It began as a casual conversation with my daughters and son-in-law about how to bring generations together to talk about ageism. I’d been reading research that indicated that intergenerational connection and education are effective in reducing ageism.
Ageism, like other “isms”, can come from a lack of experience with people who are not like you. The mere act of sharing can go a long way in changing minds. However, research also shows that few of us have relationships outside family with people who are not our age. From that seed of an idea came On the Same Page, which launched in fall 2019. The idea is simple: create opportunities for people from different generations to share and learn.
Janine Vanderburg
The initial campaign drew worldwide attention: over 600 people from over 60 locations, including France, Italy, England, Canada, and Trinidad & Tobago participated!
Then came 2020 and we couldn’t meet in person. But, with ageism rising, we needed to connect more than ever. So, we began hosting virtual meetings in Colorado and even hosted a series of conversations on PBS12.
The conversation about ageism is growing. On March 18th, the World Health Organization is launching an international campaign on ageism. As part of this, we’re going to be launching another Colorado–based series of intergenerational conversations and we invite everyone to be a part.
We want to bring people together to share perspectives and listen with empathy, so that we can get past our biases. Each conversation helps us break out of stereotypes and get past ageism. Join the conversation and create a better future for all ages! Visit our website at Changing the Narrative Website.
Janine Vanderburg directs Changing the Narrative in Colorado, a campaign to change the way people think, talk and act about aging and ageism. Our end game? To end ageism!