Projects

The Intergenerational Dialogue Exchange and Action (IDEA) program integrates traditional cultural practices, such as Elders teaching youth, with modern technology skills and digital storytelling to build support and resilience for young people in rural Alaska Native communities. IDEA involves a three- step process by which young people define their areas of interest and identify people in their community that they want to learn from. Young people then (1)ask questions and listen to adult or Elder role models share stories from their lives; (2) interpret and integrate these teachings into their own narratives through facilitated dialogues and reflective writing; and (3) produce and share digital stories (2-3 minute personal videos). IDEA is a process that incorporates traditional practices of Elder storytelling to teach youth but integrates multimedia digital forms of expression to make sense of the lessons and to increase impact. IDEA has been used as a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) model, as a educational strategy that includes local and cultural knowledges to meet high school educational requirements (i.e. English, life skills, social studies, history), and as an intervention to increase youth mental wellbeing. The IDEA model offers a framework for intergenerational learning, personal growth and knowledge development that can be used in community and school settings.