Generations Connect is a program that brings Michigan State University students and older adults together to build friendships across generations. The program began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was originally called the Senior Ambassadors Program. Today, it is a partnership between MSU AgeAlive, the Social Science Scholars Program, and East Lansing’s Prime Time Seniors Program.
The goal of Generations Connect is to reduce loneliness and break down stereotypes between younger and older people. Students are paired with older adults to talk, share stories, and learn from one another.
Emily Mason, president of Generations Connect and a senior at MSU, said the program was created to address loneliness and challenge age-based stereotypes on both sides.
“Our core mission is to address loneliness among older adults and students, and we also hope to fight ageism,” Mason said. “Ageism is when one generation has incorrect or stereotyped perceptions of another generation.”
Mason said those assumptions can go both ways. Younger people may think older adults are out of touch, while older adults may feel disconnected from younger generations.
“That kind of perception means people tend to avoid other generations altogether,” she said. “Our values are community partnerships, friendships and engagement.”
Generations Connect pairs students and older adults based on shared interests and personalities. Mason said the matching process is flexible and thoughtful.
“We look at it pretty holistically,” she said. “There’s not really one factor. It depends on what people want out of the relationship.”
Some participants are looking for mentorship, while others want companionship or conversation.
“We’ve had older adults say, ‘I don’t have family nearby, and I want a genuine connection,’” Mason said. “Others want to coach students or share life experience.”
The program benefits both groups. Mason said students gain new perspectives, communication skills, and confidence.
“It gets students away from campus and gets older adults involved with younger populations,” she said. “Even one conversation can change how people see each other.”
Melissa Fore, an associate professor in the James Madison College and director of community engagement for the Social Science Scholars Program, said meaningful connection starts with being present and listening.
“Meaningful connection is communicating, showing up, listening and paying attention to what older adults are asking for,” Fore said.
Lori Strom, special projects and outreach coordinator for AgeAlive, has been involved with Generations Connect since its early days and said the program grew out of shared interest and collaboration.
“It was a perfect storm of positive energy,” Strom said. “Students wanted to reach older adults who might be experiencing loneliness, and at the same time, AgeAlive wanted to create intergenerational programming.”
Because the program launched during the pandemic, many early connections happened over Zoom. As restrictions eased, participants began meeting in person in public spaces such as libraries and coffee shops. Strom said safety and comfort have always been a priority.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the program is how relationships grow over time. Strom shared stories of pairs who stayed connected long after graduation.
“We’ve had relationships that last years and years beyond what people expect,” she said. In one case, an older adult attended a student’s graduation. In another, a pair stayed in touch while living in different countries.
Generations Connect also hosts group events each semester to help participants meet others in the program.
“When you see people sitting together, laughing, telling stories and sharing their lives, it’s powerful,” Strom said.
Mason said she hopes the program will continue to grow and reach more people.
“Once those pairs are made, they’re pretty independent,” she said. “We just want to keep building and creating more opportunities for people to come together.”
For AgeAlive and its partners, Generations Connect shows how simple, consistent connections can strengthen individuals and communities across generations.
To learn more about Generations Connect, visit Generations Connect – AgeAlive.