https://youtu.be/Ukh_wa9eXJI What if higher education worked for all ages and stages of life? From career preparation and mid-career retraining to post-career learning and renewal, the “Life Course University” offers a new framework for rethinking higher education to...
https://youtu.be/V1-_uDN4E9M What can we learn about ourselves and each other when we take the time to listen to stories across generations, cultures, and borders? For author Ebony Walden, an eight-month journey through 15 countries became an opportunity to explore...
Intergenerational collaboration starts with our ability to be in genuine dialogue with one another. Use these questions to have a meaningful conversation with someone you’re just getting to know or someone you’d like to know better. Listen well and be vulnerable.The...
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...
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.
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.