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 created a club at my high school called Golden Connections after my grandmother came to live with my family. I noticed a lot of meaningful conversations were happening but not many students my age were part of them. I wanted to create something that made those connections accessible whether you have a grandparent close by or not.
Golden Connections brings students and seniors together through stories, conversations, and activities. We often collaborate with Olive Community Center, a local senior center, to do activities together. I actively write and speak about intergenerational interactions and why they are important.
How is cogeneration helping (or how will it help) you succeed?
Cogeneration helped me become a better listener and leader. Through my club I have learned that some of the best ideas come from bringing together people of different generations, backgrounds, and experiences. Older adults have offered me guidance and views on life that I could not have gained alone. Working across generations has given me the confidence to do things like public speaking because I’ve already worked with others who don’t think alike.
Got one tip to help other civic leaders collaborate more effectively with older or younger people?
Just ask any questions you have instead of assuming things. A lot of times we enter an intergenerational space with preconceived opinions or ideas on what the other generation needs. But I think the strongest collaborations happen when we share our experience, ask questions, and learn from others instead of jumping to conclusions.
What’s something giving you joy or hope right now?
The other younger people who are taking a real interest in the aging space give me joy. Previously, in various settings, I was often the one and only younger person. It was always a little uncomfortable when no one was my age and there wasn’t anyone I could immediately relate to. But there are other young fellows in our CoGen Voices cohort, some the same age as me, and it has given me joy to see that many of us really do care about the aging space and are trying to take a more active role in it.