The CoGenerate Community of Practice: Strengthening Youth Leadership Through Intergenerational Collaboration
The CoGenerate Community of Practice
Strengthening Youth Leadership Through Intergenerational Collaboration
Youth civic programs unleash passion and creativity, but when they exist apart from older generations, young leaders can only go so far. Real-world change happens in community, not in silos. If we want young people to take on the challenges that matter most, they need opportunities to work with older allies who bring experience, networks and shared purpose.
This four-part community of practice invites youth-centered organizations to reimagine civic engagement as cogenerational: where youngers and olders work side by side to spark change. Through research insights, stories from the field and hands-on practice, participants will develop the mindsets, skills and tools needed to build intergenerational ecosystems – spaces where youngers and olders collaborate as partners to advance civic renewal.
Applications are now closed.
Outcomes
By the end of the Community of Practice, participants will:
- Gain practical tools to design and lead intergenerational civic programs.
- Leave with one or more tested ideas or pilots for integrating older adults into youth leadership work.
- Build confidence facilitating across generations.
- Belong to a growing network of practitioners advancing intergenerational collaboration in civic life.
Schedule
All sessions will take place between 4-5pm PT/ 7 -8pm ET.
Session 1 (Jan 22): From Youth-Only to Intergenerational – Stories from the Field
How do organizations move from youth-only spaces to intergenerational ecosystems? Hear from peers who’ve made that shift. Featured organizations will share candid stories of transition—what sparked the change, what they’ve learned, and how it’s reshaped their work. Participants will reflect on where their own programs might have “age blind spots” and what new possibilities open up when generations connect around shared civic purpose.
Session 2 (Feb 26): The 3Ps of Cogeneration – A Framework for Action
Building on inspiration from the field, this hands-on session introduces the 3Ps Framework – Proximity, Purpose, and Partnership – as a tool for designing intergenerational programs. With younger and older leaders learning side by side, participants will explore how each “P” can strengthen their organization’s civic impact. Through small-group reflection and peer coaching, participants will identify one concrete next step for making their own programs more cogenerational.
Session 3 (March 26): The Practice of Intergenerational Allyship
Cogeneration is more than one-time collaboration – it’s the ongoing practice of working across generations. In this interactive session, youngers and olders will reflect on what it means to be their age in the world today, then explore how to strengthen collaboration across generations – acknowledging real tensions like tokenism, power dynamics and trust. Participants will then translate this experiential learning into practice, identifying tangible ways to embed intergenerational allyship into their own programs and day-to-day work.
Session 4 (April 23): Teach Back
In this culminating session, participants will share what they’ve tried, what’s working, and what’s next as they bring youngers and olders together in their programs. This is a space to celebrate progress, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from each other’s experiments. Together, we’ll identify emerging patterns, promising practices, and opportunities for continued collaboration across organizations and generations.
BONUS SESSION (April 30): Deep Dive: Age-Diversifying Your Board
Is your organization ready to tackle one of the toughest but most transformative shifts in intergenerational collaboration? In this bonus session, we’ll explore real examples of age-diverse boards, wrestle with common tensions, and imagine new governance practices that balance power and amplify youth voice while honoring older leadership.
Who is the Community of Practice for?
This Community of Practice is for leaders of youth civic or leadership programs – both youth and adults – who want to explore how partnering across generations can strengthen their work.
What will I gain?
You’ll walk away with
- Practical tools to design and lead intergenerational civic programs.
- One or more tested ideas or pilots for integrating older adults into youth leadership work.
- More confidence facilitating across generations.
- Membership in a growing network of practitioners advancing intergenerational collaboration in civic life.
What’s the time commitment?
Four 60-minute virtual sessions from January to April 2026. You’ll also have small assignments between sessions to help you apply what you’re learning.
How do I sign up?
Applications are now closed.
When is the deadline to register?
Applications closed on Friday, January 16.
Why are sessions scheduled at 4pm PT / 7pm ET?
We chose this time so that youth participants can join after school. Including young people isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s central to how we practice cogeneration. We know this timing may be challenging for some, but we hope participants can adjust their schedules so we can learn and lead across generations together.
Do I need to attend every session?
We encourage you to join all four, since each one builds on the last. But if you have to miss a session, you’ll receive the recording and key takeaways afterward.
Can my teammates join too?
Absolutely! We encourage teams to participate together—especially youth–adult pairs or groups. Just remember: submit the registration form once per organization, and after your spot is confirmed, each teammate should complete the individual Zoom registration using the link we send you.
Is there a cost to participate?
Participation is free, thanks to support from our funders. Space is limited, so please register early.
How are sessions hosted?
All sessions will take place on Zoom. You can expect a mix of short presentations, breakout discussions, and hands-on activities.
Will youth take part in the sessions?
Yes. This Community of Practice is itself an opportunity to practice cogeneration—to learn side by side, share power, and model the kind of intergenerational collaboration we hope to see in the world.
What if my organization is just getting started with this kind of work?
Perfect. This community is for everyone—from those exploring intergenerational collaboration for the first time to those already experimenting in their programs.
What happens after the Community of Practice ends?
You’ll be invited to stay connected through CoGenerate’s network. We’ll keep you posted on future opportunities to share and continue your learning so we can keep building the field together.