As an educator, Jim Evers was known for his positive outlook, his creativity, his futuristic/visionary thinking and his desire to improve the independent living of older adults as well as those living with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s, Autism and developmental delays.

Jim began his career as a middle school English teacher in the public school system. At the age of 35, he and his wife Marylin founded an open education school called the Rockland Project School.  For 15+ years this K-8 school used project based learning to educate our youth. From here, Jim returned to the public school system in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ where he once again taught middle school English until he retired.

Project based educational approaches  were central to Jim’s work in retirement as well.  One of his first businesses upon retirement was mentoring educators on implementing teaching strategies based on their student strengths.

Several years later, and adjusting to the passing of his wife, Jim founded the Grassroots Projects. Through this organization, Jim continued to inspire others to live joyously, creatively and with a sense of community. The first programs supported by Grassroots were Movement for Joy - a dance program for people with Parkinson’s, and Arts Inclusion - an art program bringing together neuro-typical teens with those living with developmental delays.  Of particular note was the development of the Rockland County Village Community (RCVC) . Weekly meetings of participants resulted in a comradery of older adults, inspired by Jim’s vision of a supportive community helping each other “Age in Place.”  This included emotional support,  assistance in daily living, and referrals. Jim’s recognition of the value of older adults was additionally realized in his initiation of The  Legacy Story Collecting Project.  Through this initiative, Jim encouraged story collecting as a means of honoring the lives and journeys of everyday individuals.

In 2015, at the age of 80, Jim returned to teaching, this time through The Learning Collaborative of Rockland  County. His first course, “The Brain as We Age,” was co-taught with one of his former students, and ultimately led to the development of The Rockland County Village Community and their weekly “Appreciation Monday '' breakfast meetings. For nearly a decade, Jim taught older adults on a range of topics such as Ray Kurzeil’s Idea on Singularity, Aging in Place and Creative and Critical Thinking Skills.

During COVID, Jim continued to teach online, embracing the technology that made this possible.  In fact, he would go on to teach the senior community to view technological innovations such as AI and ChatGPT  as beneficial rather than something to be intimidated by.  It is during this time that Jim also wrote and promoted a learning approach called 3-D Open Thinking, inspired by a model at Stanford University. Once again, Jim supported project based learning that encourages creative ideation by promoting the strengths of each member within the group.

Jim’s mind was a study in perpetual motion. He was always actively learning, as well as teaching.  And he always HAD AN IDEA for another project that he wanted to bring to his community.  

In 2022, at the age of 88, while teaching at The Learning Collaborative, Jim developed a program called The Intergenerational Project. Through this work, Jim facilitated connections between teens and older adults. Whether online or via in-person meetings, bridges were made between both age groups, with each finding value and meaning in the knowledge and experiences of the other.  In addition to this work, Jim became an avid participant in the work going on at the MIT AgeLab. Jim regularly participated in national online intergenerational meetings (OMEGA Chat hours) and promoted connections between the teens of The Intergenerational Project and the MIT AgeLab.

Jim Evers touched the lives of thousands of people with his never ending pursuit of knowledge and his desire to infuse positivity and creativity in the community around him.