Innovation 80’s mission is to engage and support people in underserved communities in Chicago through grants to small non-profit arts organizations. To date, most of our grants have funded programs for young people. CoGen will build on our mission by acting as a catalyst to spark innovative ways to connect younger and older generations to share their talents and perspectives through arts-based opportunities.
The advantages of intergenerational work apply to organizations of all types. But we believe that this work is especially appropriate for arts organizations because creativity is shared by all generations. Studies have shown that art making is a universal, time-honored way of enriching life. As Gerhard Richter put it, “Art is the highest form of hope.” Innovation 80 wants to build that hope across generations.
CoGen Pilot Program
Innovation 80 will pilot CoGen in 2023 - 24 by funding programs proposed by a small group of its current grantees plus initiatives by organizations experienced in co-generational work. Thereafter, we will seek applications from a wider group of oranizations.
Our goal in offering these grants is to strengthen organizations and communities by tapping into the contributions of participants in each generation, to foster collective creativity and facilitate relationships that may prove to be transformative. By developing an appreciation and empathy for members of all age groups, these grants will be a step toward breaking down negative age stereotypes which pervade our culture.
The organizations funded will become a cohort to share experiences and learn from one another.
Background and Benefits
While we live in the most age-diverse society in history, most of us spend our time with others who are around our own age. Daily activities don’t offer many ways to make meaningful connections with people of other generations. A recent survey by Cogenerate (Cogenerate.org), found that people of all ages want to engage with other generations. The challenge is in creating opportunities to connect.
Ageist attitudes are barriers to collaboration and mutual learning. Younger people often view older people as “past it” “too slow” and ”know it all’s”; older people often see younger people as “lazy” “entitled” and “self-absorbed.” These attitudes impact the views older people have toward youth and the views people of all ages hold toward seniors. Ageist attitudes are reinforced constantly through advertising, social media, and all forms of entertainment. Internalized, these attitudes become self-fulfilling prophecies and affect both the mental and physical health of people as they age.
Providing opportunities for the generations to work and create together gives each generation a new pair of glasses. Younger people can start to see and appreciate what older people offer: years of experience, the perspective of a broader context and access to resources. Older people can start to see and appreciate the gifts that younger people bring: fresh ideas, lived experience in today’s context, and tech savvy.
CoGen grants will use engagement with the arts to offer intentional opportunities for intergenerational interaction. In doing so, CoGen will help to combat ageism.
CoGen Advisors
To help guide Innovation 80 in establishing CoGen, we are very fortunate to be able to draw on the expertise and lived experiences of a cogenerational group of advisors.
Howard Eglit is Emeritus Professor of Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law and an expert on age discrimination. His book Age, Old Age, Language, Law addresses the ways in which language both create and perpetuate ageism, negative biases regarding the elderly.
Ayden Gray is a sophomore honors student and member of the Business Club at Lane Tech College Prep in Chicago. He is an avid travel team hockey player. He also enjoys playing guitar in his free time. He is thrilled to be a part of the development of I80’s new CoGen program.
Vernā Myers is vice president of inclusion strategy at Netflix, where she spearheads inclusion and equity initiatives and manages a team of inclusion experts worldwide. An inclusion strategist, cultural change catalyst, influencer and thought leader, Vernā is known for her ability to help people bridge differences and connect more meaningfully.
Janet Oh is Director of Innovation at CoGenerate.Org. She started her career connecting older adults as mentors and tutors to youth as director of Experience Corps Bay Area. Through this program, she witnessed the magic that happens when generations come together.
Zayd Patel is a sophomore at Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He is a member of the Junior Economic Club of Chicago and the Youth Social Entrepreneurs Alliance. He enjoys playing sports, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. He is excited to be a part of Innovation 80’s CoGen team.
Rowena Richie is an artist, writer and dancer, a Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute, and an Encore.org Innovation Fellow. Her cogenerational work seeks to reduce the stigma associated with aging and dementia, and to illuminate what older people and people living with dementia can teach us.
Phyllis N. Segal is a senior fellow at Encore.org, where she is advancing intergenerational national service as a powerful new way to meet community needs and bridge the generational divide. She co-founded the Eli J. and Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program, served in Senate-confirmed positions under Presidents Obama and Clinton, was President of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, and chaired the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Phoebe Snell will enter the honors program at Loyola University in Chicago in September, 2023. She plays guitar, sings in the youth choir at her church in Atlanta and has acted in multiple plays. Phoebe is well-versed in Innovation 80, having served as the organization's first Fellow. She is excited to have a role in shaping I80's new CoGen program.