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’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.