History Alive!
History Alive! encompasses Generating Community, ESTA's award winning, intergenerational program conducted in partnership with community elders from senior centers and NORCs and youth from elementary schools, secondary schools, or community programs.
In this program, elders and youth serve as a resource to one another by sharing stories from their life experience. It enables students to relate learning to everyday life, to understand themselves as active, responsible members of their communities and exposes them to diverse perspectives. At the same time, the program brings elders out of isolation into new relationships with youth, each other, and their communities. By encouraging them to share their wisdom and life experiences, the program validates the meaning of their lives.
This exploration and creative expression of history though the lens of older community members exposes students to the "human face" of history. Not only do the students increase their understanding and appreciation of the arts, they also increase awareness of their own traditions, cultures, and communities. Commonalities and differences between the participants are explored through creating artistic pieces using theater arts, visual arts, video art, murals, quilt making, and written art.
Culminating events are often in the form of a performance or exhibition. On April 12th and 14th, 2011, ESTA held its 16th annual culminating performance at P.S. 24 in Flushing, Queens in partnership with Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center. The theatrical performance entitled "Imagine" was an original work, created from the shared dialogue and journal writings inspired by the seniors and students.
