Opening Minds through Art (OMA)

✨ TOMORROW ✨ Hear from OMA Facilitator, Eileen , as she shares with us how she brings OMA into people's homes.

Register at: bit.ly/4l8YwBP

We're looking for partners to meet with students on ScrippsAVID!

Greetings all,

AVID (Arts-based Virtual Intergenerational Discovery) is a program of the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami. Currently, they are short on community partners to pair with students. Weekly sessions start next week! The sessions focus on conversation and doing arts together (art, music, poetry, etc.) for 1 hour each week.
Here are some of the activities possible (student and community partner have choice in what they do!):
https://avid.scrippsoma.org/activities-introduction

You would need to be available to meet weekly with a student on Thursdays from 1:35-2:35
or Fridays 10:25-11:25 am.
Attendance is essential as students are enrolled for credit and have assignments to complete.

This is a program for anyone over age 60. It is arts-based like OMA but not focused on individuals with dementia. Several of the community partners, including me, have been paired with a student in the classes for the past 3 or 4 semesters. We keep coming back because it is interesting, fun, enlightening, and just a wonderful way to spend an hour each week for 10 weeks. I enjoy getting to know a student, doing the activities, and meeting other community members from everywhere. Most have a Miami affiliation. They may be local, but many live elsewhere now and it's great to connect. A highlight this semester is a collaborative project that is part of an NEA grant - so you'll be helping with research also.

The instructor, Kate P., is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and supportive of each student and partner. Questions? Contact Kate P at [email protected].

OMA Continues to GROW! Congratulations to the newest cadre of certified OMA Facilitators graduating last week! Well done Art for the Journey Master OMA Facilitator Training team! - TEN strong people who deeply believe in and witness the profound power of Opening Minds through Art (OMA)! Special THANK YOU to Dr. Dianne Simons for fearless leading of the in-person training, carrying the torch forward for the spectacular award-winning intergenerational program impacting lives of older adults AND young volunteers, and so many more! This training was made possible in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts! and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, and the generosity of many AFJ supporters!

OMA's Associate Director, Krysta Peterson, traveled to Okinawa, Japan in the fall of 2025.

For our next webinar, she'll be joined by members of her travel group to reflect on their insights, meaningful moments, and how the experience is shaping their work now.

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 2pm EST!

Register here: bit.ly/4tuZz2L

Join us Wednesday, February 18 at 3pm EST for our next Virtual Playtime!

We’re kicking things off with our first project outside of the binder, and it’s one you definitely don’t want to miss.

Come create, connect, and experience the project alongside fellow facilitators before trying it in your own community.

✨ This is a member-only event. Not a member yet? Join us using the link below and jump right in!

OMAnetwork.mn.co

Interested or know someone who wants to connect with students at Miami University for weekly virtual conversations?

It may seem simple, but connection changes everything 💜

Visit our website or send us a message for more information!

⏰ Last chance to join as a Founding OMA Facilitator!

Already this month, members have:
✨ Unlocked a brand-new OMA art project
👕 Entered (and won!) our OMA t-shirt giveaway
🤝 Started building a connected, supportive facilitator community

✨ Join us for our webinar tomorrow to learn what’s coming in 2026. Everyone is welcome!

Register here: bit.ly/460moB7