Envisioning an Intergenerational World
What would it be like if generations really got along?
One powerful and potentially lasting way to fight against ageism is to foster greater connections between older and younger generations. The generational divide — caused as much by tribalism as by age — may seem difficult to overcome, but there are beacons of light in the darkness that can help us envision an intergenerational world. Here are three innovative examples:
Encore.org — Encore is a vanguard in bringing together generations. According to this nonprofit organization, “For the first time in U.S. history, people over 60 outnumber people under 18, raising fears of widening generational divides. Encore.org sees another path — a more-old-than-young society that works for all generations. By accelerating intergenerational solutions to pressing social problems from literacy to loneliness, Encore.org bridges divides and collaborates across generations to create a better future together.” Founder Marc Freedman writes eloquently about the topic, and Encore.org affirms its commitment by sponsoring “Gen2Gen” fellowships.
Mon Ami — Two Stanford MBAs, Madeline Dangerfield-Cha and Joy Zhang, co-founded Mon Ami to challenge the asumption that “young is immature and old obsolete.” In an article for the Stanford Social Innovation Review, they…
