Wonderful. I loved your book Longevity… I also really appreicate the work of Stephen Jenkinson author of Come of Age… at least for folks interested in the spiritual dimension of this movement. Chip Conley, who I suspect you would more likely know… author of Wisdom at Work: the Making of the Modern Elder has also been a great resource for us in our efforts along this line. He forwards the idea of Co-Mentoring. This is such a step in the right direction. Thanks Marc
As a Peace Corps Vol. in the 60’s, I wholeheartedly support this concept. The experience of "senior" volunteers and the perspective how to integrate into another culture would have been very helpful. I have been back to my village 3 times since retirement and the friendships I made at 23 are still viable. But I look at the whole process much differently now.
Immersed in another culture at 23 was key to my understanding family and cultural systems when I returned to become a family therapist for my career. It broke the conventional thinking of my childhood upbringing and facilitated my understanding of family and social constraints.
I wish I could do more now than just visit but health concerns at 76 make that impractical.
Dear Kerry Lindsey, Thanks so much for your excellent suggestions! We were closely with the Modern Elder Academy and Chip Conley, who is doing remarkable work. Check out his new Regenerative Community near Santa Fe, if you get the chance. Best wishes, Marc
Dear Louis Seyler, Congratulations on your lifetime engagement with Peace Corps and the legacy of that chapter of service. I think there is so much promise in engaging returned Peace Corps members in new co-generational service roles in the second half of life here in the United States. I’d love to see a set of partnerships designed to realize that promise. Thanks again for your note, Marc
Yes! This concept is very close to my heart. I have written to various volunteer organizations and my electred representatives asking that the established volunteer groups be more inclusive of Older Adults. Youth are frequently the target. Volunteer solicitations for Older Adults can be very mundane and sedentary. I’ve suggested that our country and communities need and would be improved by the volunteer efforts of Older Adults. To establish and support co-generational volunteer efforts could help create solutions and improve lives. I have not found success yet with my communications. I would love ideas or next steps on how to help get such a program going or how to support Encore in their efforts
Thank you for this eloquently presented call to action. Awareness building about already existing opportunities that are not on the radar of older adults would be a good start. I for example, had no idea until a couple of years ago that the Peace Corp accepted older adults. I also think that the digital divide among generations has to be addressed in these joint ventures. Often, older adults feel defeated by the fast moving pace of technology. This is not an obstacle though but a challenge which can be resolved.
Thanks for your essay - spot on. Another rationale for blended service is the declining birthrate / fewer younger people. I frankly celebrate this (overpopulation and the planet’s carrying capacity is a different problem), but most of our society / services is built on an almost ponzi-scheme scenario where the large group of people at the bottom support those at the top. In this case, that large group (younger people) is shrinking and we need to rethink how we continue to provide social welfare (think social security), labor, etc in a society with a very different age distribution., while avoiding generational conflicts. Starting now by connecting across generations will help.
Your suggestion about bringing together AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors is a relatively easy way to move forward. This could inspire similar programs throughout the country.
Always interested in what you are doing Marc. Ageism is the biggest obstacle for changing policy in this County. Change comes slowly. I have continued giving back to the community since the First Purpose Prize. I always tell my young student audience that I have an advantage over them, I was young once but they have never been old. Working with Ashoka we hope to start new intergenerational project. We have to stop saying we do not have the time.
Many wonderful ideas outlined here, and I have no doubt that national attention and support could provide needed impetus to launch more effective cross-generational initiatives. What seems to be missing from this national service program discussion is ackowledgement that the most effective programs will most likely be locally "owned" and supported initiatives that are in response to local circumstances and cultural realities. Yes, many intractable problems look the same all over—from educational gaps to drug addiciton to housing insecurity. Solutions to these problems are best when they acknowledge local realities. Going forward, a dose of village vs. national thinking might be helpful when bringing generations together.
Interesting. In 1998, after graduating from law school, I did a year as an Americorp advocate/attorney at a legal aid office (it was in partnership w NAPIL). Three of us were hired through the Americorp funding that year: I was age 43; another recent law school grade age 25, and a retired person who had previous experience in non-profit work. Thus, while Americorp may attract mostly young people, it is open to everyone, and it is really up to the organizations to diversify the candidates they select.
Serving. Young and older and in between, for those who served America, our veterans. This is what Operation Confidence does on it’s weekly radio talk show and streaming Facebook. Our communications is given by non-vets, veterans, older and younger service providers, and directed to those who served America…our veterans. The information is geared to be helpful in all aspects of veteran issues…healthcare, legal, housing, education, benefits, and every other issue a veteran may be dealing with. Serving those who served. It’s what we do, together, and it does make a difference.
Such a timely and thought-provoking essay, for which I thank you. I’m 70-plus and volunteer for Ashby Village and various groups in and around Berkeley, Ca, but my most rewarding encounter recently was meeting the inspiring people at Homies Empowerment in Oakland. It’s a community very unlike my own privileged groups, and I was struck by the wide range of people (from teens to 60-year-olds) all pitching in to feed and support their neighbors, and tackle the epidemic of gun violence, all while operating on a shoestring.Reading your essay, I realized that the multigenerational and diverse makeup of the group was part of the reason the Homies effort seemed so vital, and fun to be around. I’d love to be part of any plans you might have for encouraging old and young to work together.
I think you have to promote Encore better by curating and facilitating drop-in appointments to candidates on your email list willing to consider drop-ins from encore veterans willing to drop by — it’s what you have to do when you’re selling as an organization, as a religion, or just as a salesman with a product or service.
Marc I have been reading your Encore material ever since you had a feature article in theRotarian magazine in January 2020. I believe that World wide Roatarians with their motto of SERVICE above SELF are living proff that multigeneral men and women can work together to make our world a better place to live and grow old. I would love to have you as a guest speaker via Zoom to one of our Friday 7AM meetings. You could share your work and I would be happy to fill you in on allthe thing just one of the 72 Rotary clubs in the Easat Bay is doing.
I am also a Founder for Lamorinda Village. During the recent pandemic we deliverd groceries to the Seniors in Lamorinda. More than 100 seniors had weekly groceery deliveer to their front door. Thse grocereies were delivered by young community members. The Village movement is attempting to organize communities to help their senior residents age in theri own homes as long as it is safe to do so.
The point I’m finding as an 81 year old male is that having ways I can work with and for others gives me purpose. For so many seniors without purpose they watch life go by and soon seemto just give up and decline even faster.
I LOVE this idea! I have considered actually joining the peace corps. Still working at 69, healthy thank God.. with a growth mindset and unbridled curiosity.
My youngest grandchild just graduated from university and I’m actively engaging with my network to help her get an awesome tech job. Also traded workout ideas with her this week.
I have LOTS of ideas on how generations can collaborate on everything from housing (like nesterly) and tackling loneliness which is rampant for all generations.
Dear Patty Wait, Thanks so much for your thoughtful note, and your efforts to engage more older adults in co-generational service efforts. I’m sorry, but not surprised, to hear the resistance you are encountering. We’ve been segregating service efforts by age for so long and in so many settings, that it often seems unnatural to program operators. We’re trying to generate more stories of examples of how and where it is happening to help provide more evidence for advocates like yourself. Please check out our upcoming June 23 livestream event—on Encore.org’s website—for one place to get evidence and inspiration. Best, Marc
Dear Susi Stadler, Thanks so much for these comments! You make a good point, first of all, that programs like the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps often seem like they are exclusively for young people even though in truth they are open to all ages. And also that in addition to making that openness clear, we need to do more to make it easy to apply to these efforts in a seamless way. all the best, Marc
Dear Mary Jo Cook, Thanks so much for your observations—which have very much been on my mind in the wake of a series of recent stories on the impact of declining birth rates in the US, Japan, China, and elsewhere. It seems like many of the economists and demographers predicting doom and gloom have a two-dimensional perspective on the role of older people (primarily as recipients of services, outside the mainstream of society). It amounts to a failure of imagination, of imagination we will need as these new realities begin to become more and more prominent. all the best, Marc
Dear Janice Donoghue, Completely agree with your observation—connecting these two major streams of service more fully seems like the low-hanging fruit in this arena. And would send a powerful message beyond those programs as well. Thanks for your comment, Marc
Dear Conchy, You continue to inspire me with your remarkable work! And I plan to use your line as well. Thanks so much for weighing in. all the best, Marc
Dear David Roth, Thanks so much for this observation: I agree wholeheartedly. Indeed, to your point about the village mindset, the theme for the drawings that accompany each of the Multigenerational Moment In-Depth Series is the village—in some ways inspired by Singapore’s aging initiative which is aimed at creating a ‘kampong’ for all ages—kampong being the Malay word for village. Worth noting that the programs supported by both AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors are overwhelmingly local initiatives. Best, Marc
Dear Griffin, We need to capture and elevate more stories like yours, which underscores that there are many places where this kind of co-generational work is already underway, if not entirely by intention. Also great reminder that this opportunity can include professional work like yours as well as other kinds of service. Thanks! Marc
Dear Matt Davison, Well taken! Veterans, older and younger, constitute one of the great opportunities for tapping the talent needed to realize the potential for service that JFK talked about in his famous Ask Not appeal! Thank you for this reminder. Marc
Dear Karin Evans, Thank you for this enormously powerful comment, and for your story of working with Homies Empowerment. I’m a great admirer of Ashby Village as well. Please visit us at Encore.org, and also consider participating in our June 23 Livestream on the Co-Generational Opportunity. Best wishes, Marc
Hi Janice Schuster. thanks for your great suggestion about the Community Care Corps. I’ve reached out to Oasis/the CCC team to pass it on, and learn about what is possible! Phyllis Segal
Hi David Roth, you are so very right that the most effective programs are local, keyed to the needs of their communities. Which is why AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors is such a great way to spread the intergenerational idea: it fund local programs! The Encore Intergenerational Vaccine Corps is operating totally at the local level, in Northern California Health Centers that work with underserved communities. I hope you will find ways, David, to bring the age integration idea to your village. Phyllis
Dear Griffin, thanks so much for sharing your AmeriCorps intergenerational story. And reminding readers that while AmeriCorps is thought of as "for young people," there isn’t any age limit to serve. Today, about 5% of AmeriCorps members are older adults. Which means that hidden within many AmeriCorps programs are examples of co0generational teams like you experienced. That’s an important opportunity to learn more about what happens when generations serve together, and to encourage more!
Phyllis
When I signed up to help in vaccine clinics, I had no idea I would be exposed to all this wonderful work and these important ideas, and I’m so grateful for them. I am very newly retired so I have to admit I’m still just enjoying my unstructured time. But I know my brain and my passion for social change will get restless and I will stay tapped into Encore for when that time comes. I’d love to know more about multigenerational efforts focused on systemic changes as part of service. How can we address racism, for example, not only in how services are delivered but in partnerships between the service providers and those who are served, across those traditional divisions of race, class and age? If I’m a tutor in a low resourced school, I also want to engage students, teachers, parents, etc in addressing why that school isn’t getting everything it needs, for example. Is that part of the work Encore can facilitate? Are others doing this? Thank you, Marc and others, back to my lazy crossword!! For now…
A wonderful essay, much to think about and act upon, as ageism is definitely the last bastion of discrimination in our country. As an older teacher who would love to continue teaching I am very curious as to efforts to engage and enlist laid off and retired teachers in addressing the much discussed teacher shortage. I, personally, was laid off in a cutback as my credential is in Art and the arts are always the first to go, I have since explored/suggested fast tracking already credentialed teachers who may not have STEM credentials but are seasoned veterans with classroom management skills, to fill the STEM vacancies that go wanting. At first glance this quest might not seem intergenerational, but it indeed is in connecting older teachers with young students who truly need them. Is anything being promoted along these lines of retraining to fill a need? Thanks!
Dear Wendy Loomas, Thank you for such an insightful set of comments and questions, which are so critically important for the design of these co-generational efforts. Would love to stay in touch as we think about next steps on all this work! All best wishes, Marc
Dear Gloria Veal, I love that you are thinking about the Peace Corps — i am looking into that too as the pandemic recedes and those opportunities reopen! Interviews with intergenerational peace corps teams show the power, wind value, of age integrating service.
I hope you will find ways to turn your ideas into action in your communities.
Dear Don Jenkins, Thanks so much for your comment, and also for raising two of the most promising organizations and opportunities for co-generational action: Rotary and the Village Movement. And congratulations on all your catalytic work on both important efforts. Best wishes, Marc
Dear Wendy Loomas, Great to hear that you’ve signed up for the Intergenerational Vaccine Corps and that it has been a good experience. And I appreciate your suggestions on how this multigenerational work can flourish going forward! All your suggestions on age, race, class, and the elements of doing this work well hit home. Please think about attending the upcoming (free) livestream, CoGenerate, that will focus on these issues. More info at Encore.org’s website. Best, Marc
Dear Gloria Veal, What an exciting note—love the idea of joining the Peace Corps. You might also want to think about domestic options that bring you together in service with younger people. Most of all, would love to have your active engagement in this movement to combat age segregations and leverage the power of olders and youngers working together for a better future! all best wishes, Marc
Dear Hollis Jordan, Thanks so much for your note—and all the important points in it. Reading through your thoughts I was struck by how we’re doing so much more to focus on bringing new people into teaching than helping existing teachers make the transition into new roles where need is high and shortages exist. One thought is to explore the EnCorps Teacher Program which focuses on STEM teaching. Here’s their website: https://encorps.org/. Best wishes, Marc
Dear Patty Wait, Couldn’t agree more. Chip Conley of the Modern Elder Academy just featured the Friendship Bench on this blog, and we cited it in the opening essay of this multi-generational moment series: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/overcoming_age_segregation. But it deserves an essay in itself, and I love the idea of making it more co-generational! Best and thanks, Marc
Dear Hollis Jordan,
I share your conviction that retired teachers could help fill the teacher void. In particular they could meet the urgent need for summer school teachers to ease the learning loss students suffered during the pandemic. This approach parallels how retired medical professionals have stepped in for vaccinating. Would be helpful for someone (maybe you?) to write about this—similar to the Newsweek article that led to establishing the Intergenerational Vaccine Corps. (https://www.newsweek.com/vaccine-corps-intergenerational-1560151). But unlike the retired doctor volunteers, the teachers could be paid for teaching summer school. I’m eager to hear if any communities are doing this? Phyllis Segal
Thank you for this excellent article. Co-generational service is an idea long overdue. And the time is ripe! As you recommend, it is time for innovation, with initiatives designed for forging connections and bridging differences. Thank you for reminding us of the history and for spurring our imagination.
As a former manager of a vista umbrella we used to target seniors because they had experience and were more readily available. We learned to try and recruit them as they were retiring or before they shifted into a more relaxed schedule. I recommend you incorporate flexible schedules that are attractive to seniors: part-time, job share, flex schedules.
Wonderful article Marc and Phyllis. Our current moment is ripe for co-generational engagement. I direct a center dedicated to catalyzing students and faculty who are passionate about community service at a university. We are often approached about whether we offer co-generational programming so there is a lot of interest in this. What’s exciting about grounding work like this at universities is that you can incorporate an educational element by engaging the network of Osher Institute’s of LifeLong Learning around the country. The Osher Institute at Berkeley is very interested in co-generational learning and service and could be a great pilot partner.
It is so important that we find new ways to connect multiple generations in efforts to serve together. As a recently retired director of a Foster Grandparent Program and Immediate Past-President of the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network, I can see a real benefit to AmeriCorps State/National or VISTA members being located in AmeriCorps Seniors programs. I believe that this would serve multiple benefits, both long-term and short-term. In the short-term it would give AmeriCorps members the opportunity to learn first hand what experienced national service volunteers do and how the programs work. Those members could provide energetic recruiting efforts, innovative training opportunities, and introduce technology to the older volunteers. The long-term benefits would be realized as those AC members seek employment as directors in local AC Seniors programs. With the commitment to national service through newly appropriated federal funding being strong right now, the time is right to reinvent the valuable national resource that is "people power".
Dear Kathryn Dodge, Thanks so much for your comment. I was struck by both of your insightful points: the importance of engaging older individuals before they’ve shifted into retirement, and the desirability of flexible schedules for so many in this chapter in life. They square with our experience with Encore Fellows and other programs as well. Best, and thanks, Marc
Dear Sandra, I got more and more excited reading your comment. First, it reminded me of JFK’s service injunction around combining college students and older people. And your point about the Osher institutes underscores how many of the key partnerships needed to do this are already in place and nationwide. All the best, and thanks, Marc
Thank you Laura Steuer for the shout-out for Virtual Companions. At Encore, we’re big fans of their important work. Will keep trying to spread the word! Best wishes, Marc
Dear Jeanine Nemitz, Thanks so much for your insightful comments—and for your leadership in engaging older Americans in service! Your comments reminded me of our early Experience Corps lessons, watching younger AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers work alongside older Experience Corps members in ways that produced multiple and reenforcing benefits for both groups and the schools where they were placed. all the best, Marc
Thank you Jeanine Nemitz, for your comment and your leadership in the Foster Grandparent Program and AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network. Your idea for different AmeriCorps programs to join together is very compelling—for both the short and long term benefits you describe. I hope your voice will help make this happen to, as you say, capture the "valuable national resource that is "people power". Phyllis
Among other things it traces the history of legislation encouraging it but never operationalized, examples of programs that have embraced it, and recommendations for action. I’d welcome hearing your thoughts about the article, and ideas how to do develop this service frontier.
COMMENTS
BY Kerry Lindsey
ON June 3, 2021 07:41 AM
Wonderful. I loved your book Longevity… I also really appreicate the work of Stephen Jenkinson author of Come of Age… at least for folks interested in the spiritual dimension of this movement. Chip Conley, who I suspect you would more likely know… author of Wisdom at Work: the Making of the Modern Elder has also been a great resource for us in our efforts along this line. He forwards the idea of Co-Mentoring. This is such a step in the right direction. Thanks Marc
BY Louis S Seyler
ON June 3, 2021 07:44 AM
As a Peace Corps Vol. in the 60’s, I wholeheartedly support this concept. The experience of "senior" volunteers and the perspective how to integrate into another culture would have been very helpful. I have been back to my village 3 times since retirement and the friendships I made at 23 are still viable. But I look at the whole process much differently now.
Immersed in another culture at 23 was key to my understanding family and cultural systems when I returned to become a family therapist for my career. It broke the conventional thinking of my childhood upbringing and facilitated my understanding of family and social constraints.
I wish I could do more now than just visit but health concerns at 76 make that impractical.
BY Janice Lynch Schuster
ON June 3, 2021 07:56 AM
The Community Care Corps COULD be a step in this direction if it mandated co- generational programs.
Janice Lynch Schuster
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 3, 2021 08:50 AM
Dear Kerry Lindsey, Thanks so much for your excellent suggestions! We were closely with the Modern Elder Academy and Chip Conley, who is doing remarkable work. Check out his new Regenerative Community near Santa Fe, if you get the chance. Best wishes, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 3, 2021 08:54 AM
Dear Louis Seyler, Congratulations on your lifetime engagement with Peace Corps and the legacy of that chapter of service. I think there is so much promise in engaging returned Peace Corps members in new co-generational service roles in the second half of life here in the United States. I’d love to see a set of partnerships designed to realize that promise. Thanks again for your note, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 3, 2021 08:57 AM
Hi Janice, Completely agree—and the Community Care Corps has never been more needed or timely! Thanks, Marc
BY PATTY WAIT
ON June 3, 2021 09:15 AM
Yes! This concept is very close to my heart. I have written to various volunteer organizations and my electred representatives asking that the established volunteer groups be more inclusive of Older Adults. Youth are frequently the target. Volunteer solicitations for Older Adults can be very mundane and sedentary. I’ve suggested that our country and communities need and would be improved by the volunteer efforts of Older Adults. To establish and support co-generational volunteer efforts could help create solutions and improve lives. I have not found success yet with my communications. I would love ideas or next steps on how to help get such a program going or how to support Encore in their efforts
BY Susanne Stadler
ON June 3, 2021 09:51 AM
Thank you for this eloquently presented call to action. Awareness building about already existing opportunities that are not on the radar of older adults would be a good start. I for example, had no idea until a couple of years ago that the Peace Corp accepted older adults. I also think that the digital divide among generations has to be addressed in these joint ventures. Often, older adults feel defeated by the fast moving pace of technology. This is not an obstacle though but a challenge which can be resolved.
BY MaryJo Cook
ON June 3, 2021 09:54 AM
Thanks for your essay - spot on. Another rationale for blended service is the declining birthrate / fewer younger people. I frankly celebrate this (overpopulation and the planet’s carrying capacity is a different problem), but most of our society / services is built on an almost ponzi-scheme scenario where the large group of people at the bottom support those at the top. In this case, that large group (younger people) is shrinking and we need to rethink how we continue to provide social welfare (think social security), labor, etc in a society with a very different age distribution., while avoiding generational conflicts. Starting now by connecting across generations will help.
BY Janice A. Donoghue
ON June 3, 2021 11:02 AM
Your suggestion about bringing together AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors is a relatively easy way to move forward. This could inspire similar programs throughout the country.
BY Conchy Bretos
ON June 3, 2021 11:44 AM
Always interested in what you are doing Marc. Ageism is the biggest obstacle for changing policy in this County. Change comes slowly. I have continued giving back to the community since the First Purpose Prize. I always tell my young student audience that I have an advantage over them, I was young once but they have never been old. Working with Ashoka we hope to start new intergenerational project. We have to stop saying we do not have the time.
BY David Roth
ON June 3, 2021 11:56 AM
Many wonderful ideas outlined here, and I have no doubt that national attention and support could provide needed impetus to launch more effective cross-generational initiatives. What seems to be missing from this national service program discussion is ackowledgement that the most effective programs will most likely be locally "owned" and supported initiatives that are in response to local circumstances and cultural realities. Yes, many intractable problems look the same all over—from educational gaps to drug addiciton to housing insecurity. Solutions to these problems are best when they acknowledge local realities. Going forward, a dose of village vs. national thinking might be helpful when bringing generations together.
BY Griffin
ON June 3, 2021 12:13 PM
Interesting. In 1998, after graduating from law school, I did a year as an Americorp advocate/attorney at a legal aid office (it was in partnership w NAPIL). Three of us were hired through the Americorp funding that year: I was age 43; another recent law school grade age 25, and a retired person who had previous experience in non-profit work. Thus, while Americorp may attract mostly young people, it is open to everyone, and it is really up to the organizations to diversify the candidates they select.
BY Matt Davison
ON June 3, 2021 12:17 PM
Serving. Young and older and in between, for those who served America, our veterans. This is what Operation Confidence does on it’s weekly radio talk show and streaming Facebook. Our communications is given by non-vets, veterans, older and younger service providers, and directed to those who served America…our veterans. The information is geared to be helpful in all aspects of veteran issues…healthcare, legal, housing, education, benefits, and every other issue a veteran may be dealing with. Serving those who served. It’s what we do, together, and it does make a difference.
BY Karin Evans
ON June 3, 2021 12:31 PM
Such a timely and thought-provoking essay, for which I thank you. I’m 70-plus and volunteer for Ashby Village and various groups in and around Berkeley, Ca, but my most rewarding encounter recently was meeting the inspiring people at Homies Empowerment in Oakland. It’s a community very unlike my own privileged groups, and I was struck by the wide range of people (from teens to 60-year-olds) all pitching in to feed and support their neighbors, and tackle the epidemic of gun violence, all while operating on a shoestring.Reading your essay, I realized that the multigenerational and diverse makeup of the group was part of the reason the Homies effort seemed so vital, and fun to be around. I’d love to be part of any plans you might have for encouraging old and young to work together.
BY Peter Ross
ON June 3, 2021 01:11 PM
I think you have to promote Encore better by curating and facilitating drop-in appointments to candidates on your email list willing to consider drop-ins from encore veterans willing to drop by — it’s what you have to do when you’re selling as an organization, as a religion, or just as a salesman with a product or service.
— Peter Ross —
BY Don Jenkins
ON June 3, 2021 01:59 PM
Marc I have been reading your Encore material ever since you had a feature article in theRotarian magazine in January 2020. I believe that World wide Roatarians with their motto of SERVICE above SELF are living proff that multigeneral men and women can work together to make our world a better place to live and grow old. I would love to have you as a guest speaker via Zoom to one of our Friday 7AM meetings. You could share your work and I would be happy to fill you in on allthe thing just one of the 72 Rotary clubs in the Easat Bay is doing.
I am also a Founder for Lamorinda Village. During the recent pandemic we deliverd groceries to the Seniors in Lamorinda. More than 100 seniors had weekly groceery deliveer to their front door. Thse grocereies were delivered by young community members. The Village movement is attempting to organize communities to help their senior residents age in theri own homes as long as it is safe to do so.
The point I’m finding as an 81 year old male is that having ways I can work with and for others gives me purpose. For so many seniors without purpose they watch life go by and soon seemto just give up and decline even faster.
BY Gloria Veal
ON June 3, 2021 05:11 PM
I LOVE this idea! I have considered actually joining the peace corps. Still working at 69, healthy thank God.. with a growth mindset and unbridled curiosity.
My youngest grandchild just graduated from university and I’m actively engaging with my network to help her get an awesome tech job. Also traded workout ideas with her this week.
I have LOTS of ideas on how generations can collaborate on everything from housing (like nesterly) and tackling loneliness which is rampant for all generations.
BY Marc Freedman
ON June 4, 2021 07:33 AM
Dear Patty Wait, Thanks so much for your thoughtful note, and your efforts to engage more older adults in co-generational service efforts. I’m sorry, but not surprised, to hear the resistance you are encountering. We’ve been segregating service efforts by age for so long and in so many settings, that it often seems unnatural to program operators. We’re trying to generate more stories of examples of how and where it is happening to help provide more evidence for advocates like yourself. Please check out our upcoming June 23 livestream event—on Encore.org’s website—for one place to get evidence and inspiration. Best, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:44 AM
Dear Susi Stadler, Thanks so much for these comments! You make a good point, first of all, that programs like the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps often seem like they are exclusively for young people even though in truth they are open to all ages. And also that in addition to making that openness clear, we need to do more to make it easy to apply to these efforts in a seamless way. all the best, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:48 AM
Dear Mary Jo Cook, Thanks so much for your observations—which have very much been on my mind in the wake of a series of recent stories on the impact of declining birth rates in the US, Japan, China, and elsewhere. It seems like many of the economists and demographers predicting doom and gloom have a two-dimensional perspective on the role of older people (primarily as recipients of services, outside the mainstream of society). It amounts to a failure of imagination, of imagination we will need as these new realities begin to become more and more prominent. all the best, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:51 AM
Dear Janice Donoghue, Completely agree with your observation—connecting these two major streams of service more fully seems like the low-hanging fruit in this arena. And would send a powerful message beyond those programs as well. Thanks for your comment, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:52 AM
Dear Conchy, You continue to inspire me with your remarkable work! And I plan to use your line as well. Thanks so much for weighing in. all the best, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:55 AM
Dear David Roth, Thanks so much for this observation: I agree wholeheartedly. Indeed, to your point about the village mindset, the theme for the drawings that accompany each of the Multigenerational Moment In-Depth Series is the village—in some ways inspired by Singapore’s aging initiative which is aimed at creating a ‘kampong’ for all ages—kampong being the Malay word for village. Worth noting that the programs supported by both AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors are overwhelmingly local initiatives. Best, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:57 AM
Dear Griffin, We need to capture and elevate more stories like yours, which underscores that there are many places where this kind of co-generational work is already underway, if not entirely by intention. Also great reminder that this opportunity can include professional work like yours as well as other kinds of service. Thanks! Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 07:59 AM
Dear Matt Davison, Well taken! Veterans, older and younger, constitute one of the great opportunities for tapping the talent needed to realize the potential for service that JFK talked about in his famous Ask Not appeal! Thank you for this reminder. Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 08:00 AM
Dear Karin Evans, Thank you for this enormously powerful comment, and for your story of working with Homies Empowerment. I’m a great admirer of Ashby Village as well. Please visit us at Encore.org, and also consider participating in our June 23 Livestream on the Co-Generational Opportunity. Best wishes, Marc
BY Phyllis Segal
ON June 4, 2021 08:58 AM
Hi Janice Schuster. thanks for your great suggestion about the Community Care Corps. I’ve reached out to Oasis/the CCC team to pass it on, and learn about what is possible! Phyllis Segal
BY Phyllis Segal
ON June 4, 2021 09:04 AM
Hi David Roth, you are so very right that the most effective programs are local, keyed to the needs of their communities. Which is why AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors is such a great way to spread the intergenerational idea: it fund local programs! The Encore Intergenerational Vaccine Corps is operating totally at the local level, in Northern California Health Centers that work with underserved communities. I hope you will find ways, David, to bring the age integration idea to your village. Phyllis
BY Phyllis Segal
ON June 4, 2021 09:07 AM
Dear Griffin, thanks so much for sharing your AmeriCorps intergenerational story. And reminding readers that while AmeriCorps is thought of as "for young people," there isn’t any age limit to serve. Today, about 5% of AmeriCorps members are older adults. Which means that hidden within many AmeriCorps programs are examples of co0generational teams like you experienced. That’s an important opportunity to learn more about what happens when generations serve together, and to encourage more!
Phyllis
BY Wendy Loomas
ON June 4, 2021 09:58 AM
When I signed up to help in vaccine clinics, I had no idea I would be exposed to all this wonderful work and these important ideas, and I’m so grateful for them. I am very newly retired so I have to admit I’m still just enjoying my unstructured time. But I know my brain and my passion for social change will get restless and I will stay tapped into Encore for when that time comes. I’d love to know more about multigenerational efforts focused on systemic changes as part of service. How can we address racism, for example, not only in how services are delivered but in partnerships between the service providers and those who are served, across those traditional divisions of race, class and age? If I’m a tutor in a low resourced school, I also want to engage students, teachers, parents, etc in addressing why that school isn’t getting everything it needs, for example. Is that part of the work Encore can facilitate? Are others doing this? Thank you, Marc and others, back to my lazy crossword!! For now…
BY Hollis Jordan
ON June 4, 2021 02:56 PM
A wonderful essay, much to think about and act upon, as ageism is definitely the last bastion of discrimination in our country. As an older teacher who would love to continue teaching I am very curious as to efforts to engage and enlist laid off and retired teachers in addressing the much discussed teacher shortage. I, personally, was laid off in a cutback as my credential is in Art and the arts are always the first to go, I have since explored/suggested fast tracking already credentialed teachers who may not have STEM credentials but are seasoned veterans with classroom management skills, to fill the STEM vacancies that go wanting. At first glance this quest might not seem intergenerational, but it indeed is in connecting older teachers with young students who truly need them. Is anything being promoted along these lines of retraining to fill a need? Thanks!
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 4, 2021 03:09 PM
Dear Wendy Loomas, Thank you for such an insightful set of comments and questions, which are so critically important for the design of these co-generational efforts. Would love to stay in touch as we think about next steps on all this work! All best wishes, Marc
BY Phyllis Segal
ON June 5, 2021 12:31 PM
Dear Gloria Veal, I love that you are thinking about the Peace Corps — i am looking into that too as the pandemic recedes and those opportunities reopen! Interviews with intergenerational peace corps teams show the power, wind value, of age integrating service.
I hope you will find ways to turn your ideas into action in your communities.
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 5, 2021 04:17 PM
Dear Don Jenkins, Thanks so much for your comment, and also for raising two of the most promising organizations and opportunities for co-generational action: Rotary and the Village Movement. And congratulations on all your catalytic work on both important efforts. Best wishes, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 5, 2021 04:20 PM
Dear Wendy Loomas, Great to hear that you’ve signed up for the Intergenerational Vaccine Corps and that it has been a good experience. And I appreciate your suggestions on how this multigenerational work can flourish going forward! All your suggestions on age, race, class, and the elements of doing this work well hit home. Please think about attending the upcoming (free) livestream, CoGenerate, that will focus on these issues. More info at Encore.org’s website. Best, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 5, 2021 04:23 PM
Dear Gloria Veal, What an exciting note—love the idea of joining the Peace Corps. You might also want to think about domestic options that bring you together in service with younger people. Most of all, would love to have your active engagement in this movement to combat age segregations and leverage the power of olders and youngers working together for a better future! all best wishes, Marc
BY PATTY WAIT
ON June 5, 2021 05:31 PM
Let’s start a co-generational friendship bench.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gys5Tl68FE
This is a you tube video discussing how older adults in Zimbabwe, and lay folks listen and help. We can make a difference
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 7, 2021 10:03 AM
Dear Hollis Jordan, Thanks so much for your note—and all the important points in it. Reading through your thoughts I was struck by how we’re doing so much more to focus on bringing new people into teaching than helping existing teachers make the transition into new roles where need is high and shortages exist. One thought is to explore the EnCorps Teacher Program which focuses on STEM teaching. Here’s their website: https://encorps.org/. Best wishes, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 7, 2021 10:06 AM
Dear Patty Wait, Couldn’t agree more. Chip Conley of the Modern Elder Academy just featured the Friendship Bench on this blog, and we cited it in the opening essay of this multi-generational moment series: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/overcoming_age_segregation. But it deserves an essay in itself, and I love the idea of making it more co-generational! Best and thanks, Marc
BY Phyllis Segal
ON June 7, 2021 10:18 AM
Dear Hollis Jordan,
I share your conviction that retired teachers could help fill the teacher void. In particular they could meet the urgent need for summer school teachers to ease the learning loss students suffered during the pandemic. This approach parallels how retired medical professionals have stepped in for vaccinating. Would be helpful for someone (maybe you?) to write about this—similar to the Newsweek article that led to establishing the Intergenerational Vaccine Corps. (https://www.newsweek.com/vaccine-corps-intergenerational-1560151). But unlike the retired doctor volunteers, the teachers could be paid for teaching summer school. I’m eager to hear if any communities are doing this? Phyllis Segal
BY Carol Larson
ON June 7, 2021 10:31 AM
Thank you for this excellent article. Co-generational service is an idea long overdue. And the time is ripe! As you recommend, it is time for innovation, with initiatives designed for forging connections and bridging differences. Thank you for reminding us of the history and for spurring our imagination.
BY Kathryn Dodge
ON June 7, 2021 11:02 AM
As a former manager of a vista umbrella we used to target seniors because they had experience and were more readily available. We learned to try and recruit them as they were retiring or before they shifted into a more relaxed schedule. I recommend you incorporate flexible schedules that are attractive to seniors: part-time, job share, flex schedules.
BY Sandra Bass
ON June 7, 2021 03:59 PM
Wonderful article Marc and Phyllis. Our current moment is ripe for co-generational engagement. I direct a center dedicated to catalyzing students and faculty who are passionate about community service at a university. We are often approached about whether we offer co-generational programming so there is a lot of interest in this. What’s exciting about grounding work like this at universities is that you can incorporate an educational element by engaging the network of Osher Institute’s of LifeLong Learning around the country. The Osher Institute at Berkeley is very interested in co-generational learning and service and could be a great pilot partner.
BY laura steuer
ON June 8, 2021 07:39 AM
See the powerful intergenerational work being done by http://www.virtualcompanions.org, a nonprofit run by a current Stanford student.
Laura Steuer
SUSE ‘04
BY Jeanine Nemitz
ON June 8, 2021 08:32 PM
It is so important that we find new ways to connect multiple generations in efforts to serve together. As a recently retired director of a Foster Grandparent Program and Immediate Past-President of the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network, I can see a real benefit to AmeriCorps State/National or VISTA members being located in AmeriCorps Seniors programs. I believe that this would serve multiple benefits, both long-term and short-term. In the short-term it would give AmeriCorps members the opportunity to learn first hand what experienced national service volunteers do and how the programs work. Those members could provide energetic recruiting efforts, innovative training opportunities, and introduce technology to the older volunteers. The long-term benefits would be realized as those AC members seek employment as directors in local AC Seniors programs. With the commitment to national service through newly appropriated federal funding being strong right now, the time is right to reinvent the valuable national resource that is "people power".
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 9, 2021 08:20 AM
Dear Kathryn Dodge, Thanks so much for your comment. I was struck by both of your insightful points: the importance of engaging older individuals before they’ve shifted into retirement, and the desirability of flexible schedules for so many in this chapter in life. They square with our experience with Encore Fellows and other programs as well. Best, and thanks, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 9, 2021 08:23 AM
Dear Sandra, I got more and more excited reading your comment. First, it reminded me of JFK’s service injunction around combining college students and older people. And your point about the Osher institutes underscores how many of the key partnerships needed to do this are already in place and nationwide. All the best, and thanks, Marc
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 9, 2021 08:28 AM
Thank you Laura Steuer for the shout-out for Virtual Companions. At Encore, we’re big fans of their important work. Will keep trying to spread the word! Best wishes, Marc
BY Dr A. Darlene Jackson Bridges
ON June 9, 2021 11:29 AM
BRAVO!!!!
BY MARC FREEDMAN
ON June 9, 2021 04:06 PM
Dear Jeanine Nemitz, Thanks so much for your insightful comments—and for your leadership in engaging older Americans in service! Your comments reminded me of our early Experience Corps lessons, watching younger AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers work alongside older Experience Corps members in ways that produced multiple and reenforcing benefits for both groups and the schools where they were placed. all the best, Marc
BY Phyllis Segal
ON June 10, 2021 08:22 AM
Thank you Jeanine Nemitz, for your comment and your leadership in the Foster Grandparent Program and AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network. Your idea for different AmeriCorps programs to join together is very compelling—for both the short and long term benefits you describe. I hope your voice will help make this happen to, as you say, capture the "valuable national resource that is "people power". Phyllis
BY Phyllis Segal
ON August 3, 2021 07:09 AM
Missouri State University’s E-Journal of Public Affairs has just published an article that delves more deeply into age-integrated national service.
http://www.ejournalofpublicaffairs.org/intergenerational-national-service-by-with-and-for-all-ages/.
Among other things it traces the history of legislation encouraging it but never operationalized, examples of programs that have embraced it, and recommendations for action. I’d welcome hearing your thoughts about the article, and ideas how to do develop this service frontier.