CoGenerate

Looking to build meaningful connections across generations but not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! ?? Our new Resources page is packed with tools, activities, and expert guidance to help you foster intergenerational connections and drive real change. Here’s what you’ll find: ?? Activities: Discussion guides, games, and tips for sparking intergenerational dinner conversations. ?? Case Studies: Lessons from three organizations that mastered effective cogeneration. ?? Research: Data to help you make the case for why cogeneration works. ?? Videos: Engaging explainers to showcase the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of cogeneration. ?? Readings: Books, articles, and guides for diving deeper or starting a group discussion. Whether you’re brainstorming, planning your first event, or scaling a program, these resources are here to guide you every step of the way. Explore the page today and start bridging generational divides: cogenerate.org/resources

When we talk about bridging divides, a kind of difference that often gets left out of the conversation is age. And yet each of us has firsthand experience building relationships with people of different generations - not just in our families but often in our workplaces, faith communities, and other facets of everyday life. On top of that, there is ample evidence of the mutual benefits that flow from having meaningful relationships with people of different age groups. I’ve learned so much from my friends at CoGenerate - Marc Freedman , Eunice Lin Nichols and Marci Alboher - about the unique power of connection across generations. They’ve also helped me see the systemic and cultural barriers that get in the way: age-segregated places and institutions, zero-sum policy debates, ageism, and narrow narratives about purpose in older adulthood - to name a few. Systemic challenges call for systemic solutions. That said, as with addressing other forms of division, people also have agency to do things that can make a difference, and those small acts add up. In that spirit, I love the new CoGen Pledge and the practical actions it invites us to take. Check it out and sign on.

Love this! Catch the full video of the panel: https://lnkd.in/e3BaJNNg

We launched the CoGen Pledge to show that people are committed to making intergenerational collaboration a part of everyday life. Now, we're ready to help you turn that commitment into action. Whether you’re feeling stuck and unsure where to start or you're already an advocate for cogeneration looking for fresh ideas and connections, we're hosting a free, virtual event just for you. Our panelists will share real stories, practical advice, and simple ways to start — or deepen — your cogenerational efforts. Register now: https://lnkd.in/e5Q6c_X5 Featuring: ? Arielle Galinsky – CoGenerate Senior Fellow, Harvard grad student, and co-founder of The Legacy Project, Inc. ? Natalie Heller – Gen Z Advisor, Climate Mental Health Network ? Julie Burkley – Director of Programs, FriendshipWorks ? Carol McCullough, Adjunct Instructor, Drexel University; Community Researcher, Justice-Oriented Youth (JoY) Education Lab and Founding Member of the Writers Room at Drexel

Does humor help or hurt conversations about generational differences? Are we too cautious about making jokes across age lines? And why are so many 65-year-old men obsessed with the weather? CoGenerate colleagues Marci Alboher and Duncan Magidson tackle all those questions and more in latest edition of Overheard on Text, inspired by SNL’s 50th anniversary.

Loneliness and isolation impact millions—but change starts when we know where to act and how to make a difference. That’s why AARP is backing the Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act, which is because standardized ways to measure connection and disconnection will help public health leaders, communities, and policymakers create more effective strategies to bring people together. The work to reconnect our communities is gaining momentum—and we’re just getting started. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/evFzUEwr

Grandpas United is proving that connection knows no age limit! As an Innovation Fellow and part of our Community of Practice on Social Isolation and Loneliness, they show the power of purpose-driven volunteering—bridging generations and building stronger communities. As member Marc Sharff puts it, “One of the things that I love about Grandpas is not only with the kids. It’s the camaraderie in building new friendships, and I cherish that.” Their work shows how older adults can create a lasting impact by mentoring youth, strengthening neighborhoods, and fostering belonging at every age. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7pW2Njb

Too often, we place the weight of the climate crisis on young people, but real change happens when generations work together. TONIGHT, join Susanne Stadler and climate activist Rick Moody for a conversation about the role of eco elders—older adults stepping up as part of the solution. Rick puts it simply: “The language of climate action in four words: Here, Now, You, Hope.” Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/e94yXGR4

Vision, vision, vision A big part of making change starts with an ability to see beyond what’s visible. At the time of horse-drawn carriages people couldn’t imagine a car with an engine. It takes a different way of looking at the world to invent a better future (it can’t just be an incremental improvement on the present).? Imagining a future and believing change is possible are precursor factors to taking any action with a sense of conviction. Imagination is what differentiates humans from animals. And yet it is one of our weakest skill sets because we are trained in facts (which emphasizes what is and what has been over what could be). The irony is that the more we know, the less we often believe is possible because we know all the ways things can’t work!? Let’s ALL lean into cultivating our own individual and collective sense of vision and possibility for the future so we can all strengthen that skill. Just like a muscle, the more we practice anything, the stronger we get. There are so many things that we have the opportunity to envision, starting with:? * New models for people to live, work, build community, and stay healthy * New educational models? * New economic models? * New ways to relating to the environment * And so much more Being around inspiring visions and visionary people/organizations can help spark our own creative juices. Here are a few organizations that inspire me with their visions: * CoGenerate - Bringing older and younger generations together to solve social problems in living, working, and learning * Ashoka - Creating a world where everyone is a Changemaker (and supporting social entrepreneurs addressing all pressing social issues) * Bringing Theory to Practice - The Paradigm Project is rethinking networks and models for holistic and inclusive higher education * Ashoka - New Longevity - Redesigning systems for aging with health, impact, and lifelong contribution at the center Tagging my futurist friends in case they have relevant resources for those of us who want to upskill on envisioning and designing the future we want in the context of rapid change: Dr Craig Wing Bryan Alexander Question for all: What is happening right now in terms of enabling more people to cultivate new visions of the future, especially during times of rapid change? Any key resources to know about for cultivating imagination and future vision capability? Any community support around collaborative and collective models of envisioning the future? Please share!! Marc Freedman Eunice Lin Nichols Marci Alboher Stefanie Weiss Cristina Rodriguez Janet Oh Duncan Magidson Nicole Pitre Ewing, M.Adm, CNP David Scobey Paul Schadewald Peter Felten Buffie Longmire-Avital Timothy K. Eatman Pascale Charlot Tessa Peterson Maria Clara Pinheiro Hae-young Lee Diana Wells Michael Zakaras Simon Stumpf Olga Shirobokova Daniela de Carvalho Matielo Sarah Berghorst Dustin Liu

How to Age Up, the new podcast from The Atlantic is rethinking what it means to grow older. Eunice Lin Nichols is featured as a guest this season, and you can hear her quoted twice in the trailer! ?? Her vision for cross-generational connection is part of a growing movement to redefine aging as a time of purpose and community-building. As more people seek meaningful ways to connect across generations, How to Age Up shows what’s possible when we come together to rewrite the story of aging. ?? Listen to the trailer here https://lnkd.in/ecxptCiQ