Wilf Campus Multicultural Group builds bridges

SOMERSET, N.J. - Feb. 24, 2016 - PRLog -- With a little help, even a sneeze can help build bridges. Participants in the multicultural group at the Wilentz Senior Residence discovered that when someone asked how to say ‘Bless you!’ in Chinese.

They have been exploring all sorts of other expressions, and in the process building friendship and a warmer living environment.

The residence, part of the Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living, in Somerset, includes residents and staff from a wide range of races, religions and countries of origin.

Social service coordinator Marnie Kean runs the regular Multicultural Meeting to help residents deal with the needs that arise from living in such a diverse community. Between 40 and 50 people come. “We have a translator present at all meetings, so that information can be relayed and the community can communicate as a whole together, and understand each other,” Kean said.

Jennifer Ortiz, the Activities Coordinator, attends the meeting as well and organizes social activities that appeal to the whole building. “At one point, people got so excited about a trip to the 911 museum in New York City, we had to organize two trips to accommodate everyone.” states Kean and Ortiz.

At the meetings, English-speaking and Chinese-speaking residents have been addressing language barriers. That’s when the sneeze question arose. They also compared ways of saying “Hello” and “thank you.”

“These discussions have opened up friendship and conversation among the residents and produced more positive feelings about living together,” Kean said. “The environment  is very pleasant and friendly.”

Another example of positive communal living came at the group’s holiday party.   An English-speaking resident wanted to ask a Chinese-speaking resident where to get a specific kind of noodle. Another resident stepped in and translated. “Later that week,” Kean said, “the Chinese-speaking resident brought the noodles to the English-speaking resident’s apartment. There was so much appreciation and a nice connection was made.”

A bilingual volunteer is planning to start a conversational English-Chinese group, to help build that connection among the residents.

For more information on the Wilentz Senior Residence  Click here. http://www.wilfcampus.org/independent-living  .The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living is comprised of Stein Assisted Living, Jaffa Gate Memory Care Neighborhood, Stein Hospice, Wilentz Senior Residence, Wilf Transport, Wilf At Home, and The Foundation at the Wilf Campus. For more information, contact us at (732) 568-1155 (tel:%28732%29%20568-1155), info@wilfcampus.org (javascript:window.top.ZmObjectManager.__doClickObject(doc...) or visit us at www.wilfcampus.org.