In a world often divided by age and experience, Fort Collins is flipping the script. The Intergenerational Conversations initiative of 2025, spearheaded by the Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities (PAFC) and the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, in collaboration with the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board (SAB), Larimer County Office on Aging, and the Compass Community Collaborative School, is creating a buzz by bringing together the wisdom of elders and the fresh perspectives of youth.
Since its inception in February 2019, these events have become a hotbed for dynamic discussions, tackling topics from personal values to the digital divide. The inaugural gathering at Loveland’s Mirasol Event Center saw 36 local residents—both older adults and youth—engage in animated dialogues, sharing personal values and outlooks on life. The success of this event sparked a series of conversations, each delving into pressing issues that resonate across generations.
The driving force behind these events is a coalition of local organizations and passionate individuals. PAFC, known for promoting livable communities for all ages, and the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, enhancing local democracy through improved public communication and community problem-solving, are partnering with Larimer’s Office on Aging, Compass Community Collaborative School, and Fort Collins SAB to bring these conversations to life.
Also co-sponsoring this year’s event are CSU’s Gerontology Club, Centennial Area Health Education Center, and Hope Lives!, a non-profit organization. Their goal? To create opportunities that broaden perspectives by exploring ideas from both younger and older members of the community.
This year, Intergenerational Conversations aims to raise the bar by fostering dialogue among community members of all ages, income levels, and diverse backgrounds, ensuring a richer and more inclusive exchange of perspectives. We spoke with the key figures behind Fort Collins groundbreaking initiative—Professor Martin
Carcasson, Emmanuelle Roussel ,Lorye McLeod, Myles Crane and Erin Alt—to understand the
impact of this project and their personal motivations.
Q: What inspired the launch of the Intergenerational Conversations initiative?
The initial idea for the conversations back in 2019 came from Delaney McNally, a Loveland High School student at the time. She started an organization called Generation Connect and was looking for ways to spark intergenerational discussions. She got connected to PAFC, and PAFC connected her to Dr. Carcasson and the CPD. Our initial event was co-sponsored by the three organizations. The project connected well with the goals of PAFC and CPD, particularly in terms of modeling quality discussion, building stronger connections across differences, and addressing the issue of social isolation and loneliness.
Q: How do you select topics for each session?
A planning committee proposes topics bridging generations for discussion. We have often relied on Living Room Conversations, a national organization that develops discussion guides on numerous issues to support deeper conversations. The committee chooses a topic, and then we adapt it for intergenerational use.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment from these conversations?
One particularly powerful experience was when we hosted GenHERous, an intergenerational event for women. Spearheaded by CPD Managing Director Sabrina Slagowski-Tipton, it involved women from seven decades coming together. In the morning, women met with peers from their own decade, and in the afternoon, they formed groups spanning across all decades. We hope to make this powerful event a yearly occurrence.
Another memorable moment occurred in 2024 when a 16-year-old Compass HS student asked, “Does life get more difficult as you get older?” The discussion table was so taken aback by this profound question that no one wanted to leave. It could have been the basis for hours more of stimulating discussion.
The next complimentary IgC event is “Who’s Listening to You? Saturday March 1, 2025, Compass Community Collaborative School, 2105 College Avenue, Fort Collins, 9-11 am. Registration for this event is requested using the following link https://col.st/qtPX2.