FLEX TIME SWEET READERS
Compassion & Connection Across the Pond
I
T’S AS “sweet” as it gets. Mabel, an 11-year-old girl from London, sits next to Theresa, an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s
Disease, and the two engage in spirited conversation. Just an hour earlier, Theresa had entered the room hesitantly — aloof, indifferent, uncomfortable, and afraid. She very likely didn’t know where she was or why she was there. As time progressed, though, Theresa opened up to Mabel as the pair constructed a colorful shoebox diorama with popsicle stick, puppet cutouts. Questions volleyed back and forth in reference to the artistic scene: “Where are you happiest?” “Where would you go if you could go anywhere?” “Where could we go together?” Mabel and Theresa discussed the ever-changing shapes, colors, and places of their memories — inspired by their own experiences
few minutes, an hour, or a day. Since 2011, with eight founding
and foreign language teacher Erin Withstandley, traveled to London
and their shared creation perched
children and eight adults from an
in June to train teachers and
on the table in front of them. After
adult-care program at the American
students based on their experi-
the session, Theresa rose from her
Folk Art Museum in Manhattan,
ences working with the program
chair appearing transformed —
Sweet Readers has expanded to
for the past three years in the
smiling, happy, and even exuberant
provide programming to nearly
local community. “Hayden and
as she hugged and said goodbye to
10,000 participants across the
Ryan were both impactful Sweet
Mabel for the day.
United States. Collaborative, highly
Readers in eighth grade, and we
It’s compassionate stories like
interactive projects often revolve
knew they’d bring energy, enthu-
these that embody the mission of
around music, art, and poetry —
siasm, and compassion to this
Sweet Readers, a not-for-profit
and promote shared learning and
venture,” Withstandley said.
organization with the goal of
personal connection among the
bringing generations together in
participants.
the fight against Alzheimer’s. Mabel had successfully seen
And now, with the help of
“It was a tremendous success. The students were warm, thoughtful, and engaged. They made significant
Brunswick boys and faculty, the
connections with their elder part-
beyond the masks of aging
organization has reached the
ners, and virtually all of them were
and illness and connected on a
United Kingdom.
disappointed when the three-day
meaningful level with her inflicted
Rising juniors Hayden Hoover
pilot program came to an end.”
partner. She had brought light
and Ryan Kahn, together with
Sweet Readers will launch at Alleyn’s
into Theresa’s life — if only for a
Middle School head Sarah Burdett
School in London this fall.
Teachers and students from Brunswick and Alleyn’s School in London visited the Castlebar Care Home in London to facilitate the launching of the Sweet Readers program in the United Kingdom.
WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG
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