City of Surprise, Arizona — 2017 Best Intergenerational Communities Award National Finalist

Generations United
Jul 10, 2017 · 5 min read
PHOTO: Courtesy | Members of the Sun City Grand Fishing Club volunteer their time to pass on their love of fishing to our Surprise youth at our semi-annual fishing derby.

The large number of retirees and significant young family population make Surprise a community where the intergenerational commitment is woven through all aspects of daily life.

That’s the case for Seth Dyson, who sees the intergenerational commitment both professionally and personally.

Professionally, he’s an employee with the Human Service and Community Vitality (HSCV) Department, which makes sure Surprise is an intentional intergenerational community. HSCV currently offers programs and services in housing, education, volunteerism, senior services, utility and eviction prevention.

“Daily, the City staff, our volunteers and over 20 partner organizations and agencies — serving all generations — work together to support those in need,” Seth explained.

Recently, all ages came together to find housing for a family experiencing homelessness.

Personally, Seth and his family feel the impact of organizations like Experience Matters, a nonprofit who connects the talents of retired residents to the needs of the community.

This included local retirees from Intel volunteering with Surprise’s Veteran service organizations, educational institutions and other nonprofits to assist with volunteer management, business development, grant development, organizational leadership and more.

“My young family,” Seth noted, “has benefitted from intergenerational support in our schools, hospital as we welcomed our daughter three years ago… recreational opportunities led by volunteer coaches… and more.”

PHOTO: Courtesy | Pat Young — A six-year volunteer/buddy assists a young athlete in the community’s nationally award-winning Buddy Baseball Program

His community’s commitment to all ages also inspired his family to get involved. That commitment and inspiration led to Surprise becoming a national finalist for the 2017 Metlife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Award.

Their intergenerational programming goes back to 1981 with the creation of Benevilla. The local nonprofit’s intergenerational initiatives include the Senior Life Enrichment Programs and the Surprise Community Garden.

In the Senior Enrichment Programs, Grand Canyon University Nursing students bring creative arts, exercise groups, brain stimulation activities and more to seniors with varying physical and mental abilities.

The Surprise Community Garden has 60 gardeners, 24 of whom are youth. They take part in the annual Harvest Festival.

Thirty-six years ago, Benevilla started with 30 volunteers who wanted to bring multigenerational services and resources to the community. Surprise’s population then was 4,000 residents. Today, it’s over 128,000.

Residents of all ages enjoy programs like the Block Party Trailer, Buddy Program and Gotta Run Running Club.

With the Block Party Trailer Program, City staff delivers a trailer that’s equipped with everything residents need to get a Block Party started including chairs, tables, coolers, canopy tents, and more. Last year, 45 events helped 20,000 people of all ages.

PHOTO: Courtesy | Summer Youth Eemployment Program interns create a remote control race track for the members of the center.

Young and old also connect through the Buddy Program, which serves over 250 participants and 600 volunteers ranging between the ages of 4–75. The annual program offers recreational programs such as baseball and basketball designed for individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.

The experience thrills Dianna Williams, a senior resident and volunteer with the Buddy Program.

“The younger generation comes in and performs activities with us,” Dianna explained. “We went through all our games to organize them, making it easier for people with low vision or disabilities to reach them.”

She enjoys working with youth to help create a safe and fun social environment.

PHOTO: Courtesy | Members of the Senior Center race their cars.

“My favorite activity…with two High School summer interns was a remote control car race,” Dianna recalled. “It got us working together.”

She learned a lot from her intergenerational connections.

“I learned that the younger generation and older generation have a lot more in common then we think,” Dianna noted. “We both have fears, hopes and dreams. I look forward to coming to the Senior Center every day and being able to interact with younger people.”

Another thing to look forward to is the Gotta Run Running Club, which promotes running as a family sport and draws 60 people between the ages of 4–67.

Surprise’s community-based organizations thrive because of the value of connecting the many generations of families.

The City backs up that value by supporting the Community & Recreation Services and HSCV to offer specific programs like the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration & Service. This particular event brought donations from the private sector and local government.

PHOTO: Courtesy | During Surprise’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration and Service, volunteers visit with residents of an assisted care facility.

The City invests over $1.3 million in the HSCV department alone, which houses the Surprise Resource Center.

Through the Center, the City established 14 new partnerships to provide comprehensive intergenerational assistance through employment services, domestic violence services, benefit assistance, community education and more.

More than anything, Makenna Breading-Goodrich, an 8th grader at Canyon Ridge School, appreciates her community ensuring young and old have a voice at the policy table.

Makenna experienced this both as a member of the Surprise Youth Council and through the City Court Explorer Program.

With the Surprise Youth Council, she gave a voice to teen issues like bullying and what roles youth can play in helping society. The Council also gave her a chance to engage with older adults as a volunteer in the Mayor’s Office, where she learned about important governmental procedures.

PHOTO: Courtesy | City of Surprise’s City Court Explorer Programs allow elders to pass down their civic engagment values to youth.

Through the City Court Explorer Programs, she got to shadow professional workers in the court system and learn how the courts work.

“In this program, we get to do a mock trial and portray those roles that we learned about,” Makenna explained, adding that she appreciates the hands-on experience.

“For some time now, I have been interested in a law-related career when I grow up,” she noted. “This program will allow me to see if this is something I really want to pursue.”

The City of Surprise’s continues to invest in intergenerational programming. That means volunteers, like Dianna Williams, an older resident, will stay busy. She’s looking forward to it.

“Many of us” — older residents — “lost touch with our own families,” she explained. “Having the intergenerational programs and events, help with that loneliness.”

Generations United

Written by

National nonprofit that improves children, youth and older adults' lives through intergenerational programs and policies. Why? Because we're stronger together.

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