Communities That Solve Problems Across Generations Are More Resilient — And It Shows

Source: American Press Institute | Date: April 18, 2025

The American Press Institute documents a growing body of evidence from local communities across the United States: when community problem-solving is explicitly intergenerational — when the experience of those who have been here longest is paired with the energy and relationships of those who will be here next — outcomes improve. The article profiles Baltimore, Sarasota, and Santa Barbara as examples of communities where intentional intergenerational collaboration has shifted how local institutions address persistent challenges. The key finding: cross-generational contact changes how people see themselves in community — and how they see those who are different from them.

Key fact: 'The more we engage alongside different perspectives, the less threatening those perspectives seem. Having generative contact across generations transforms how we see ourselves in community.' — American Press Institute, 2025

Link: americanpressinstitute.org/local-communities-need-intergenerational-problem-solving-and-local-news-can-help/