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 consider doing this work the rent I pay for living in a democracy dedicated to justice and equality. It’s also my responsibility to future generations. President Kennedy inspired me, then in my teens, when he challenged me to focus on what I could do for my country.
How is cogeneration helping (or how will it help) you succeed?
Knowing and collaborating with people younger and older than I am gives me perspectives and insights that are often different from mine. Cogeneration helps me continue my own life of learning and expands my personal capacity to get things done.
Got one tip to help other civic leaders collaborate more effectively with older or younger people?
My tip actually applies to collaborating with all people – even those who are your own age: Listen closely with real curiosity to learn and understand others’ interests, perspectives and experience.
What’s something giving you joy or hope right now?
Collaborating with people older and younger than I am, and making new friendships with some of them, helps me realize I am not alone with my hopes for the future. Each time I do something to strengthen our democracy, I think about how to engage different generations.Â
This past Flag Day, it brought me joy to bring together neighbors, ranging from high schoolers to a dear friend who is 98, to watch and sing along with the First Amendment Concert at Town Hall in New York City.