The Penelope Project aimed to build community in a long term care setting through an extended and rigorous creative engagement project. Even now, almost a year after the final performance of the play that wound its way through Luther Manor last March, I’m still overwhelmed by the emotion of the experience. When I go back to visit now, I just like to sit in the company of people who participated. “I know…” our eyes say to each other. “It was incredible.” One woman, who participated in countless creative discussions, and who played one of Penelope’s weavers in the scene in the health center, said “that was the last important thing I’ll do with my life.” I told her it felt like that for me too.
To share the model and inspire others to create their own extended, rigorous, collaborative projects, the partners behind Penelope are offering a Summer Institute. From June 24th to June 28th, attendees are invited to experientially learn:
- the meaning and power of partnership
- the basics of aging and dementia
- how regulations shape (and don’t shape) activities in long term care
- some basic techniques for collaborative storytelling and art-making
- how to work “site-specifically”
- how to ignite individual and organizational change
- how to do simple project evaluation
- how to design a project
We will also premiere the new documentary about the Penelope Project at the Institute.
Come join us for this exciting experience, taught by the artists, teachers, researchers, care-providers, and residents who collaborated on this unique project.
REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE at www.aging.uwm.edu.
I’m very excited to have had the opportunity to sign up today with a co-worker. See you in June!