Crossing Generations

PIcture the last time you stood in the security line at the airport. Whether a smaller airport like Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport or something much bigger like Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport, it’s a perfect microcosm of life. Overachieving travelers work to impress the TSA agent with their efficiency. Stressed-out families juggle strollers, backpacks and snack-filled carry-ons. There are nervous flyers, seasoned pros and revelatory adventurers. There are young people, and there are older folks, too.

For those born after 2001, this experience of the security line is all they’ve ever known. They instinctively have their travel documents ready—often digital—know how to position themselves for the full-body scan and understand exactly what to remove from their bags. They’ve grown up in an era where identifying liquids, preparing for pat-downs and maneuvering through ever-evolving security measures are second nature.

For older generations, the experience can be overwhelming. The uncertainty is palpable. Papers and passports, shoes and water bottles, electronics and snacks tumble into bins in a rush of organized chaos. Then, there’s the inevitable disclosure of knee, hip and shoulder replacements, adding yet another layer to the process.

The security line is a striking metaphor for generational differences. Culture and technology shape how people engage with the world, and oftentimes, those differences exist based on a person’s age.

Of the more than 200,000 people who live in Amarillo, about 16 percent are considered older adults, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Called Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) or the Silent Generation (those born between 1928 and 1945), these residents grew up during economic expansion, were privy to significant social change and saw a great technology shift. 

Across the age chasm, you’ll find members of Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and Generation Alpha (born from 2012 to the present) making up a much larger portion of the city’s population. This highly connected group is generally considered the most diverse population ever and markedly focused on social issues. 

While both groups have witnessed a changing technological landscape, Katheryn English, operations manager for the Area Agency on Aging in Amarillo, says technology has become the greatest digital divide between these two groups.

“Many older adults have expressed they feel left behind and can be deeply apprehensive about embracing new technology,” she says. “Unlike the younger generations who have grown up with tablets and smartphones, many older adults built full lives and careers before computers and the internet became widespread. For younger people, it’s almost unimaginable to navigate life without instant access to technology, but for older adults, learning and adapting to these tools can feel overwhelming.”

Colby Currie, curator of education at the Amarillo Museum of Art, says he’s noticed that generation gaps like these can sometimes make for extraordinary differences in people, and that can make it challenging to find common ground.

“I think we naturally gravitate toward people we relate to—people that share common interests and have similar backgrounds,” he says. “It takes extra effort to step out of our comfort zones to connect with someone who doesn’t fit that model. Perhaps, if we stepped beyond our ordinary limits and opened our minds to people we consider different, those connections could make larger impacts on people, even if the experience is more fleeting.”

The desire to find common understanding has pushed many local groups to curate space intentionally—stepping beyond those “ordinary limits”—to bring generations together. The intergenerational meetups look different across the region, but organizers say it’s working to build better understanding and more authentic relationships between these broad segments of the population.

“When you pair the energy and enthusiasm of youth with the wisdom and life experience of seniors, something special happens,” says Chad Conner, the founder and executive director of Acts Community. ”It’s easy to get caught up in overthinking and overplanning, but when everyone is smiling, it’s an easy decision to try to recreate those moments.”

Amarillo Museum of Art’s Senior Portrayals

Leadership at the Amarillo Museum of Art was inspired by an exhibit last year called In Their Own Words: Native Impressions. Currie says the exhibition featured two artists collaborating to conduct interviews with Native Americans from North Dakota. One artist interviewed the sitters, and another painted their portraits, which were later turned into carved woodblocks and printed. The exhibition amplified the voices of a marginalized group and brought greater awareness to the struggles and triumphs of contemporary Native Americans.

“We wanted to mimic the artists’ process of combining life drawing and written interviews,” Currie says. “We also wanted to expand upon the empathy garnered in the processes of both drawing someone from observation and listening to another’s point of view.”

AMoA staff invited Amarillo College art students to tour the exhibition to introduce them to the work and the scope of the assignment. Then, they invited them back to join a group of seniors from Jan Werner Adult Day Care for the drawing session and interviews.

“In this scenario, students had the experience of slowing down and looking closely at another human, as well as listening carefully to their stories,” Currie says. “The seniors had a great experience being the center of attention but also made art themselves. It was special to witness a situation where people interchanged positive and basic human emotions through art and just being open to
one another.”

Currie says AMoA plans to host another iteration of the program next fall, now called Senior Portrayals. It will coincide with the upcoming summer exhibition, Home, Love, Loss. Additionally, the museum offers its Young@ART program each year to hundreds of seniors in retirement, assisted living and nursing centers. Programs combine art history lessons and hands-on art activities.

The Loft at First Baptist Church Amarillo

“In the New Testament, the church is presented as a family,” says Howard Batson, Ph.D., pastor of First Baptist Church Amarillo. “Perhaps too often, modern churches segregate their congregation, keeping generations apart.”

Batson clarifies that offering different styles of services at different times isn’t wrong; it’s just not what he wants to see at the church he leads. All services at First Baptist Church Amarillo are the same because, among other reasons, he says it brings all generations together to sing traditional hymns, contemporary praise and worship music and hear sermons that apply to all ages.

“We’ve had great results,” he says. “This new building is evidence of that.”

The new building he’s referring to is a 77,000-square-foot ministry center called The Loft, designed to reach students in the Amarillo area. Batson says church leadership wanted to build a Christian community in a safe place for students to gather. It will house a two-level parking garage that will be shared with Park Place Tower employees and guests during the week and provide additional parking for Sunday activities.

The unique aspect of The Loft is how it connects to Park Central, a nearby senior adult community.

“Quite literally, The Loft bridges generations via a 115-foot-long sky bridge traversing Harrison Street,” Batson explains. “Providing seniors and teenagers with specific opportunities to do missions together will break down barriers that naturally keep generations apart.”

Still under construction, the multimillion-dollar center will feature a large worship space, classrooms, an artificial turf field for recreation, coffee shops, gathering space, sports courts and even a three-story corkscrew slide. Batson says church leadership is focused on growing the student ministry by providing area youth with a place to gather outside of traditional scheduled church services and youth group times. This expansion allows for that while providing space to also engage seniors in meaningful activities.

“Imagine 40 seventh-grade girls sitting side by side with 40 senior adult ladies as they prepare Christmas bags for our prison ministry,” he says. “Our new sky bridge will allow our Wednesday evening preschool mission groups to safely cross Harrison Street and visit their adopted grandparents at Park Central. Scripture tells us that we’re to treat those in the community of faith who are our own age as brothers and sisters. We are likewise to treat our elders as our mothers and fathers in the faith family.”

Upon completion of this walkway, Park Central residents living in Park Place Towers, Moore Assisted Living, the Harrington and the Continental will be able to walk from their facilities to the sanctuary of FBCA without ever stepping outdoors, avoiding inclement weather and potentially hazardous traffic.

“At First Baptist Church Amarillo, senior adults are a vital part of everything we do,” Batson says. “As younger generations engage with seniors, they are likely to gain more than they give. Seniors offer wisdom, encouragement and a few tales about the good old days. Every healthy faith community should seek to build bridges between generations.”

A Gift of Music

When asked what she loves about teaching music, Jodie Johnson, a 28-year teaching veteran, quickly responds.

“How long do you have?” she says with a smile. “I just love sharing my love of music with the kids, but also, I get to see them from kindergarten through fifth grade, and I love watching how they become these wonderful people.”

While she certainly teaches them music fundamentals, Johnson is most proud of teaching her students about giving the gift of music. Each spring, her fifth-grade honor choir goes on a community tour to area nursing homes and hospitals. The students perform a variety of songs—some patriotic, some homages to past eras.

“Last year, we were at BSA, and this sweet man was coming off the elevator when we were singing a song—kind of a ̓60s-era song—and he started dancing,” she says joyfully. “I think they see maybe a glimpse of what these people were like when they were younger. I try to explain this is what they were listening to on the radio when they were their age. They think that’s so funny, and they don’t believe me until older people start dancing or singing along.”

Johnson says that while her students are learning soft skills like shaking hands and engaging with people they might not traditionally spend time with, these music lessons are also an opportunity to teach about history and culture.

“I remember one young man just walked up to this man at the veterans hospital, shook his hand, looked him in the eye, and said, ‘Thank you for your service,’” she says. “It really touches the people we’re singing for, but also touches our kids. I hope what I’m teaching them is community service, that there’s always something we can give, whether it’s a song or something else. I hope it inspires them to do more good.”

Johnson’s honor choir at Ridgecrest Elementary isn’t the only school in the Amarillo Independent School District participating in efforts to deliver an intergenerational experience. She says the district encourages it, and while efforts are relatively organic, music teachers across the district work to coordinate their efforts so students can reach many different communities of older Amarillo residents.

“What I hear from my kids is, ‘They reminded me of my grandma,’ or, ‘They reminded me of my grandpa.’ But also, I’ve heard them say that they went home and asked their grandma about something based on what we did, and that makes me super happy because then that’s opening up conversations within their own family. That has made my heart happy.”

Generations of Smiles

At Acts Community, more than 70 kids served a Thanksgiving meal to more than 100 seniors last year. Executive Director Chad Conner says the kids value being given important roles in the event, and the seniors exhibit a deep sense of appreciation for their time and care.

“The key to this working so beautifully is that both generations feel seen and special,” he says. “It’s not just about the meal. It’s about the connection, the kindness and the joy that comes from knowing that each person’s presence truly matters.” 

Conner says that the continued volunteerism from the kids during the summer at senior programs creates bonds that make everyone feel valued and helps combat an epidemic of loneliness that exists in the senior population. 

Acts Community has launched its new after-school programs, so Conner anticipates more opportunities for seniors to serve and mentor kids. Acts Community provides seniors with a free and nutritious meal every weekday. Seniors can also participate in a variety of activities each week, including fitness and art classes, Bible study and games.

“Many of our seniors have led rich, fulfilling lives, but after retirement, they often struggle to find purpose,” he explains. “Bringing seniors and kids together gives both generations a chance to make a real difference in each other’s lives.”