Some partnerships fade over time. Others become part of a community’s identity.

One of those enduring connections has been quietly thriving for more than five decades. Since the 1970s, students from Indian Mounds Elementary have made the short walk to Martin Luther Senior Living, where classrooms give way to conversations, laughter, and shared experiences across generations.

Each month, that walk becomes a bridge between ages, where students and residents sit together exploring computer science, take to the open air flying kites, lift their voices in song, or lend a hand preparing items for Meals on Wheels. What begins as a visit quickly becomes a lasting connection and a sense of belonging that reaches well beyond the school day.

“The relationships are truly amazing. Students learn a lot about what it means to care about community members,” said Indian Mounds principal Liz Lodermeier.

The intergenerational connections build community and create joyful memories that leave a lasting impact. That’s the case for Sam Olmstead, a former Indian Mounds student who remembers those visits as a kindergartener.

“I grew up across the street and remember watching long lines of kids walking over in what seemed like an annual pilgrimage. Eventually I became one of those kids and was part of that experience,” said Olmstead. 

Olmstead continued visiting through his childhood, often playing music for the residents with his family. Now as a husband and father of four, Olmstead says he felt a tug to return, so he became a regular volunteer at Martin Luther last year.

“We are a community, but we don’t always realize it. Those visits with my classmates and my family normalized the residents as part of my community and neighborhood,” said Olmstead.