Building Generations is a unique collaborative initiative administered by ARC Broward. Its primary mission is to build bridges among generations by establishing sustainable neighborhood coalitions that included local residents, businesses, government and faith based organizations, among others. Funded by the United Way of Broward County, the Building Generations initiative works with low-income seniors and families in an effort to bring them together and give them access to the building blocks for a good life: financial stability, healthy lifestyles and community impact.

There are many features to the Building Generations initiative, the most crucial of which is the bridging of generations. We have seen first hand the positive impact to all the combined engagement of youth and seniors brings about. Contrary to widely accepted stigmas, different generations have a great deal to learn from each other if a proper channel can be opened to facilitate teaching. Building Generations is that conduit. We also provide many other opportunities and resources for community and self-improvement.

We offer everything from one-on-one financial planning to group cooking classes that teach you how to grocery shop for and prepare healthy food on a budget to job training, placement and retention services for teens, all free of cost to those who are eligible. We believe in the empowerment of residents and the unification of generations within neighborhoods and offer opportunities for financial literacy development, employment and life skills training, health education, neighborhood resource fairs, and intergenerational activities, including volunteering and mentoring. The neighborhood coalition approach we take in implementing the initiative promotes unity and improves the welfare of all community members through education, advocacy, knowledge sharing, and collaboration

The Building Generations initiative is operated by ARC Broward, which has been providing a variety of services and supports to children and adults with developmental and other disabilities and disadvantages for over 50 years.