Guitarist and Singer/Songwriter Reynaldo Moreno shows inspiring passion through soulful music

By Matt Marn

Published by AZCulture.com

When Reynaldo Moreno takes the stage, he starts with music the crowd is familiar with, as a kind of introduction to show who he is and who inspires him. As the show plays on, he opens up with “deep cuts” of his own. But no matter what song he performs, he gives each show everything he has.

“You have to strip your ego,” Moreno said. “You have to earn the right to be heard. What’s more, I have to enjoy it, or they’ll know. Every time, I work at it more. At the end of the day, I’m making music; I can’t ask for more than that.”

Moreno is devoted to his craft, and to showing the audience a fantastic time with great music he enjoys playing as much as they enjoy hearing. He takes time to banter with the crowd, or explain why he loves this particular song or songwriter, why it is special to him, and may be special to them, too.

As Moreno said, a great leader doesn't just open the door; they walk through it with you.

“As musicians, as performers, we are those leaders,” he said. “We are that passionate. Even the word ‘amateur,’ the root of the word is Latin for ‘love.’ You have to enjoy and study music as its own end. If you work on music just for fame, you fail. Maybe it’s not my place to say that, but music is too sacred.”

Moreno plays music and cites his influences from all over the spectrum – blues, gospel, you name it – but the heart of his inspiration and music is soul. Any kind of music with a soul, with heart – any music that has a story –is the music that drives Moreno. Whether covering soulful acoustic songs or presenting original works from his upcoming album, he wants to play something that breaks traditional patterns.

“I’m looking for that ‘wow,’ when instead of going to the normal pattern, the musician makes it their own – does something completely new,” he said. “When you write – whether it’s a song or whatever the case may be – you want to provoke thought. Too many people are not provoking thought, but instead telling you how to think. That’s irresponsible, especially when you have a mike or a camera in front of you. You have to ask questions to form your own opinion.”

Moreno loves the end of an evening most of all – the time of a performance perfect for trying something special. It is his most precious time with the audience.

“Some people there to drink or eat have wandered off, but the people still there are there for love of music. That’s the most intimate moment, when I can bring out the special work. They are really there because they enjoy it.”

That same passion for music drives Moreno himself, as well as the crowd. Moreno believes art has to be genuine, has to be real, and has to come from your gut.

“That’s why we love art, why we go to concerts and galleries, to visually or audibly experience a genuine personal expression,” he said. “It doesn’t matter about our economy and our struggles, that’s why art will always be there. That’s why art will always be needed.”

Moreno says no matter what your passion is, you need to pursue it passionately, while all the time remembering where you came from, and how far you have already come. Believing in yourself should always come first.

“I refuse to let someone assess me of my skill after three minutes, or even after an hour. To hell with that! I know I’m good; because I go all in, bust my ass to improve and grow and to be great. You should be confident in your efforts, and in how hard you work. Searching for or needing someone to tell you you’re good… it’s important. But it’s not everything. It’s not arrogance to have a comfort in your ability – it is VITAL. At the end of the day, you have to affirm yourself.”

But at the same time, Moreno said this confidence needs to be tempered with the humility which comes with the fact performers have been gifted with such an immense talent, such a gift… a humility that only comes from such an immense love as for music.

“Music does that for me, in an intimate sense,” he said. “You can lift people up, help them process their emotions, express how they feel. I do that on a daily basis. That is awesome.”

Moreno also is trained in martial arts, and is an instructor in boxing and Brazilian Jujitsu. He relates performing in front of crowds to martial arts:

“Maybe your first paycheck will reflect whether you win or lose, but if you go all-out with your heart all in it and you don’t take any crap… you’ve won,” he said. “The toughest guys I know have lost. They’ve been beat, they’ve learned from it, and they came back from it. Failure then loses its sting, and fear becomes irrelevant to the conversation. This is true with life, too.”

Moreno is ready to release a new EP album, “What It’s All About.” He said he was nervous about this album, which is a departure from the acoustic sets people have seen during live performances.

“I worry sometimes about the response, but then I see that I worked with all these great people, and I want to tell everyone, ‘hey, look at this… I wrote these.’ It needs to be put out there for people to listen to. I want to use this to pay homage to everyone’s belief in me. People’s belief that I am worthwhile – that I am worth someone’s time – it’s the most humbling experience.

Clarke Rigsby and his studio, Tempest Studios, helped incredibly during Moreno’s recording of his EP. Moreno said Rigsby and his crew really took him under their wing – and this is very important, getting such strong support from mentors.

“Clarke has such deep ears,” Moreno said. “He’s heard a lot of music. The guidance from him was tremendous. He has accepted everything I have offered. I’ve grown leaps and bounds learning from him. It was really neat working with musicians so invested. They didn’t just show up for work and collect the check, they wanted to work at it, create art – and get it right.”

Moreno said Rigsby pushed him, as all good mentors do.

“You say, ‘that’s too high,’ and the mentor says, ‘no, jump off, you’re fine.’ Then you do it, out of respect for your mentor – and you pull it off. Now, you have that confidence in yourself now. It’s like a roller coaster: when you start to fall when you reach the top, your head screams, ‘what are you doing?’ But your heart screams, ‘hell yeah!’ And when you succeed, you want to do it again.”

So despite Moreno’s venture into new territory with “What It’s All About,” he knows the album needs to be heard. It focuses not exclusively on the guitar, but on Moreno as a soul singer and songwriter.

Moreno said there is something beautiful about that roller coaster – the battle between the heart and the mind – the perfect example of the human spirit.

“You are never owed this, you have to earn it,” he said. “We’ve got one shot at this, man – if we aren’t living life to the fullest, what are we doing? Find something you love, and go for it. Life is meant to be lived.”

Moreno plays with that same charisma and confidence every show. His passion for music, not to mention his gratitude for audiences who come to enjoy the performer live onstage, is quite contagious.

“If you want to move people, be genuine,” he said. “Be true. Show emotion; show joy, show sorrow. You don’t tap on the mike and say, ‘excuse me, I’m going to play now,’ you just play. That’s how you get their attention. Sitting under the spotlight, pouring your heart out – you need to play for yourself. Be focused, play for your own personal joy, and put forth your best performance. Because at the end of the day, you’re playing for other people, be it 5 or 500, who aren't doing what you’re doing right now. And there is nothing more noble than that.”

Moreno performs live every Tuesday night from 7-10 p.m. at Squid Ink Sushi in Peoria, as well as every Wednesday evening from 4-9 p.m. at the Squid Ink in downtown Phoenix. Visit Reynaldo Moreno at www.ReynaldoMoreno.com, or find him on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for videos and more performance venue information.

Community Spotlight: Dr. Max Oppenheimer

Dr. Oppenheimer sits down with Matt Marn

Featured in the Fall 2013 Benevilla newsletter, "Connection."

Longtime Benevilla Supporter Dr. Max Oppenheimer Jr. will be the first to tell you he has lived an incredible life. And what’s more, he is very grateful. After years of serving his country and community in the Army and the CIA; as a professor at a number of universities; and as an author and columnist, he takes every opportunity to give back.

Max was born in New York City in 1916. When his father accepted a job overseas, Max went with his family to live in Europe. He spent time growing up in Germany and France until he was around 21.

“When my father accepted the job abroad, it produced for me a whole other life I never would have had otherwise,” he said.

He attended school in Germany and got his BA degree in Paris. In seven months he learned French and Latin just to get into the university.

“The BA test in France was very difficult,” Max said. “In Paris, the things they did, no American would make you do. Only 17 percent of students passed it on the first try. We really had to be devoted to learning. I have good genes, and a good mind, but a lot of it was very hard work. That helped make me who I am today.”

On his return to the USA, Max followed that first degree up with another Bachelors degree from NYU in 1941 and a Masters from UCLA in 1942. That dedication and commitment was shown in depth when, after Pearl Harbor, Max enlisted in the US Army. He said the Army was amazed at his background and fluency in so many languages.

He was sent a letter that told him that as soon as he arrived at his assignment, he was to be transferred to Military Intelligence. He was very useful to the cause, thanks to his dedication as well as his experience in many languages.

A Bronze Star recipient, he saw five campaigns from World War II. Max was in the pre-invasion maneuvers as well as the invasion on D-Day, where he drove one of the Jeeps ashore onto Utah Beach. He helped the
planning and intelligence gathering through many of the campaigns.

“I’ve spent more time in Europe than America,” Max said. “When I landed on D-Day, it felt like coming home.”

Max married his late wife, Christine, in 1942, and they were blessed with two children: Edmund Max and Carolyn Christine. He earned his PhD at USC in 1947, and went on to work as an instructor in foreign languages at San Diego State College in the mid-’40s and as an assistant professor of Romance Languages at Washington University in St. Louis in the late ‘40s.

In 1951, he was recalled into service to head for Korea. He also spent a number of years working for the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency. At that point he had also learned Russian, and he worked on interviewing Iron Curtain defectors. He remains grateful for his talents and the opportunities he has been given.

“I like to be well-educated,” he said. “I have a good knowledge of what’s going on around me. I am gifted for language; I know how to work the language… But it’s not just brains. You need the brains, but it’s also the willingness to work hard."

The drive inside of him has also taken him to eight universities, where he has served as professor for languages such as German, French, Spanish, Russian, and Latin. He even accepted a teaching position in China.

“It’s not about making a lot of money,” he said. “I was really valuable. I've gotten jobs that really meant something. I have no complaints.”

He not only has taught courses in many schools, but he has spent his time translating texts, plays and poetry into English from their native languages. He even translated a nautical text, and he was compensated for his time by a grant from the US Navy.

“I got involved in many other articles, writing things,” he said. “Now I write a column for the Daily News-Sun. I’m willing to write about anything.”

He attributes his dedication to his mother, who was always behind him. Now he feels compelled to give back, since he has been fortunate himself.

In addition to being a Bronze Star recipient, Max also received the French Jubilee Liberty Medal and several research grants. He also has established a scholarship at the Sate University of New York, the Fiat Lux Scholarship, which is Latin for “Let There be Light.” Max does not specify a required major in the scholarship. He only requires the students to be juniors or seniors – already showing the same devotion to their career as he has shown himself, looking for that same commitment in the next generation of learners.

“I believe in giving back,” Max said. “I don’t know how to say it, I've got my own way. I enjoy what I do. It’s one of the reasons I started that scholarship – I wanted to show my gratitude.”

Community Spotlight: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Offers Help, Information, and Hope for Members

By Matt Marn

West Valley, AZ – Grandparents’ Day is a time to recognize grandparents and their contribution to our lives. For some, that recognition comes with the acknowledgement that the grandparent is the primary caregiver for the grandchild.

Benevilla Family Resource Center’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program offers help to grandparents, teaching them to better care for their grandchildren, empowering and educating them.

Some grandparents may feel intimidated by the legal, school and medical issues that face this family dynamic. Teaching them to be their own advocates and to learn as much about the issues as they can truly makes a difference.

“When I meet with other grandparents like me and trade experiences, we all gain perspective; we gain knowledge,” said one grandparent in the group. “It’s nice to hear someone else tell us we are on the right track. There’s so much pushing against them – schools, families, doctors, the legislature. It comforts me, hearing others who have gone through the same thing already. And if that person can get through this, then I can, too.”

Taking in grandchildren sometimes causes tension with the parents. There are countless reasons why the transition may be needed, but grandparents fear the conflict it may cause in the family and the possible stigma from those who do not know the full reasons or jump to assumptions. This can lead to the grandparents growing isolated.

“There’s a lot of stress in our families, and we lose friends,” one member said. “This is a great opportunity to be with other grandparents, and the kids – many of them with special needs – can be around other kids and feel more comfortable.”

A major benefit of the group is the wide range of resources it offers the grandparents and grandchildren.

“It came in handy for me,” said Maureen, a group member caring for a young grandson. “It was still in the beginning of the transition, and I had never been through something like that before. The courts were very confusing, and I spent a lot of time researching and trying to find help. As soon as the facilitator got up there, we were among the first grandparents to join the group.”

Maureen said the information and support offered by the Benevilla group is nothing short of phenomenal. “It’s like a family. And there is no judging in this group – just the opposite. Without this group, some grandparents would be lost.”

Together, the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group helps each other – and grandparents everywhere – provide a safe, loving home for their grandchildren.

Benevilla’s Family Resource Center is open 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday at Benevilla’s main campus, located at the Hellen & John M. Jacobs Independence Plaza, 16752 N. Greasewood Street in Surprise. The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program support groups meet in various locations throughout the West Valley. For times or more information, please call 623-207-6016.

Started by the community and for the community in 1981, Benevilla is a not-for-profit human services agency dedicated to enhancing the lives of West Valley residents by providing care services for older adults, intellectually disabled adults, children, and families. Services are provided through a dedicated group of staff and volunteers. For more information on services and volunteer opportunities, call 623-584-4999 or visit www.benevilla.org.

The Upper Strata’s album, “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes,” retells journey out beyond the desert and back again

 By Matt Marn

Also published in AZCulture.com

Jonathan Sanchez, guitarist, lyricist, and lead singer for The Upper Strata, sits quietly listening to his group’s new album, “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes.” His head cocked to the side, he concentrates on the music, hands tapping on the table along with the beat. When his guitar solo comes, he looks to the stereo and smiles.

“Don’t ask me to play that same way again – I don’t know how I did that,” Sanchez said with a laugh.

He passes over a composition notebook full of ideas and early lyrics that would later evolve into “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes.”

“It’s funny how these books take on their own life,” he said. “But that’s kind of what the album is about: our journeys this year. Prescott, Bizbee, Jerome… It’s kind of like a little journal.”

That is the point of the album, Sanchez said. It’s hard to define or classify into a genre, because it tells the group’s own story, their growth – something that should never be pigeon-holed into one category.

The Upper Strata at the Hard Rock Cafe Phoenix, 2-28-13

Much like the Southwest itself – the mining towns, the former attractions along Route 66, the mesas and canyons – they all figure into the album’s often cinematic tracks, turning the region into a character in the works, Sanchez said. “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes” expands on ideas born from years of traveling, writing, and performing around and exploring the Southwest, and learning from the story it has to tell.

Sanchez, along with bassist and partner-in-crime Regula Sanchez-Schmid, did not want the album to be classified into one specific genre or type of music, since they touch on many styles, and people go by genre and all too often judge based on the cover.

“I read lately in a music magazine, people were ragging on the Black Keys, saying how they were not blues, and everyone was joining in, commenting on the blogs,” Sanchez said. “It was kind of disheartening to have someone define what is good or bad, pigeon-holing every artist or song into a genre, or ‘good music’ or ‘bad music.’ It’s like telling a painter not to use red. Why limit someone like that? Is it even helpful?”

The idea of a “phantom” pigeon-hole, the inability to classify something so easily, stuck with them. So they decided to name the album “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes.”

“Besides, we want to think the album is fantastic,” Sanchez said with a smile.

Sanchez said they took a lot of chances on the new album, exploring what they could do.

“We just went nuts,” he said. “We wanted to use real sounds, real acoustics – from recording in the shower, slamming shut a filing cabinet, thumping on a table, or scraping chopsticks inside a wok – rather than just opening a drum preset from some computer program. We tried to use real effects at all costs.”

The group wanted some of the tracks to come off rough and live, without the produced feel you hear in some studio recordings, Sanchez said.

“In the early mixes, you could hear amps crackling, room noise… most of that was lost in the final mastering but some of it still comes across,” he said. “We kept hearing how much better we were live, and why didn't we come across on our CD's the same way? So we tried to get that live quality to be present on most of the tracks.”

The team worked hard on every sound from every track: they got up in the morning, began working on a song, spent all day fine tuning their work, and by the evening, they had come up with a kind of rough copy. Then they recorded it and listened to it through a surround system, as well as putting it onto an MP 3 file and listening to it in the car.

“There were other songs that didn't come together and it had something to do with the chemistry,” Sanchez said. “If it felt forced, we never got anything worth finishing, but if we took it easy and felt relaxed, we got some good stuff. We would throw ideas around, record something, try it again, add something else; in short work in a way you could never hope to in a studio where you pay for every minute. We tested it in so many ways – we analyzed it; this song needs a guitar solo here, pull back on the tambourine there. To do this largely at home – with no studio recording fees, and the freedom to test boundaries our own way; it was much more luxurious. It’s

the process of getting to that point where what you hear in your headphones is what you hear in your mind.”

Whether it is their stories of a building blaze that forever changed a small town, or the story of a little church on a hill built of dynamite boxes, these tales of The Upper Strata’s journey and growth into the powerful storytellers they have become is definitely a story to be heard, again and again.

Check out "Phantastic Pigeon-Holes" on iTunes, or visit The Upper Strata on their website:
http://www.sanchezartwerk.com/theupperstrata.html

Community Spotlight: Benevilla volunteer lives life helping others

By Matt Marn

The tradition of selfless generosity that started from Mildred Olegar’s father helping those in need in his community has continued on through Mildred’s own contributions to those in her own community, both from Benevilla and elsewhere, who need help getting around, shopping for groceries, or even just a friend to listen and talk to.

Olegar has worn many hats as Benevilla volunteer, including assisting participants with grocery shopping and transportation. She has also volunteered six years at St. Clements campus, working with participants suffering from Alzheimer’s. She came in on music days to sing and dance with them.

“They may not have remembered their name or where they lived, but they didn’t need that songbook they handed out. That love and knowledge of music is stored in a different part of the brain than what affected their Alzheimer’s. Music is a powerful force.”

Olegar’s husband had spent many years researching money management at the local library, so the pair could arrange their own financial affairs. Soon, word got out, and many people – often desperate widows with financial and legal woes – came to seek him out at the library for help.

“He began holding lectures in the library,” she said. “Others came to sell bonds or items, but when they learned he wasn’t selling anything, only the truth, they flocked in. They were so desperate for help.”

Olegar has continued that legacy now herself, helping anyone she can. Some say she does too much, but she said the love and gratitude from the people she helps more than repays what she does.

“It’s just a way of life for me,” she said. “I’ve had people say that I’m an angel sent down from Heaven, what would they do without me? …You can’t stop helping when you hear things like that.”

Olegar is amazed by all Benevilla does for their participants. It has grown by leaps and bounds from when she and her husband first learned about it in that library as a resource to help the community.

“It’s just a warm place full of great people with love for their fellow man,” she said. “I’ve never met anyone that feels that friendly, loves what they do, and who gives of themselves to others. And that’s what it’s all about.”

Community Spotlight: Benevilla Physical Therapist helps participants reclaim independence

By Matt Marn

When the unthinkable happens, such as a stroke or an injury, someone can have a long road ahead of them to recovering the facilities and skills they had before. But with a physical therapist like Dawn, who visits many campuses of Benevilla – including Sun City Restorative Day Center – they are in great hands.

Dawn sat down with Restorative Care Partner Jeannette, and Tom, a participant in the physical therapy program at Sun City Restorative. Together, the three caught up on Tom’s progress. Dawn does this with every patient every 6-8 months, when she and the participant discuss changes, progress and challenges in the their physical therapy program.

Benevilla physical therapist Dawn helps participant Tom

Jeannette told Dawn Tom has been doing very well on the stationary bike. The two shared with Dawn updates, and Dawn asked Tom if he would like to add anything new to his program to work toward. Together, they adjust Tom’s personal physical therapy goals, and congratulate him on the amazing progress he has been making.

“As a physical therapist, I talk to the participant and learn about their personal situation,” Dawn said. “I work with them to help figure out some goals to set for them that will lead to success, something reasonable that can be accomplished.  We work toward something that they will be able to achieve.”

Dawn said it all started at Benevilla with volunteer instruction and body mechanics programs, but soon she began talking with other Benevilla staff about setting up a physical therapy program.

“Some people need rehab after a stroke, but sometimes, insurance stops after awhile, and they still need ongoing therapy,” Dawn said. “We can help them stay active, and we can help keep it cost-effective. I also help in other places, like an aquatic therapy session in Sun City, where we keep the cost at $10 per year to participate.”

 Dawn said she can never promise someone will get back to the way they were, but if you sit around all day, you are going to get worse.

“For example, Tom may not normally walk again, but if he sat around all day, he wouldn’t have been able to climb those stairs today.”

Dawn added many participants, including Tom, have worked very hard at their physical therapy progress, and have achieved the goals they set, thanks also to physical therapy staff like Dawn.

Dawn said one participant earlier in the program broke her arm, and her goal was to be able to play the piano again – and she achieved that goal. Another participant had a stroke, and her goal was to be able to dance at her husband’s Christmas party. She, too, achieved her goal.

“We do as much as we can to help,” Dawn said. “In general, the toughest challenge I face is working with anyone not motivated to help themselves. They need the desire to help themselves to be successful. This desire needs to come from within… if they don’t want to, they won’t get better. … And as for Tom, he has worked very hard,” Dawn said. “He is one of the best advocates of the program.”

Dawn attributes her love for helping people recover through physical therapy to a friend and classmate she had in junior high and high school who had cerebral palsy.

“She was very independent, she insisted on walking with everyone, with no special treatment – just her crutches,” Dawn said. “I had to ask her, to what did she attribute her sense of independence? She told me it was all thanks to her physical therapist. Soon, I started to volunteer more and more in physical therapy, and I decided finally it was what I wanted to do.”

Restorative Care Partner Jeanette said participants love Dawn, and truly appreciate the work she does to help them recover what they have lost.

“Any time they have a question, they ask for her,” Jeannette said. “They love her, she does a great job.”

Participant Tom said his favorite thing about the physical therapy is riding on the stationary bike.

“Dawn is a very knowledgeable person, she gives guidance for everyone trying to achieve their goals,” Tom said. “You don’t know how lucky I feel having a place like this. The best thing about this place – I meet a lot of cool people, and make a lot of friends. Everybody gets along with everyone else – that’s the greatest thing about it. We’ve become a great big family.”

Community Spotlight:Benevillla’s Inter-generational day program spreads fun, encourages growth for all ages

By Matt Marn

They say it is better to give than to receive. And in many cases, the benefits the people we help are given can far outweigh our personal rewards. Unless... unless you see their faces light up with a bright smile. Unless you can see they are truly better off after what you did for them.

That is exactly what Benevilla’s Inter-generational day program is all about. The adult participants of the day program at Lucy Anne’s Place sit down for a weekly morning session of fun with some of the children enrolled in Wirtzie’s Child Development Center. The participants of these two programs on Benevilla’s main campus join together for fun activities, such as singing and many other fun, purposeful activities. During singing sessions adults often read the words as they sing along, while the kids sit on the floor with noise making instruments, and play their hearts out.

Today as they gather, visiting pianist Dorris Pierret leads them in the sing-along, including numbers from classic musicals, like “Danny Boy” and “Kiss Me, Kate,” mixed in with nursery rhymes like “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” and “B, I, N-G-O.” They ended with “God Bless America,” where the sitting adult participants rose and put their hands to their hearts. One participant, wearing a retired Navy cap, raised his hand in a salute.

As the session went on, the kids got more into the music, clapping and beating the various instruments on the floor around them. Some made their way over to the adults, and climbed up into their laps to clap along with a new friend.And soon, smiles are contagious on both sides.

Allison Koegel, director of Wirtzie’s Child Development Center, sees this each and every day. Koegel was one of the key players in starting up a similar inter-generational group in her home state of Illinois, and had already seen the benefits of what a program like this can do for both parties. When she saw the role available here, she knew it would be an amazing opportunity.

“One day during the first few weeks of the program, we captured the essence of bringing the two generations together," Koegel said. “An activity therapist brought out a set of horseshoes to play, and one little girl had never seen them before. A ‘Grandpa’ taught her how to play, right there, and they both lit up. You could see the connection; the awe in his eyes as he taught her, and she was so excited to learn this new game... it literally brought tears to my eyes.”

Koegel elaborates on the terms ‘Grandpa’ and ‘Grandma,’ saying at Wirtzie’s, the teachers and staff call the adult participants these titles in order to help teach the children to see the adults as part of the family and to address them with the same respect, and that they are not intimidating, but warm, caring people just like their own families - not to mention they have so much to share.

“That generation has so much to offer the younger generation,” Koegel said. “In the United States, they are not looked up to as highly as elsewhere, and that breaks my heart. They’re the ones with the stories, with the lessons on respect and caring... it takes a group, a community, to help everyone - especially a child.”

Now that Wirtzie’s  - as well as the inter-generational program - has been open for children almost three years, Koegel said she has an amazing team of staff she views as more of a family than a corporate center.

“Some other care centers see the family as a number, but we want them to be personally served, a part of the community,” she said. “Without that, you lose what we try to do here, what we believe in. Everyone here really has a smile, knows everyone by name, asks about the participant’s family... Without that, you lose the compassion, the community. We work hard to keep that community, to protect it each day. That is my goal, in particular: for families to feel safe, to not worry where they drop off their kids. Without that, if we don’t instill that in a young age, we lose that forever.”

Koegel also knows the benefits of the inter-generational group are physical as well as mental. Through activities this duo partakes in, be they games, heading outside to the garden, making cookies, crafts with marshmallows (the adults set a bad example and began to eat them - the kids soon followed), or bringing in musical performers like harp players, harmonica players, clog dancers, or the pianist sing-alongs that got everyone clapping along, there are many more benefits than you would think, for both generations involved in the activity.

She mentioned that these activity sessions can enhance fine motor skills for both generations. Keeping muscles moving through activities like watercolor painting can help children develop these fine motor skills, while the adults can help prevent arthritis. Other benefits for both groups can include language skills, and improved self-esteem, which is key for the adults.

“In these sessions, kids learn when a grandpa or grandma tell stories from earlier in their lives, and it also helps them keep those mental connections in place and working,” Koegel said. “It is so interesting to see what a child will say that will jog an adult’s memory. One day, we were headed for the garden, but it started to rain, so we had to stay inside. A child said something about digging in the mud, and a grandpa started telling stories about how he used to work construction, and drove giant earth-moving equipment. All the kids were listening, with eyes wide - they were so excited.”

Cindy Morales is the Activity Lead of Lucy Anne’s Place - the adult day program that meets with Wirtzie’s. She said her participants love the inter-generational program sessions.

“They love to see the kids,” she said. “One of our participants reminds one little boy of his own grandpa. They love the interaction, especially the sing-alongs, and when they get up and start dancing... Even for just those 30 minutes out of the day, they really love it. They have fun, and they make it fun for me, too... it’s great. I love the interaction between them.”

Morales said some adult participants look forward to the sessions with Wirtzie’s most of all. One adult even wants to read to the children, and one comes to Lucy Anne’s only for the inter-generational group sessions. The changes they make on each other is hard to miss.

“One little girl was just sitting there, doing nothing one day,” Morales said. “An older participant reached over and took her hand and just started patting it, rubbing her hand. The girl looked up and smiled.”

Koegel said the greatest benefits from this program are the respect and comfort that stem from the children's’ interaction with the adult participants. For the adults, just having someone to talk to, someone to release to, who is genuinely interested, can make all the difference. And in turn, the children learn the more senior generation is not intimidating, and they begin to warm up and interact very differently with them.

Morales agrees this can make a big difference, not only with the children, but with her adult participants, as well.

“Some of my participants were teachers, so they have that interaction with children still in the back of their minds,” Morales said. “Their own kids may now be too far away, and it benefits them to see kids again, to see youth... they love the interaction, both nourishing the children and themselves.”

Koegel also sees this impact, and the lives it can change along the way.

“I can’t tell you how many times, particularly around the holidays, when we hear from a parent, ‘My son did so great around Christmas, he was no longer afraid of his grandparents,’ or ‘my daughter and I were in line at the store next to a senior, and my daughter just started talking to the lady, she had no fear, just started chatting...’”

Koegel's voice falters, and she trails off.  But soon after dabbing her eyes, she continues.

“Hearing that what we do, what we care about so much here, really does matter and change things for the better, it leaves such an impact, for the staff as well as for the kids,” she said. “Even at a store, if it’s even about bubble gum, you never know - you don’t really think how much it could play a part in someone’s mindset."

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