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...
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,...
https://youtu.be/OedAsZVTm9U?si=q20TIH8zuwPEhE0a Today in the US, more than 2.4 million children whose parents are unable to care for them live in grandfamilies, where they are raised by grandparents or other loved ones. Until recently, their experiences have been all...
Ernie, 80 and Cedar, 13, show off the rocks they decorated with symbols based on their conversation.Last month, I traveled to Chautauqua, a 150-year-old institute in western New York that brings thousands of people together for summer programs focused on lifelong...
Why do you do the civic or community work that you do?
I started Lifting Hearts with the Arts inspired by the connection I had with my grandparents growing up. Whether it was over mornings painting with my grandpa or afternoons cooking with my grandma, they have been a constant presence in my life. Now just over 6 years later, I still work to think of new ways to connect generations through the arts because I strongly believe that art in all forms can bring people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and ages together.Â
I also feel that cross-generational friendships are in (and should always be in!) because both friendly and professional intergenerational connections are key to making broader changes my generation (and others) hope to see. I have felt this both through Lifting Hearts, recognizing that one age-group’s perspective on a community issue isn’t enough, as well as through jobs, such as in biomedical research, where my coworkers are of a different generation and where I have seen the beauty of multigenerational perspectives coming together.
How is cogeneration helping (or how will it help) you succeed?
Cogeneration has helped me learn how to more effectively approach community and larger issues as well as recognize the power and need for intergenerational dialogue across sectors. Many of the challenges communities face, such as housing or healthcare, affect people differently across the lifespan, making solutions stronger when they are informed by collaboration from people with varying lived experiences and perspectives. I’m also truly grateful to the people in other generations, and even my own, who have intentionally made room for my voice by lifting it up and who have generously taken the time to listen to my experiences and share their own in return.
Got one tip to help other civic leaders collaborate more effectively with older or younger people?
Ask lots of questions to learn more about them before you begin talking about working together!
What’s something giving you joy or hope right now?
I think I’ve become used to being the youngest or one of the youngest people in some spaces when talking about aging/intergenerational programming. But it’s super exciting now to get to hear from people younger than me and the next generation of aging/cogeneration leaders through the CoGen Voices fellowship!