Have You Heard #181 It Takes a Village (No, Really)
Jul 25, 2024
Tom Berkshire, a passionate advocate for children and reforming the foster care system, shares insights alongside journalist and educator Nora De La Cour. They explore Treehouse, a unique community in Massachusetts fostering love and support for foster kids while providing affordable housing for seniors. The conversation highlights the importance of intergenerational bonds, community resilience, and the challenges faced by those in the foster care system. Listeners are uplifted by personal stories illustrating the transformative power of belonging and mentorship.
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Treehouse Origins
- Judy Cockerton envisioned Treehouse, an intergenerational community, after a meeting with the mayor.
- The community aims to support foster children and provide affordable housing for seniors.
Foster Care Crisis
- Judy Cockerton, a former teacher and foster parent, was driven to create Treehouse by a concerning statistic.
- 25,000 young people age out of foster care annually, at risk of homelessness.
Hope Meadows
- The intergenerational community concept originated with sociologist Brenda Krause Eheart during the crack cocaine epidemic.
- Hope Meadows, the first such community, was established on a decommissioned Air Force base in Illinois.