July 7, 2005

Intergenerational harmony

Three groups pull young and old together to make memories

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Nearly 200 decorated war veterans, teens, City Council members, and historians witnessed three visionary organizations announce a partnership that will not only make history, but preserve it too.

Nearly 200 people attended a “digital picnic” at History Park that paid tribute to WWII veterans and celebrated the union of History San Jose, The Pioneers of Santa Clara Valley, and the Digital Clubhouse Network. The historic Paulson House will become the new “clubhouse” once renovations are completed.

The partnership unites History San Jose and the Pioneers of Santa Clara County with the Digital Clubhouse Network [DCN], three vastly different nonprofit organizations that form one global vision—to preserve the days, weeks, months, and years of a diverse community that has witnessed dynamic changes.

For DCN, the festivities marked their ninth annual Digital Picnic, shared this year with community members, Councilmembers Judy Chirco, Chuck Reed, Dave Cortese, and Forrest Williams in a 1940s-style tribute to America’s Greatest Generation, complete with live music, food, movies, and displays.

“We here at History San Jose believe that history is about the present,” said History San Jose President David Crossen. “It’s about building community, it’s about making links between people. What we’re celebrating today is really one of the most exciting opportunities in the country. We’re looking at three diverse organizations with diverse purposes, diverse missions, but sharing one reason, to use intergenerational storytelling to bring young people and old people together to build community and community is what it’s all about.”

What started nine years ago as a NASA pilot project focused on developing innovative ways of using technology to build a better community has blossomed into an award-winning clubhouse that has proven itself to be a valuable force in historical preservation, with a growing contingency of adult mentors and teen volunteers sprouting up in communities throughout California and New York.

The primary focus is on producing powerful mini documentaries that will preserve historical moments while at the same time, encourage service learning and uniting teens and seniors to gather to bridge the digital and intergenerational divide by creating digital stories.

The new partnership will integrate the past with cutting-edge technologies and relocate the clubhouse to the Paulson House at History Park. It is currently being refurbished with plans to promote the project as a historical fixture—a world-class demonstration of a community-based digital clubhouse and serve as a new model for using local history to build community.

“The banding of these three organizations is something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” exclaimed Pioneers President Jerry Rosenthal. “I have the contract on this building. All we need now is to raise the money to do the restoration.

The cost to restore the Paulson House is estimated at around $150,000. In the meantime, the clubhouse has taken up residency at the Chechi house down the street.

Their current project, Stories of Service, pairs the personal stories of the men and women with today’s youth and the tech-savvy computer skills that are second nature to them. The result is a collaborative effort that has been lauded for its historical significance, while creating life-long multigenerational bonds.

A lone veteran takes a private moment behind the flags during the National Anthem.

With projects such as the Digital Griot, the Latino Project, and others, community stories are proving to be equally as important, and the ones that are missing, according to Councilmember Chuck Reed, are those of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things.

“The Digital Clubhouse makes it possible for those stories to live on,” he said. “I am tremendously excited about the fact that we have our kids to find those stories, document those stories, and preserve those stories in a way that the entire world can see the deeds done by these people who were simply doing their duty. They’re making it possible for these ordinary people to be remembered for their extraordinary deeds.”

“I salute each and every one of you,” agreed Councilmember Judy Chirco. “The Digital Clubhouse and the pioneers have come together to create great things.”

“And I know I’m going to come back next year for what is going to be one of the most exciting intergenerational programs in the country,” added Councilmember Forrest Williams.

“This is a very small demonstration of what can happen to something with a very small beginning to something that’s quite remarkable,” said NASA’s Chuck Castellano, who co-founded the Digital Clubhouse. “NASA’s part was very small but it was the seed that helped make this thing grow.”