By Francis Taylor
Generation Connect, the program introduced in this week’s city council meeting by Mayor James T. Butts, and unanimously approved by the council members, did not waste any time setting-up in the Inglewood Senior Citizen’s Center. Nymar Young, an aspiring Santa Monica College student and Chase Walker, a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University, were poised to enroll Inglewood’s senior citizens in the Generation Connect program.
Nymar Young and Chase Walker enrolling senior citizens in Generation Connect. (Francis Taylor photo)
Generation Connect, as the name indicates, allows seniors to virtually connect with tech-savvy Inglewood teens with in-person technical assistance provided. The seniors will enjoy tech support, online gaming and common interests bonding. Teens from Generation Connect will be on-hand at the center several hours each day to assist those who have registered to participate.
Following CEO Candace Walker’s comments in the council meeting, about her organization and the generation Connect Program, before the funding was approved for the program, Mayor Butts said that the pilot program established during the Covid-19 Pandemic, was operated without any cost to the city, and was a huge success. He recognized that the program would benefit Inglewood’s young people and Inglewood’s senior citizens.
The program is described as All IN for Inglewood because it is a collaborative effort between the City of Inglewood, the Inglewood Unified School District, Generation Connect, and the South Bay Workforce Investment Board. While the seniors will get knowledge and youthful interaction, the students will receive academic credit, community service credit and will be paid!
The program will strengthen community pride, uplift Inglewood youth, and increase the technical knowledge of our valuable senior citizens. A certificate of completion will be presented by Mayor Butts to everyone who completes the program.
