De Pere Health Department and high school team up on InterGen Tech Bar experience

DE PERE – In collaboration, West De Pere High School and the De Pere Health Department will begin their first InterGen Tech Bar sessions for older adults seeking guidance with technology.

Youth volunteers from the community will come together to share their own knowledge with another generation, helping ensure navigating online platforms can be as safe and easy as possible.

Amy Darnick, Administrative Assistant for the city of De Pere, explained that this project was greatly influenced by the people in her own life and her focus on helping her community thrive.

Darnick shared seeing her grandparents and parents run into trouble with evolving systems and her own children excel in it led her to the idea, she said, “It would be a great idea if we had our youth in our community come together and help the seniors in our community.”

Public Health Nurse for De Pere, Danielle Teske also weighed in on this experience in the community. Teske gave insight into the many other programs the Health Department composes that often require a website feature which can become a buffer for older adults. She said, “So many things are online, so many things are QR codes. We try to always have a call-in option, but they really want to learn and be able to do it.”

While participants of the sessions are building their knowledge, these experiences are also crucial for the youth to get involved. Creating a space for intergenerational conversations helps build patience and appreciation through face-to-face interactions. Teske discussed the importance of these experiences through a connection standpoint as well, stressing the importance of building a feeling of belonging with the people in your community.

This idea was emphasized by Darnick as well; she said, “The InterGen Tech Bar is about more than technology. It’s an opportunity to bring generations together, help community members feel more confident with technology, and create meaningful connections between students and older adults as they learn from one another.”

Julia Whipp and Maryn Steenbock, members of West De Pere High School’s DECA program, have taken on this event as a community awareness project echoed those notions.

Whipp, a current Junior, serves as chair of the commission on De Pere’s Youth Commission. She explained how this event will pull in people of all different perspectives and give them an opportunity to spread technological skills and awareness.

Sophomore student, Steenbock described it as “a really special opportunity to be presented” and the excitement of doing something impactful for the community around them within something that first started as an assignment.

The young women, along with Health Department staff, hope to see the sessions grow in participants and volunteers over the coming monthly meetings expanding until May. Anyone planning on joining is encouraged to email or call ahead of time and request any suggestions on subjects to be covered.

Although a heads up is suggested, anyone can come as a walk-in and join. If you are interested in attending or volunteering for a session, you can contact Amy Darnick at adarnick@deperewi.gov or (920)-339-4072 x1262. All sessions are to be held at the De Pere Community Center Oak Room, located at 600 Grant St., De Pere.

Pass It Forward™ editorial is sponsored by Packers Give Back, Nicolet National Bank and the National Trust for Local News.