While we are living longer, our society is experiencing profound challenges in education, health, work and retirement, family caregiving, civic engagement, and a sense of belonging. Health, economic, and social inequities are a reality for many individuals and families.

Michigan like every other part of the country is experiencing a sense of uncertainty and urgency resulting from the unprecedented health pandemic, economic fall-out, exacerbated racial disparities and economic inequities.

While most have faced some version of these challenges in their lives, there has never been a time when so many individuals, families and communities – especially our more age, racially and economically segregated populations – have experienced all of these interrelated crises.

There has never been a time when every generation has struggled so acutely and simultaneously for their health, livelihoods and way of life.

With family, community, state and national budgets strained, leaders across the sectors are hard-pressed to meet even the basic needs of young children and youth, families, older adults, caregivers and other essential workers.

Age-segregated and siloed approaches to meeting the needs of different age groups are not cost effective nor do they build on the strengths and resources that older people and youth can share with each other.

Clearly these times require essential and innovative commitments to address these urgent needs and advance new possibilities for improving the health and well-being across the generations in Michigan.

Michigan needs to rise to these challenges by re-imagining, reforming and rebuilding a more equitable and interdependent future for all.

Intergenerational partnerships, programs and policies can serve as a meaningful starting point.