Here is the link to the program I wrote about on this blog:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/foster-families-share-support-with-elders-oregon-housing-community/
Bridge Meadows Community on PBS
I’m linking this to my friends at Paint Party Friday. I’ll be back to posting art next week.
Hi friends and blog followers. I’ve been absent from blogging a lot longer than I intended, but I was in the
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| By Lily age 8 |
midst of two freelance jobs and couldn’t really work it into my schedule. I’m in the process of writing a post about that, meanwhile, I got news today, April 15, that the PBS Newshour will be broadcasting a story on Bridge Meadows, the intergenerational community I live in. Last month Cat Wise and her cameraman came out and shot a lot of footage of the elders, families and kids here, and interviewed a lot of us, including my husband and me. So if you watch the Newshour, or even if you don’t, tune in tonight and see what intergenerational living is all about.
About two months after I moved here in 2012, I made the following observation on this blog: “I’ve met many of the elders (there are about 29 of us) — a wonderful and diverse group of young-at-heart optimists who all feel pretty lucky to be in this intentional community built to support families adopting foster children.
I feel this sense among us that we can help patch up a small tear in society.
Instead of just being “low-income” seniors, I feel we are now contributing members of society. It’s both a subtle and grand shift in self-perception. We are now teachers, friends, aunties, grandparents, musicians, neighbors, uncles, writers, counselors — all more than a statistic or a hard-luck story. There are so many creatives and support people, it’s hard to figure out what my contribution will be — but whatever it is, I know I’ll get plenty of support. I’m also pretty sure I’m going to learn more from the kids than they’ll learn from me. Plus it’s a work in progress, this community. It only opened in April of 2011, and is only one of 3 in the entire county. That gives it a fresh, shiny sheen of optimism.”
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| Bridge Meadows Neighbors |
I’m providing a link to a post I wrote in September about working with one of the boys here on art and repair, called Godzilla’s Prosthesis. He and I are in the process of making a cardboard robot now, so expect more on that soon. Meanwhile, thanks for reading my blog.
http://www.joycorcoran.com/2013/09/godzillas-prostheses.html
joy murray art~stories~life 
Sounds like a great community. Happy that you are enjoying your life there.
Just saw the PBS segment. What a wonderful idea! You and your cohort are making a great contribution and setting an example that I hope will be duplicated through the US. I wish you the very best.
http://www.marylouweisman.com
It's a wonderful place to live. I get a little bit of inspiration almost every day. Thanks!
I hope they build them in a lot of communities and for all income levels because it's such a good way to build community. Thanks for your good wishes!
Joy this is wonderful. I didn't know you lived so close to me. I live in Florence. Bridge Meadows is amazing and I am glad you are able to share your life and your art with so many.
Happy Easter
Nicole/Beadwright
This sounds wonderful you are very lucky Joy to have found and be a part of this concep.
Beautiful story and sounds like a great community! Looking forward to more posts and thank you for sharing and visiting!
It sounds like such a wonderful project. Must be inspiring to live there…..
How wonderful to live in such a community, wish I had something like it here! Valerie
Thanks so much. I feel very lucky to be here and am inspired every day by living here.
I am very lucky. I hope the PBS video inspires more communities like this. Thanks!
Thank you for visiting my blog. It's a great community and I get lots of stories from it. Thanks for visiting, too!
It's inspiring every day. I hope one day there are lots of communities like this. Thanks for visiting!
It took about 4 years to get the funding for this one, but it's not an impossible goal for cities. It's a great use of funds and a great way to live. Thanks for visiting!
such a wonderful idea and what a great way to really have a community that works together and supports each other so lovingly. Good for you Joy!
What a wonderful concept- intentional community living… An example for all communities, really. So glad these children benefit from healthy community, as well as everyone else involved!
Thanks for you kind comments. We are growing every day. It's a thrill to see the children become more and more confident. Thanks for visiting.
I hope the future will bring lots of intentional communities. It's so good for the kids. Thanks for stopping by.
Joy what a beautiful program and love the story about Noah! So glad this cheers you up and takes your mind off some of the pain. Plus it's something that can be done at your own pace! I imagine so many people heart and soul could be healed with a community like this!
Hugs Giggles
Your multi-generational community sounds like a wonderful place to live. Welcome back. Hope to see your posts from now on. I love your header. The colors really grabbed me when I opened up your blog. So gorgeous.
Thanks so much for this comment and the one you left on the post about Noah. I have seen hearts and souls of all ages healed in this community, so I really hope and pray the idea spreads and we have more communities like this. Thanks for your kind words.
Thanks so much for stopping by. It is a wonderful place to live and I get inspired all the time. Thanks for the comment on my header birds. I'm working towards more stylized depictions — hoping to integrate what I see with what is actually there. The world around me gets ignited in my imagination. Thanks!