In the United States, age segregation is prevalent in national service, just as it is in housing, higher education, and community programs, and it limits opportunities for transformational social change we can ill afford to squander.

Ironically, 60 years ago Americans were poised to move in a different direction. As a United States Senator, John F. Kennedy declared that America was “wasting” the time, talent, and experience of older people—“resources of incalculable value.” When he became president, he intended to end that waste. In his 1961 inaugural address, the 42-year-old Kennedy famously called his fellow Americans to civilian service. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” he challenged, “ask what you can do for your country.” The creation of the Peace Corps soon followed, and two years later, he called for a domestic service corps that would include both young people and older citizens.

The time is ripe to make co-generational service more deliberate and more widespread. As the introductory essay in this series notes, there are five generations alive at once, and a growing pool of available and experienced human capital. Studies show the distinct benefits that derive from older and younger people working collaboratively, including access to complementary skills, the potential for increased productivity, and the opportunity to bridge generational differences. What’s more, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes an investment of $1 billion in additional resources for enhancing national service over the next three years.

Here are four ways we can begin:

  1. Make the Case
  2. Start With the Most Urgent Issues
  3. Design for Forging Connections and Bridging Differences
  4. Invest in Innovation

Read the full article about age integration by Marc Freedman and Phyllis Segal at Stanford Social Innovation Review.