With over 900 student organizations at the University of Connecticut, a new club called “The Legacy Project (TLP),” is seeking members.
The Legacy Project is a nonprofit organization that was founded by three women: Arielle Galinsky, Katie Furey and Wanda Schlumpf from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
TLP connects college students with older adults, giving them the opportunity to visit older adults in senior centers and interview them to learn about their life. At the end of the year, students have a chance to become published authors by collaboratively writing a book detailing the stories of the older adults they spoke to.
Speaking with Galinsky and Schlumpf through a Zoom interview, they each shared what motivated them to create TLP.
Galinsky lost both her grandfathers at the age of 10. She shared that they were her role models and that she regretted not hearing and learning about their life histories.
“A lot of family members do not feel the need to ask their older family members about their life histories,” added Galinsky.
When Galinsky was a junior in high school, she began working in a senior community and would hear glimpses of the community members’ histories. She was intrigued and wanted to learn more.
“[TLP] was born out of that personal regret. Inspiration came from that personal experience with my grandfathers and then because I was in the environment of a senior community, it allowed for the framework for it to be able to actually do the project, to do the interviews with a lot of the older adults living there,” shared Galinsky.
Schlumpf is a master’s student studying biology at Tufts University. She shared that she has a close relationship with her grandmother, who is currently 98. Schlumpf said that her grandmother would share stories about her mother—Schlumpf’s great-grandmother—and that her grandmother wanted something for her family to remember her by. Now, Schlumpf wants to write a book about the stories of her grandmother and great-grandmother.
“She wanted that for her mom, and I want that for her. That’s a way to honor them both,” said Schlumpf.
When Schlumpf was 14, she lost her father, and her family members and family friends created a “Book of Memories.” She shared that every year on Father’s Day and on his birthday, she would read the book and learn things about him that she never knew. With these two experiences— according to Schlumpf—the passion for sharing older adults’ stories was born.
According to the TLP website, the mission is “to build sustainable, intergenerational connections as a means to combat social isolation, preserve the life histories of older adults, engage young individuals in revolutionizing perspectives on aging, and ensure that every old adult — regardless of background — has the opportunity to share their experiences.”
Currently, UConn has a chapter president and vice president, but is looking for interested members to join the organization.
When asked about the importance of TLP, Galinsky shared that both seniors and college students often feel socially isolated. TLP is a space to “create unconventional friendships,” said Galinsky.
“It is a space for those friendships to form naturally,” echoed Schlumpf.
Schlumpf shared what the meetings of the organization look like. She said that there are once-a-week meetings for 1.5 hours where members visit the nursing home, meet their match and interview them. There is also another meeting for one hour once a week where members get to know each other or hear from guest speakers. The organization also does bonding activities around once a month. Schlumpf shared that one activity was making flower arrangements and giving them to the residents of a senior home.
At the end of the year, students review their notes and craft their stories. During this time, they consistently show their match and fact-check. Schlumpf described it as a collaborative process. The books get edited by other students or school newspaper editors and get published through Amazon. Currently, there are two published books from the Tufts chapter of The Legacy Project and one from the Kent State chapter.
According to Galinsky, each year, each student writes one chapter about their match, which is one chapter of the book.
One copy of the book is provided to each of the residents featured for free. The books are on sale for community members and family members.
When asked in a follow-up phone interview where the proceeds go to, Galinsky said the book sales are used “to continue the functionality of the actual project.”
According to Galinsky, at Tufts, some of the profit from the sales was used to purchase supplies to make cards for the residents. The money also goes to creating joint activities between the students and residents and towards “being able to run the club.”
Emily Wang is a senior majoring in general studies and is the president of the UConn chapter of TLP. She shared in an in-person interview that her goal is to make “TLPxUConn” a program, rather than just a student organization.
One goal is to implement a TLP internship at the UConn Waterbury campus for students minoring in Gerontology. According to the UConn Academic Catalog, the minor provides “specialized training in aging.”
Wang shared that one of the requirements for Gerontology minors at the UConn Waterbury campus is to complete an internship.
“We are going to be their go-to program” said Wang said. “We are not going the club route per se.”
When asked how she got involved in her position as president, she shared that a girl from her hometown—cofounder Katie Furey—and two others started TLP at Tufts and turned it into a nonprofit after graduation. She saw it on Instagram after one of the cofounders shared that they were expanding TLP to other campuses, and that anyone interested should reach out.
“It turned out to be a great fit,” said Wang.
According to Wang, another way she is trying to make “TLPxUConn” into a program is through integrating the organization into a course taught at Storrs. Wang shared that she is in contact with Kenneth Campellone, an associate professor in molecular and cell biology. He teaches a “W” course at the Storrs campus titled, MCB 3841W: Anti-Aging Therapeutics.
“We are in talk of integrating TLP into his course curriculum,” said Wang.
Wang said her main objective is getting students involved and “getting college students excited about this.” While it is currently just her and her vice president Christopher Sindoni, Wang said she is eager for more members.
“We are trying to combat social isolation and ageism,” said Wang. “It is an exciting program that will offer students experience when it comes to storytelling, publishing, and even networking. These are transferable skills into the real world.”
Students interested in joining can contact Wang at emily.wang@uconn.edu or the vice president, Sindoni at christopher.sindoni@uconn.edu.