We’ve changed our name from Encore.org to CoGenerate! Join us at cogenerate.org to bridge generational divides and co-create the future.

VISIT COGENERATE

We’ve changed our name from Encore.org to CoGenerate! Join us at cogenerate.org to bridge generational divides and co-create the future.

VISIT COGENERATE

The 2018-20
Encore Public Voices Fellows

41 new and necessary thought leaders, across a range of identities, backgrounds and ages, who can change the national conversation on aging/longevity, intergenerational connection and social justice.

The Encore Public Voices Fellowship — a collaboration among The OpEd Project, Encore.org, and Ann MacDougall — is part of The OpEd Project’s national Public Voices initiative to change who writes history.

66%

women

61%

people of color

39

organizations

19

states

3

countries

  • Greatest Generation 2% 2%

(born 1945 or before)

  • Baby Boomers 49% 49%

(born 1946 – 1964)

  • Generation X 34% 34%

(born 1965 – 1984)

  • Millennials 15% 15%

(born 1985 – 2004)

“After a 35-year career, I wondered how I could share what I’ve learned in ways that reach and impact others. How could I raise my voice in areas that matter? My time as a fellow answered these questions, and many others, in ways I could have never imagined.”

— Raymond A. Jetson, Chief Executive Catalyst, MetroMorphosis

“The fellowship was an incredible experience, teaching me a great deal about writing, messaging and speaking with the media – all of which has been enormously helpful during the Covid-19 crisis.”

— Joy Zhang, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Mon Ami

166

media hits, including

  • 100 published op-eds

5 million Twitter impressions

  • 66 expert interviews

Total potential reach of 4.5 billion* 

*Based on circulation numbers for publications featuring articles that Fellows authored, were interviewed for, or mentioned in.

  • 100 published op-eds
  • 66 expert interviews

5 million Twitter impressions

Total potential reach of 4.5 billion*

*Based on circulation numbers for publications featuring articles that Fellows authored, were interviewed for, or mentioned in.

96%

would strongly recommend the fellowship to a colleague

The Words

“As a society, we have made progress on civil rights, women’s rights, rights for individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ rights. Now we need to lead a social justice movement for older workers to change cultural perceptions of aging.”
— Maria Heidkamp, The Hill

“The future of aging has opened up a unique opportunity to radically redesign our care infrastructure along with care jobs to better serve the needs of an older population.”
— Sarita Gupta, Quartz

“When our kids and grandkids ask us what we did about climate change, we need to have a simple, true answer: ‘Our best.’”
— Mick Smyer, The Huffington Post
“It’s time for Boomers to be led by the urgency of younger generations whose future depends on change happening quickly.”
— Kate Hoepke, Ms. Magazine

The Words

“As a society, we have made progress on civil rights, women’s rights, rights for individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ rights. Now we need to lead a social justice movement for older workers to change cultural perceptions of aging.”
— Maria Heidkamp, The Hill


“The future of aging has opened up a unique opportunity to radically redesign our care infrastructure along with care jobs to better serve the needs of an older population.”
— Sarita Gupta, Quartz


“When our kids and grandkids ask us what we did about climate change, we need to have a simple, true answer: ‘Our best.’”
— Mick Smyer, The Huffington Post

“It’s time for Boomers to be led by the urgency of younger generations whose future depends on change happening quickly.”
— Kate Hoepke, Ms. Magazine

The Headlines

The Headlines

“My new active voice has been spurred by the encouragement, skill-sharing and support of the fellowship, which locates and nourishes its leaders’ bravery, hones their voices and curates platforms for their stories. I’m so grateful for the support.”

— Alex Smith, Founder and CEO, The Cares Family

Our Star OpEd Project Facilitators / Journalists

Featured in:
CNN, The Guardian, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post
 
Featured in:
The New York Times, Time, The Guardian, Quartz
 

Featured in:
The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Garnet News, The Charlotte Observer

 

The Fellows

Click here to see a list of all Encore Public Voices Fellows.

“I would not have written my op-ed in Fast Company without this training. In fact, I am now thinking about how to expose more social workers to it. I am a believer.”

— Cal Halvorsen, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Boston College

Some examples of impact…

Former President Barack Obama and the Obama Foundation shared Alex Smith’s Huffington Post article, “It’s Time To Get Creative In How We Tackle Loneliness During Coronavirus Outbreak.”

Joy Zhang, co-founder of Mon Ami, forged a partnership with the city of San Francisco during the COVID-19 crisis to match volunteers of all ages to do telephone check-ins, run errands and provide tech assistance for isolated older people.

Christina Harrington was asked to join COVID Black, a digital humanities project and rapid response task force to respond to black communities impacted by the pandemic.

In response to Dr. Sharon Inouye’s New York Times oped, several major hospitals are reexamining their policies for persons with delirium and dementia.​

Interested in joining the next cohort of Encore Public Voices Fellows? Sign up here.

 
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