This summer, the Legacy Project has been thrilled to partner with the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City on a college internship project.

Jackie Santo is majoring in Marketing at Tulane University, Class of 2015. Ariana Wolk is currently planning to major in Communication at Cornell University, Class of 2015. This well-qualified pair of young people were the first participants in The Risk and Resiliency Project. 

This fascinating new internship program focuses both on the problems and the positive side of aging. The interns looked at the issue of  elder abuse and neglect, but balanced this topic with a focus on the strengths of elder adults. The program is directed by Risa Breckman, who also directs the NYC Elder Abuse Center.

Ariana and Jackie contributed to The Legacy Project by interviewing older adults (using The Legacy Project’s interview protocol) about the lessons they want to pass on to younger generations. The internship also provides them each with a small grant to bring some aspect of what they have learned this summer about both elder wisdom and elder abuse to their college communities. 

Our next two posts will come from Ariana and Jackie, based on their interviews with wise elders. Stay tuned!