The Oxford Handbook of Intergenerational Connections

The need to develop connections between members of different generations is being driven by a host of trends and challenges, including demographic shifts, workforce shortages and multigenerational teams, educational gaps, caregiving demands, youth and senior health and housing problems, economic insecurity, and rapid technological change. Many of these trends and challenges, already under way, were accelerated or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This handbook presents what is known about the spectrum of intergenerational initiatives in the United States and abroad--the very first to do so in reference book form. It addresses specifically what increases cooperation, interaction, or exchange between any two (or more) generations and how to foster the sharing of skills, knowledge, or experience between old and young. Comprising 30 chapters, each written by leading experts in their field, the handbook is organized around five sections: Cross-Generational Relationships, Older Adults Working with Younger People, Younger People Helping Older Adults, Global Perspectives on Intergenerational Relationships, and Recommendations for Strengthening and Sustaining the Intergenerational Movement.

Elizabeth F. Fideler, EdD, is a founding member of the Sloan Research Network based at the Center on Aging & Work, Boston College. Earlier, after several years of classroom teaching, she earned a doctorate in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. She continued working for many years as an education researcher and senior manager in nonprofit organizations. Her primary research and writing interests are: 1) biographies of interesting subjects whose stories deserve to be told; 2) extended work life (mature adults choosing to continue working beyond conventional retirement age); and 3) intergenerational connections.

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Oxford Handbook of Intergenerational Connections Elizabeth F. Fideler Part One: Meeting Social Needs, Building Community, Reducing Age Segregation: Cross-Generational Relationships Chapter 2: Uniting Generations Through Policy, Practice, and Purpose Donna M. Butts Chapter 3: Intergenerational Solutions (Not Single-Issue Solutions) to Society's Challenges Trent Stamp and Chelsea Mason Chapter 4: A Dose of Optimism: Data Show Americans Are Ready to Build a Multigenerational Force for Good Cal J. Halvorsen, Eunice Lin Nichols, and Marc Freedman Chapter 5: Child-Focused, Adult-Governed, and Elder-Led: Leveraging Generational Wisdom for a Changing America Sherreta R. Harrison and Raymond A. Jetson Chapter 6: Lifelong Learning, Intellectual Curiosity, and Community Building Across Generations at Lasell University Joann M. Montepare and Kimberly S. Farah Chapter 7: CIRKEL: The Startup That Pioneered Two-Way Mentoring Across Generations in the Workforce Charlotte Japp Part Two: Meeting the Need for Tutoring, Coaching, Mentoring, Housing: Older Adults Working with Younger People Chapter 8: SAGE: Building a Brighter Future by Working Across Generations Stephen Higgs Chapter 9: EnCorps - STEM Professionals Serving to Inspire Students Through STEM Education Kathleen Kostrzewa and Katherine Wilcox Chapter 10: Changing Lives Through Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring Jeanne Foster, Mary Click, Stephanie McCreary, and Paul Weiss Chapter 11: How National Service Brings to Scale Intergenerational Programs and Initiatives: The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program and The National Partnership for Student Success Atalaya Sergi, Kate Cochran, and Dorothy Jones Chapter 12: The Intergenerational Schools in Cleveland-Reconnection and Recovery Brooke King Part Three: Community-Engaged Learning and Bridging Differences: Younger People Working With Older Adults Chapter 13: Intergenerational Diversity and Inter-Ethnic Connections: Who Will Care for Us? Fernando Torres-Gil and Elizabeth Ambriz Chapter 14: Viewing Climate Crisis From Intergenerational Perspectives Ethan Bonerath, Elizabeth Bisno, Gillian Williams, Daniel George, and Peter J. Whitehouse Chapter 15: Applying Age-Friendly University Principles to Intergenerational Programs on College Campuses Allison Merz, Nancy Morrow-Howell, Peggy Morton, and Ernest Gonzales Chapter 16: Intergenerational Service-Learning Combats Social Isolation Nikki Shults, Cynthia Wilkerson, Jane Langridge, and Barbara Bringuier Chapter 17: Intergenerational Conversations Foster Connection in Community and College Classrooms Carrie Andreoletti and Andrea June Part Four: Global Perspectives on Intergenerational Relationships Chapter 18: Generations Working Together Across Scotland Lorraine George, Ruairidh Smith, and Alison Clyde Chapter 19: The TOY Project and Development of IGL Training in Europe Anne Fitzpatrick, Carmel Gallagher, Margaret Kernan, and Giulia Cortellesi Chapter 20: The Development of Intergenerational Initiatives in Singapore Leng Leng Thang Chapter 21: The Power of Intergenerational Relationships to Transform Education and Promote Social Cohesion in Spain's Basque Country Amaia Eiguren Munitis, Naiara Berasategi Sancho, Nahia Idoiaga Mondragon, and Maitane Picaza Gorrotxategi Chapter 22: Intergenerational Programs and Places in Japan's Super-Aging Society: What Three Good Practices Can Teach Us Masataka Kuraoka Chapter 23: Embedding Intergenerational Practice and Approaches in Northern Ireland-The Story So Far Vicki Titterington and Alan Hatton-Yeo Chapter 24: Shaping the Future of Work-Intergenerational Growing Pains and Gains in Canada's Workplaces Lisa Taylor and Emily Schmidt Chapter 25: Understanding Age-Diverse Knowledge Exchange Through Social Comparison Laura Rinker, Ulrike Fasbender, and Fabiola H. Gerpott Chapter 26: Bridging Generations and Disciplines: Exploring How Interprofessional Conversations and Circle of Change Revisited Can Improve Intergenerational Practice Experience and Outcomes in Australia Xanthe Golenko, Jennifer Cartmel, Gaery Barbery, and Anneke Fitzgerald Part Five: Concluding Thoughts, Suggestions for Further Research, and a Course of Action re Strengthening and Sustaining the IG Movement Chapter 27: Generations and Generational Differences: A Thought Experiment Cort W. Rudolph and Hannes Zacher Chapter 28: The Sociology of Age Diversity Sasha Johfre Chapter 29: Evaluating Intergenerational Strategies to Enhance Individual and Community Development Shannon E. Jarrott Chapter 30: The Long View-Building Intergenerational Connections, Lessons Learned Nancy Henkin and Matthew S. Kaplan