Generations United: Creative Connections

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Central LA South LA West LA Gateway Cities County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Los Angeles faces a widening digital divide that disproportionately impacts underrepresented youth (ages 16–24) and older adults. While youth struggle to access the resources and mentorship necessary to enter the growing creative digital economy (like podcasting, social media content creation, and digital storytelling), many seniors remain excluded from digital opportunities due to a lack of skills, tools, and confidence. This divide prevents both groups from tapping into the transformative power of digital technology, which fosters equity, amplifies voices, and creates pathways for creative employment. Addressing these gaps is essential to ensure both intergenerational collaboration and the inclusion of all Angelenos in the benefits of the digital age.

The "Generations United: Creative Connections” program is an evolution from our foundational digital literacy program with creative mentorship. Underrepresented youth will continue to serve as digital navigators, but the program will expand to focus on content creation. Interested senior mentees will receive one-on-one mentorship from youth to create and manage their own digital content, such as vlogs, YouTube channels, podcasts, and social media platforms.
These workshops will provide seniors with the skills and confidence to join the digital creative economy while allowing youth mentors to gain leadership and technical expertise. For example:
A resourceful senior student who learned to search online for community programs now shares vital resources like NHS grants and government programs with her peers. With guidance, she could amplify her impact through platforms like YouTube or Snapchat.
A reentry senior, after spending 30+ years incarcerated, aims to launch a podcast sharing his life lessons and offering social commentary on the justice system. Youth mentors will help him navigate the tools to share his story with a wider audience. Reentry individuals struggle to find employment and this initiative can inspire self-employment.
By fostering such intergenerational collaboration, this initiative not only bridges the digital divide but also empowers seniors to have their voices heard and inspires youth to see the power of technology to create social change.

If successful, this program will transform Los Angeles into a model of digital inclusion, intergenerational collaboration, and social well-being. Seniors will feel empowered to share their knowledge and stories through digital platforms, reducing social isolation, which affects nearly one-quarter of Americans aged 65+ and is linked to a 50% increased risk of dementia. Creative activities like those in this program can improve cognitive health and mental well-being.
Youth participants will gain leadership, communication, and digital skills, preparing them for opportunities in the growing creative digital economy, which includes content creation, podcasting, and social media management.
By bridging the digital divide and empowering marginalized seniors and youth, this program will reduce inequities, foster resilience, and strengthen social bonds across generations. Los Angeles will lead in embracing its aging population while preparing its youth for a thriving and inclusive future.