At CoGenerate, we believe in the power of cogeneration: a strategy to bring older and younger people together to forge bonds across differences, combat polarization and ageism, and help solve today’s toughest problems.
If you’re involved or interested in cogeneration, welcome! If you want to get involved but don’t know where to start, we’ve included 10 ways for you to learn more about the power of cogeneration and start connecting across generations.
- Connect with us. Make sure you’ve signed up for the CoGenerate newsletter and are following us on LinkedIn and Instagram. That way you’ll be sure to hear our latest news, events and opportunities to engage!
- Watch three short videos for inspiration. Our founder and Co-CEO Marc Freedman gives his Brief But Spectacular take on making the most of the multigenerational moment for PBS NewsHour. What does it mean to cogenerate? showcases what 8 inspiring leaders have to say about the power of intergenerational collaboration. And head back to PBS NewsHour for a Brief But Spectacular take on the power of intergenerational communities, a collection of older and younger leaders exploring how to work together.
- Immerse yourself in intergenerational entertainment. Hacks is about a rocky but heartwarming friendship between a legendary Las Vegas comedian and her 25-year-old co-writer. The Pitt showcases the conflict and opportunity of the most intense intergenerational workplace imaginable — the emergency room. Only Murders in the Building is a true crime comedy-drama anchored in the cross-generational collaboration between Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin. And it’s not just TV. We can’t keep up with the amazing intergenerational music collaborations we keep seeing. CoGen Voices Fellow Maya Joshi is collecting some of them here. Feel free to add your favorites!
- Explore CoGenerate’s resources. Our dedicated resources page includes hands-on activities, case studies, research, videos and recommended reading for anyone looking to start cogenerating.
- Read these books. How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations, by CoGenerate founder and co-CEO Marc Freedman. OK Boomer, Let’s Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind, by Jill Filipovic. Aging While Black by CoGenerate board member Raymond A. Jetson. This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism by CoGen Impact Fellow Ashton Applewhite.
- Cogenerate online. Eldera connects vetted adults 60+ with youth ages 6–17 for regular virtual mentoring sessions. Sages & Seekers offers structured 8-week programs pairing teens and older adults. Civic Saturdays bring people together for purposeful events that rebuild faith in one another and our democracy.
- Find an in-person volunteer opportunity. Idealist is an online platform connecting people to social-impact jobs and volunteer opportunities, and you can target by focus area and location. If you’re over 50, check out AARP’s Create the Good, which connects people with opportunities specifically designed for older adults.
- Find an organization building bridges in your community. The Legacy Project pairs college students with older adults for mutual storytelling in schools across the country. Braver Angels is leading the nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement building together across political and societal differences. Perfect Pair connects students and older adults based on personality, background, and mutual interests. You can also check out our directory of community organizations bringing generations together to reduce social isolation and loneliness and find someone cogenerating in your community.
- Take another look at where you’re already spending time. Many of the most impactful cogenerational programs may be right under your nose – in your local library, faith institutions, food banks, schools and political campaigns. Can’t find cogenerational programs there? You can have an impact by advocating for a new, intentionally age-diverse one.
- Start a conversation across generations. This might be the most important first step. Find someone 20+ years older or younger than you, outside your family, who you don’t know well and strike up a conversation. Here’s an icebreaker question we love: “What does it feel like to be your age in the world today?” Give it a shot and see where it takes you!
Did we forget to include something that’s a great way for people to cogenerate? Let us know at [email protected]
