The 21 civic leaders taking part in CoGenerate’s Voices fellowship are a diverse group. They range in age from 15 to 81, and each focuses on a different aspect of civic work. But they’re all well-versed in the ins and outs of effective intergenerational collaboration....
https://youtu.be/DMmhqffPUWc As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are the most age-diverse society in human history — and the most age-segregated. Our next chapter will depend on our ability to work across generations.In commemoration of the United...
On a Sunday evening in mid-May, two chefs collaborated on “The Future of the Creamery,” a five-course tasting event at Long Count, an all-vegan wine bar and restaurant in New York City’s East Village. Forty years apart in age, both chefs have towering reputations —...
Simple question: Do you miss human connection when you use self-checkout at the grocery store? Complex question: How is cogeneration threatened by AI, profit-driven “efficiencies,” and automation — and what can we do about it? Allison Pugh, author of the book The Last...
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.