Preserving Culture and Wisdom

Preserving Culture and Wisdom Through Intergenerational Learning

Gloria Steinem, an icon in the feminist movement, once said: “We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach.” It’s easy to fall into patterns of only associating with those who are most like ourselves in age and similar stages of life. After all, this feels very natural and it’s easy to relate to others who are experiencing what we are also experiencing.

However, when we do not go outside of our own generation, we are missing out on opportunities and leaving an immense trove of knowledge on the table. Intergenerational learning is key to addressing this disparity by capturing the information and wisdom of earlier generations. And since more than a quarter of Black Americans live in a multigenerational household, this knowledge is well within reach.