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What if we could bridge the generational divide while preserving the rich stories of our elders? This question drives Ariel Galinsky, founder of The Legacy Project, a nonprofit that pairs college students with older adults.

Ariel's journey began with personal loss - her grandfather's passing when she was just ten, leaving stories uncaptured. While working in a senior community where her grandmother lived, she recognized a universal gap in intergenerational connection. This sparked what would become her life's mission: creating structured opportunities for meaningful conversations across age divides.

The Legacy Project operates through campus chapters where students interview older adults throughout an academic year, ultimately publishing their collected stories. For many participants, this represents their first significant engagement with elders outside their families. The impact runs deeper than companionship - actively combating social isolation affecting both age groups while challenging pervasive ageist stereotypes that limit both generations.

The Legacy Project demonstrates the power of intergenerational collaboration as a mechanism for broader social change. By valuing elders' stories and fostering meaningful relationships, we create pathways toward more compassionate approaches to aging while enriching both generations in the process. Ready to make your community more intergenerational? Visit LegacyProjectInc.org to learn how you can get involved or start a chapter in your area.

Guest Bio

Arielle Galinsky is the Co-Founder of The Legacy Project, a national nonprofit that connects college students and older adults in their communities for mutual storytelling, uplifting, and documenting life stories. Arielle is passionate about bridging generations and serves as a CoGen Impact Fellow with CoGenerate, where she leads efforts to expand the reach of the ‘Let’s Make Next Gen CoGen’ pledge—amplifying awareness of intergenerational engagement among young adults. Arielle, an MPP/JD candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Law School, is committed to advancing aging policy reform at both the state and national levels—rooted in her belief that intergenerational advocacy is the key to moving the needle.

 Get in Touch with Arielle

• www.linkedin.com/in/ariellegalinsky
• https://cogenerate.org/lets-make-next-gen-cogen/
• https://www.legacyprojectinc.org/

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