The Declaration of Generational Interdependence

In this case of human events, it becomes necessary for the people to renew the ties that bind them and to assume that the power of these linkages can build strong and inclusive communities, for indeed they have.

Connection between generations is as traditional as historical images of years ago showing both the oldest and the youngest benefiting from solid communal care. Older persons were viewed as “pantheons of skills, talents, and wisdom” while the young, because of their vulnerability, were provided precious and valuable life lessons on which to grow. Generational interdependence was once the compelling force that naturally created respect for your fellow human being.

We hold these ideals to be true, that we are all created equal and endowed with the most basic of rights, these being: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The quality of these rights should be maintained at a level of valued appropriateness. Whenever we find that the social policies hinder or abuse these rights or compromise the value the people have agreed upon as appropriate, we must make an effort to correct this error through advocacy.

With prudence, deliberation, and concern for one another we should foresee any danger and forestall all vehicles or mechanisms that would impede the progress of intergenerational communication. Intergenerational communication is the framework from which all people can begin healthy dialogues, and form valid opinions and perceptions about each other.

In these challenging times, we must strive to improve the lives of the young, the middle-aged, and the older adult. We must seek out a multiplicity of ways to re-instill the notion of “uniting people for a better society.” We must seek to highlight commonalties among generations rather than differences. We must also support those measures aimed at bringing together generations for mutually beneficial purposes.

Generational interdependence seeks not to divide or constrain but to promote and encourage the principle of recognizing generations and their individual uniqueness as well as their collective importance. Building on the common concerns of people will, in fact, close the generational divide.

• Communities are strengthened when the people living within them are actively involved.

• Social policies geared toward the promotion of intergenerational connectedness help to dispel misinformation and myths about disparate generations.

• Public education is key to the cultivating of intergenerational activities.

• Integrating intergenerational “syntax” in various relevant areas fosters intergenerational thinking.

• Expanding to purview of presently successful programs and services intended for one generation to include and infusion of intergenerational interaction improves the value of the program and or service.

• Generations should not have to compete for limited resources. Methods should be developed for generations to share available resources. Policy makers and the people should be made aware of the value derived from this practice.

Therefore, we the people of all ages, embrace the mutuality and commonality of our concerns and declare this philosophy of generational interdependence as our own common agenda for the future.

The Declaration of Generational Interdependence was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and was developed and prepared by Colette Phipps for the Intergenerational Relationships Caucus.