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?
As AI rapidly transforms education, work, and society, young people are among its most active users, yet they are often excluded from the decisions that shape its development and governance. That’s why I work to amplify youth voices about AI regulation and empower AI communities to include youth perspectives in their work. By working with Everyone.AI and the AI Collective I’ve taken to the local, national, and global stage to help create spaces where youth are not just represented, but genuinely listened to and valued.
How is cogeneration helping (or how will it help) you succeed?
Cogeneration has helped me realize that meaningful change happens when different generations collaborate instead of competing for influence. Working with older leaders like Mr. Rich Geisel has shown me how experience and youth perspectives can complement each other to create stronger ideas and impact. For example, while working on Impeccable AI, an app that fits AI literacy into a family dynamic, I offered the perspective of a young person who understands how my generation learns, plays, and interacts with technology. Rich Giesel complemented that perspective with his experience designing educational programs and building communities. Together our different viewpoints helped shape a product that resonates across generations.Â
Got one tip to help other civic leaders collaborate more effectively with older or younger people?
Listen with curiosity instead of assumptions. Younger and older people often approach problems differently, but real collaboration starts when both sides see those differences as strengths instead of obstacles.Â
What’s something giving you joy or hope right now?
What gives me hope is seeing more young people step into conversations about AI, policy, and civic leadership with confidence. It reminds me that the next generation is ready to contribute right now.Â