Aging in Atlanta: Everyday heroes

Jackson and others actually make a big impression on the students. They mentor through the Atlanta International School’s verbatim theater project in which freshman visit Campbell-Stone retirees to conduct a series of interviews on their life stories. Students then turn those interviews into monologue performances on the school stage.

Jackson has a rich life for students to work with. In addition to 20 years of working as an assistant to several Georgia politicians, he performed stand-up comedy as a hobby in the 1970s.

“That’s the aspect of my life that they seemed most interested in,” Jackson says. “And some of my major life experiences.

“I have been a part of this program for about three years. I think for us senior citizens, being in touch and looking at those young faces [that are so interested and intrigued with us] is quite remarkable.”

Jackson even provided one of his old comedy scripts for his portrayal.

The overall show is divided into themes such as travel, beliefs and spirituality, as well as health and family. And a large photograph of the resident featured is displayed as a backdrop on the stage.

“We wanted our students to develop empathy with these residents,” Warren says. “And some of the things students are dealing with today is what they also dealt with.”

Jackson and other residents also participate in a program at Garden Hills Elementary School where they spend time with fifth graders one day per week. They read together, play games and spend time talking.

Twenty students partcipating in the program this year are assigned to six mentors.

Linda Irving, 70, started mentoring at Garden Hills in 2013. “At the beginning of the year, the kids come in the room and just randomly sit with us,” she says. “This year I have two girls.”

Irving taps into her mentee’s math and geography knowledge through playing cards, and sometimes she gets their creative juices flowing by asking questions.

“I will ask ‘What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done on a bicycle,’ Irving says. “Or ‘Tell me a [crazy] thing you’ve done in a grocery store.’ It’s one of my favorite times of week. It keeps you young and engaged.”

Even more importantly, the students love it. The time is voluntary for the youngsters as it takes place during their recess hour yet they choose to spend time with their Campbell Stone mentors.

“I’ve seen the kind of shy kids that don’t have much self-confidence gaining it through the year,” Irving says. “And I can see that some of the more assertive ones become better team players.”

Campbell Stone mentors say they give students a sense of history and the students teach them technology trends on iPads.

“I appreciate their commitment so much,” says Debbie Briggs, a teacher and program coordinator. “The impact lasts a lot longer than the mentors even realize. I have had old students come back and visit me and they always speak to the mentoring program.”

James Burnett, 75, mentors four students and enjoys their inquisitive nature. Burnett’s mentee, a 12 year old boy, asked if he would like to return to childhood and be his age again. Burnett contemplated the question and said he would not choose to turn back time.

“I told him ‘The whole reason I’m here now is to help you,’ “ recalls Burnett. “ ‘And I have accumulated lots of knowledge and wisdom over the years and I would have to give that up to be that age again. ‘ ”

Campbell-Stone Buckhead. 2911 Pharr Court South, Atlanta. 404-261-4132. campbellstone.org

insider Tip:

Campbell-Stone has held sensitivity workshops with teennagers to show biases that the elderly experience. Teens might wear distorted glasses or misshapen shoes for a sense of impairment.

“One person is doing the experiential piece and another student is acting out a bias that might say, ‘Why are you walking so slow you’re holding us up,’ says Craig Washington, a Campbell-Stone service coordinator. “And then we do a debrief. And you don’t have to do a lot of prodding. They get it.”