ABOUT US

Our mission is to enrich the lives of seniors, children, and their families throughout our diverse community.

We envision communities which embrace healthy aging and child development with families enriched through intergenerational relationships.

Founded in 1978, ONEgeneration began as a modest and focused storefront senior center initiated, operated, and directed by visionary volunteers. As demographics changed and senior life-spans increased, ONEgeneration expanded and evolved to meet the continuum of our seniors’ needs at dynamic senior enrichment centers, day health care center, and in their own homes.

A dramatic shift in our mission took place in 1994, when we added a child care program. This highlighted our commitment to intergenerational (adult daycare and childcare in a shared setting) services and programs that intertwine human needs for both giving and receiving in meaningful, daily contact. This philosophy has become our guiding value, as well as what is unique and most highly celebrated at ONEgeneration.

Intergenerational refers to the selection and coordination of activities that enrich multiple generations. When ONEgeneration’s seniors and children join in activities, seniors recall favorite songs, games, and projects of their pasts as they share their skills, patience, and expertise with pre-schoolers. When older adults tutor young people, they bring critical one-on-one attention to the youths’ skill building, while the young people make seniors more comfortable with new technologies. This reciprocity builds mutual respect and a sense of community, providing children and adults with diverse role models. The extraordinary relationships formed last throughout our participants’ lives.

Throughout the West San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, ONEgeneration serves:

• Seniors, particularly low-income, homebound, and medically frail elderly
• Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia
• Individuals with long term illnesses such as Cancer, HIV/AIDS or Parkinson’s Disease
• Individuals who have suffered a stroke
• Caregivers for the elderly or very young
• Infants and children ages 6 weeks – 6 years
• At-risk youth, including foster children and teen parents
• Developmentally disabled youth and adults

Program participants reflect the diversity of the San Fernando Valley communities, including recent immigrants of multiple ethnicities and racial groups, who speak languages ranging from Armenian, Farsi, and Yiddish to Spanish, Tagalog, and Mandarin. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are drawn to our intergenerational approach.