https://youtu.be/Ukh_wa9eXJI What if higher education worked for all ages and stages of life? From career preparation and mid-career retraining to post-career learning and renewal, the “Life Course University” offers a new framework for rethinking higher education to...
https://youtu.be/V1-_uDN4E9M What can we learn about ourselves and each other when we take the time to listen to stories across generations, cultures, and borders? For author Ebony Walden, an eight-month journey through 15 countries became an opportunity to explore...
Intergenerational collaboration starts with our ability to be in genuine dialogue with one another. Use these questions to have a meaningful conversation with someone you’re just getting to know or someone you’d like to know better. Listen well and be vulnerable.The...
When we first began planning the CoGen Voices Fellowship, we knew we'd face a few challenges. The group of 21 community changemakers was intentionally diverse — by age (15 to 81!), race, location, work, experience, and more. We'd have to meet many different needs and...
Why do you do the civic or community work that you do?
I do civic and community work because I care about people feeling like their voices matter. A lot of my involvement has been through Migrant Justice, which has shown me how powerful it can be when people have space to share their experiences and advocate for themselves. I’m especially passionate about making sure younger people feel like they have a place in those conversations and that their ideas are taken seriously.
How is cogeneration helping (or how will it help) you succeed?
Cogeneration is helping me become more confident in sharing my voice because it’s reminded me that I have something meaningful to contribute, even when I’m one of the younger people in the room. It’s also helped me appreciate how much perspective comes from lived experience. Some of the conversations I’ve had through this fellowship have challenged the way I think about issues I care about, and I’ve learned a lot from that.
Got one tip to help other civic leaders collaborate more effectively with older or younger people?
Lead with curiosity. Some of the best conversations I’ve had happened because I asked a question instead of assuming I already knew the answer. In the Youth250 cohort, there were a few moments where hearing someone else’s perspective completely changed how I was thinking about an issue. Giving people the space to share where they’re coming from can go a long way.
What’s something giving you joy or hope right now?
This fellowship! I’ve really enjoyed hearing people talk about their experiences and the work they care about. It’s been meaningful to watch people open up and learn from each other so quickly. In a time when it feels like people are often talking past each other, it’s refreshing to be in a space where people are genuinely listening.