Palomo-Gonzalez. “I was aware that many older adults struggle with social isolation and loneliness, and I knew that I would need find ways to make new friends. For me, Generations Over Dinner events were an opportunity to meet and get to know other people. The fact that the events were multi-generational made it even more intriguing.”
The framework for the dinners involves people aged 12-90+ gathering for a two-hour conversation, guided along the way by a trained facilitator. The meals are served family-style, (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and can be hosted anywhere from someone’s home to a community center.
“I work with older adults and am a parent to three young adults,” explained DeLisa Leopold, executive director of the Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center who attended the first dinner. “I see the disconnect and wanted to be part of a movement that supports the engagement between generations. I wasn’t sure how open each participant would be, particularly the younger participants — I was pleasantly surprised by how open everyone was, including myself.”
The goal for SALSA is to keep growing the program. Sharing a meal among generations harkens back to a simpler time, when families gathered and bonded at the supper table, sharing tales, experiences and wisdom. Above all, they kept families and friends close.
“To be able to sit at a table with many different generations to learn and hear their stories is inspiring,” said Jacob Maldonado, manager of Youth Engagement at the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, who also participated in the inaugural event. “This dinner shows that not one generation is facing the same challenges, nor does age limit what you can do and also created a safe place for dialogue, revealing that we share values and common ground despite being from different generations.”
So far, SALSA has hosted a total of eight dinners across the community and 25 facilitators have been trained — including Palomo-Gonzalez, Leopold and Maldonado, who were so moved by their experiences that they wanted to get more involved.
“It will change you and your perspective on other generations,” Leopold shared. “It is an invaluable experience that we all need to recognize what others may be going through.”
The upcoming community-wide Generations Over Dinner gathering next month is expected to bring together more than 150 participants. It is free and open to the public, but once the attendance goal is reached, no more tickets will be available. However, anyone left out this time will be sent to the top of the list for the next event.
“I do not know another organization or program that brings generations together like this,” Maldonado offered. “This dinner shows that not one generation is facing the same challenges, nor does age limit what you can do … and also creating a safe place for dialogue, revealing that we share values and common ground despite being from different generations.”
