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’m the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Climate Collaborative, a global, youth-led organization equipping young climate leaders with the skills, access, and relationships to sustain and scale their leadership and initiatives. I am motivated by knowing that what I say and do matters, no matter the scale of impact. I am motivated by a better future that’s possible and would improve life for all beings.
How is cogeneration helping (or how will it help) you succeed?
Cogeneration strengthens the fabric of society. When we are working together, we are combining generations of wisdom, institutional knowledge, diverse perspectives and lived experiences, and that is so powerful for making change happen effectively and collaboratively. Mammoth issues like climate change and decentralization of power require us to work across generations with open hearts and minds. We can’t do this without each other.
Got one tip to help other civic leaders collaborate more effectively with older or younger people?
Share a meal together and get to know one another better. This means learning about each other’s upbringings, worldviews, and values to understand each other as people first. This leads to increased comfort and openness to discover alignment and shared goals, and figure out how to work together moving forward.
What’s something giving you joy or hope right now?
My peers. I am amazed by the talent of my peers and their kindness – how eager we are to help each other on our changemaking journeys. I don’t feel alone, and that’s thanks to them.