Resources

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Below are free resources for research and learning and taking action in your community.

Book Recommendations for Adults

Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon by Paola Gianturco

Whether fighting for the environment, human rights, education, health, or cultural preservation, a new generation of activist grandmothers across the world are using their strength, wisdom, and hearts to make a difference.

Collective Wisdom by Grace Bonney

In this rich and multilayered collection of interviews, conversations, and intimate photographs, over 100 trailblazing women describe the ups, downs, and lessons learned while forging their unique paths.

Grandmothers and Grandmothering edited by Kathy Mantas

Grandmothers and Grandmothering: Creative and Critical Contemplations in Honour of our Women Elders, as the title suggests, seeks to pay homage to our grandmothers and their contributions to society. 

Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life by Louise Aronson

Reminiscent of Oliver Sacks, noted Harvard-trained geriatrician Louise Aronson uses stories from her quarter century of caring for patients, and draws from history, science, literature, popular culture, and her own life to weave a vision of old age that's neither nightmare nor utopian fantasy--a vision full of joy, wonder, frustration, outrage, and hope about aging, medicine, and humanity itself.

Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble by Stephen Jenkinson

With lyrical prose and incisive insight, Stephen Jenkinson explores the great paradox of elderhood in North America: how we are awash in the aged and yet somehow lacking in wisdom; how we relegate senior citizens to the corner of the house while simultaneously heralding them as sage elders simply by virtue of their age. Our own unreconciled relationship with what it means to be an elder has yielded a culture nearly bereft of them. 

Grandmother Wisdom compiled and produced by Ma Creative

Grandmothers Wisdom: Reverence for all Creation is a ground-breaking portrayal of traditional spiritual women and an inspiration for all. The stories are ageless wisdom of earth-based cultures that can benefit all people in today’s climate of disconnection, preparing and opening pathways for the future generations.

Book Recommendations for Children

Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers? by Junauda Petrus

This picture book debut imagines a radically positive future where police aren’t in charge of public safety and community well-being.

Grandmother's Dreamcatcher by Becky R. McCain

While spending a week with her grandmother who, like her is a Chippewa Indian, Kimmy learns to make a dreamcatcher which allows the sleeper to have only sweet dreams.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña

A young boy, CJ, rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.

Grandma's Tiny House a Counting Story by JaNay Brown-Wood

In rhyming text, when the whole family and guests show up for the big dinner at Grandma's house, it becomes clear that the house is much too small to hold them all.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit.

Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby

Every Sunday night a young girl and her grandmother go on an imaginary shopping trip using play money and the advertisements in the newspaper as a guide for their purchases.

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B Deenihan

When Grandma gives you a lemon tree, definitely don't make a face! Care for the tree, and you might be surprised at how new things, and new ideas, bloom. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Grandma and Me by Carole Boston Weatherford

With simple rhyming text, a young child reflects on the many reasons they love their Grandmother.

A Grandma's Magic by Charlotte Offsay

A grandma’s magic bursts through the door as soon as she comes to visit and can be seen in every wonderful thing she does: playing, exploring, baking, gardening, and in all the many ways a grandma and grandchild connect.

Research and Learning

Grandmothers and Social Change - GMC White Paper.pdf

GMC's paper on the role of grandmothers in changemaking everywhere

The age of the grandparent has arrived _ The Economist (1).pdf

The Economist: The age of the grandparent has arrived

Neglect of culture in research and practice.pdf

New Research: Neglect of Culture in Global Health Research and Practice

Interview: Exploring Change Through Culture with Dr. Judi Aubel 

Ted Talk: Why I train grandmothers to treat depression by Dixon Chibanda

Grandmother Action Resources 

Below are some other social change resources to check out! 

Changemaking.net

Learn about how to affect the systems that are in our way and not just symptoms from Ashoka, the largest network of social entrepreneurs around the world.

AARP Livable Communities Library

A large grouping of FREE publications to help community leaders and residents make where they live more livable for people of all ages.

The Grandparents Academy

GrandparentsAcademy.com is the world's first and only online academy dedicated to helping grandparents grow meaningful relationships and rich legacies with their loved ones.  

Changing the Narrative - Host and Intergenerational Conversation

A toolkit from the Changing the Narrative team focused on hosting intergenerational conversation to help get everyone on the same page and fight ageism in our societies. 

Please let us know at info@grandmothercollective.org if there are other resources you'd like to see!