Genesis is based on a national model of intergenerational communities in which older adults provide meaningful care and social support to individuals and families facing particular vulnerabilities, who in turn, promote the well-being of the elders as they age.

With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Genesis community had to overcome a wave of new challenges. Some people lost their jobs or experienced wage reductions. Young parents were challenged with the difficulties of home-schooling young children and many found themselves more isolated and anxious about the future. Safety measures in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic—including social distancing and distance learning—greatly challenged the ability for residents to connect in person. And yet, in such a critical time, the need for community as an antidote to isolation has become even more important.

As part of the effort to keep connections strong, Mi Casa developed a Resident Leaders Fellowship to assist in engaging residents and maintaining a sense of community during the pandemic. Saba Amare and Kristina Fleming are both Genesis residents and were selected in June 2021 to be the first fellows serving in this role. Over their fellowship term, they have been building their leadership skills through training and ongoing mentorship from Mi Casa staff, including working with Mi Casa’s Community Engagement Specialist Henry Maticorena, and by helping develop community connections through resident-led events. Some of the events include the most recent Genesis Garden initiative where tenants gathered to enjoy refreshments while painting and decorating the garden beds together. Resident Fellow Kris Flemming is working closely with her colleagues in developing new measures in the coming weeks, reflecting that: “We are excited to see the progress we have made at Genesis so far and look forward to seeing the impact we can make with our new events and activities that we have planned.”

The formation of this fellowship was imperative to bringing members of the Genesis program closer, building connections between residents to encourage mutual, meaningful social support. We look forward to hearing more from our Resident Leaders as they complete the Fellowship continue to and pave the way for sustained community engagement and new resident-led initiatives in the future at Genesis.