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?
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 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.
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.
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.