Our History

Connecting Generations (originally known as Creative Grandparenting) was started in 1990 by Robert Kasey, a retired DuPont Company executive who became inspired to learn how to become a better grandparent. After extensive research on the subject of grandparenting and the reinforcement of his experience with his own grandchildren, Mr. Kasey recognized that there was much to learn about the process of grandparenting. He saw that most grandparents were not fulfilling the potential for the role of grandparent, which is a loss for both grandparent and grandchild.

As a result, Kasey formed an organization to help educate grandparents on the importance of their role and how to be more effective in it. The conceptual anchors identified for a positive and creative interaction between a grandparent and a grandchild were

1. a sense of purpose on the part of the grandparent,
2. a need to remain fully present in the moment with the child,
3. an awareness of the proper role of the grandparent and the values being taught, and
4. an expression of unconditional love and acceptance by the grandparent.

The program began with a series of workshops in which grandparents were invited to talk together and learn what grandparenting was all about and what might be possible.

As the Board moved forward in the study of what the child needs, they began to examine the whole system surrounding the child and recognized the importance of the family, school and community as major influences on the child. The group also recognized that the nature of relationship between grandchild and grandparent could be simulated between any caring adult and a child if a relationship of trust could be developed.

From there, the organization began establishing Creative Mentoring programs in the first grades of elementary schools in Wilmington, starting at Forwood Elementary School. After several years of expansion of this program, Tom Carper, then Governor of Delaware, made mentoring one of his priorities and the program picked up steam. Connecting Generations had been working on a training manual for in-school mentoring and that manual evolved into an award-winning manual that is used across the state of Delaware to train mentors. Creative Mentoring is now the largest in-school mentoring program in Delaware.

From the earliest beginnings of Connecting Generations, an effort was started to build a program within communities in response to the need for greater intergenerational contact. In Northeast Wilmington, an organization was formed together with community leaders to establish safe venues for older members of the community to gather with young children in a mentoring relationship. The concept was expanded to an effort to revitalize the whole community so that a more positive environment is presented to children, recognizing that the experiences within the neighborhood contribute to the education of children. Later, a direct needs-assessment in the community led to the development of the Youth Community Builders summer youth program, which was jointly offered by Connecting Generations and Hanover Presbyterian Church for six years. This important program is still thriving under Hanover's leadership.

Other new programs have been spawned by Connecting Generations including Seasons of Respect which focuses on teaching the value of respect for self, other, property, etc. and Creative Transitions which focuses on the need for older persons to get involved in their community as a way to stay active and to pass on their legacy of wisdom.

As the programs evolved, the Board decided to change the name of the organization from Creative Grandparenting to Connecting Generations to more accurately describe the mission and function of its activities. All of our programs are based on the concept of increasing the frequency and quality of intergenerational contacts. We believe that this connecting of the generations brings out the best in all of us.