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https://youtu.be/DMmhqffPUWc As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are the most age-diverse society in human history — and the most age-segregated. Our next chapter will depend on our ability to work across generations.In commemoration of the United...
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You’ve seen our recent studies on what younger leaders want from older allies, and what older leaders want from younger allies.
Our newest study, What Teen Leaders Want—and Don’t Want—from Older Allies (coming December 3), turns to the next generation of changemakers, the youngest members of Gen Z. Over the past four months, we interviewed a diverse group of 26 teen leaders, ages 12 to 19, from across the country to find out what they believe helps and hinders intergenerational collaboration.
These teen leaders are already shaping their communities. A few examples:
Teen leaders “have made it clear how much they have to offer their communities and our democracy,” the report notes. “When adults leave them out or marginalize them or just talk too much, they leave so much talent on the table.”
The report, which captures teen leaders’ voices in words and video, includes five key insights, recommendations, and a conversation guide.
| Register now for a Dec. 11 briefing on the study’s findings with a panel of teens. |
The five insights are:
1. We’re not your children.
“Adults sometimes only know how to relate to young people through the lens of their own kids, and that can get messy fast.”
— Kayla Pilgrim
2. Listen. Period.
“Sometimes adults jump in with advice when all we needed was someone to hear us out.”
— Lucinda Mattingly
3. Don’t invite us for optics.
“Bring us in to build something real.”
— Molly McAlvanah
4. We’ll match your energy.
“If you come in confident and real, we’ll match that. That’s how you build trust.”
— Kate Schenk
5. We want the power to change things.
“Sometimes we need a translator for how power works.”
— Laura Gomez
The report issues a call to adults and youth-serving organizations “to think differently – to move beyond one-way mentorship models and toward genuine, two-way partnerships where teens and older allies work side by side for change.”
Supported by the Bezos Family Foundation with additional funding from The Eisner Foundation, the study is part of a larger effort to help youth-serving organizations prepare teens to work with older adults to strengthen civic life and community.
In the coming months, we’ll launch a new community of practice for youth-centered organizations eager to advance cogeneration in civic life and announce a new fellowship for older and younger leaders who want to develop their public voices together. Stay tuned!
A final note: CoGen Impact Fellow Dillon St. Bernard is the study’s author and producer of the accompanying video. Dillon, 25, is Chief Creative Officer of Team DSB, a collective supporting the digital communications and cultural strategy needs of purpose-driven brands, organizations, and creators who ignite movements.