Join us for our Upcoming Virtual Event for Global Intergenerational Week!

Join Generations United in celebration of Global Intergenerational Week (April 24-30) with the Intergenerational Housing Learning Network webinar on Wednesday, April 30 at 3:30 PM ET. This webinar will feature Savannah Fishel, who will discuss her Churchill Fellowship research on intergenerational co-housing in the United States and Australia. Those who register will receive a recording of the webinar. Register today!

Sign up as a supporter to show your intention to celebrate all things intergenerational! Check out everything going on in the U.S. here, and around the world here.

Generations United Board Member Named one of Next Avenue’s 2025 Advocates for Aging

We are thrilled to announce that Michelle Singletary, a valued Board Member of Generations United and The Washington Post's personal finance columnist, has been named one of Next Avenue’s 2025 Advocates for Aging! This honor celebrates individuals who are deeply committed to empowering older adults, celebrating their perspectives, and making life better for all of us as we age. As Next Avenue describes, these exceptional advocates are committed to making life better for older adults, to show them what's possible and to help them reach what author Judith Viorst calls "the final fifth" of life with a sense of wellbeing.

CoGenerate Releases New Report and Quotes Generations United Executive Director

Generations United Executive Director Donna Butts is quoted in CoGenerate's compelling new report that highlights a powerful solution to social isolation and loneliness -- the hundreds, if not thousands, of community organizations across the country that are bringing generations together for connection, collaboration, friendship and healing. It includes 9 key findings, individual profiles, thought-provoking quotes, and 5 things that are needed to support this nascent and promising field moving forward. Check out Can Intergenerational Connection Heal Us? here.

Generations United's Intergenerational Policy Update

Generations United advocates for federal policies that support the well-being of children, youth, older adults, and the families who care for them. Our work brings generations together to promote a better quality of life across the lifespan. We are actively advancing our public policy priorities for the 119th Congress to ensure all generations thrive—individually and together. Learn more.

Threats to critical supports for children, families, and older adults continue as Congress considers the FY2026 budget and the Trump Administration enacts cuts to the federal workforce and a "dramatic restructuring" at the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Learn more in this recent Generations United Policy Update 

Want timely updates on key policy issues affecting youth, older adults, and kinship/grandfamilies? Sign up for our policy alerts.

Thursday, April 24

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET 

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) child-only grants are often the only source of ongoing financial support for children raised by grandparents and other relatives with no parents in the home. Join us to explore data for each state on TANF child-only grants, newly compiled by our partners at Child Trends. Learn how your state compares to others, along with strategies and policies that other states, tribes, and territories have used to improve kinship/grandfamilies’ access to this important support. Log off with ideas on how to improve supports to children in kinship/grandfamilies.

Presenters:

• Brittany Mihalec-Adkins, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Child Trends
• Ana Beltran, JD, Director, Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, Generations United
• Tammy Creswell, Idaho Kin Caregiver

Learn more & Register for April 24.

As always, the Network is accepting individual requests for assistance from professionals who work in systems or organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. Fill out the request assistance form to receive support from our team. Learn more and sign up four our monthly newsletter!

Lifting Hearts with the Arts

The mission of Lifting Hearts with the Arts, a newly designated Generations United Program of Distinction, is to use the arts as a tool to foster meaningful intergenerational connections, benefiting both seniors and youth. They focus on combating social isolation among seniors while enriching the lives of youth by offering them opportunities to engage in creative, educational activities that nurture empathy, critical thinking, and community spirit. Activities include arts and crafts workshops, music sessions, culinary arts projects, and storytelling, all designed to facilitate intergenerational interactions. Programs are delivered in various formats, such as one-on-one virtual or in-person meetings, group events, and collaborative art-making sessions. Signature initiatives like "CoGen Creations" and our "High School Program" pair students with seniors for creative engagement, culminating in exhibitions of their collaborative work. Participants report significant improvements in mental health and reduced feelings of isolation. Seniors show enhanced cognitive and emotional well-being, while youth develop empathy and understanding of aging. Learn more about Lifting Hearts with the Arts here.

Applications Now Open for the Eisner Prize Fellows!

Apply to join The Eisner Foundation's 2025/26 cohort of Eisner Prize Fellows! The Eisner Prize Fellowship supports leaders pioneering innovations in intergenerational connection. Click here to learn more about the program, register for the virtual showcase and info session on April 28, and apply.

Registration Open for the 8th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium

Registration has opened for the 8th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium on May 1, 2025. The 8th annual symposium will feature leaders in the field who are successfully providing solutions to improve older adult mental health. The event begins at 10:00 am EST, with keynote speaker Dan Harris, Murrow & Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, Host of '10% Happier Podcast'. Learn more and register for the symposium here.