Bridging Generations: The Power of Intergenerational Collaboration in St. Vincent de Paul
A Quick Look into the Essay
For my university-level English 102 class, we dove into the concepts of community, the impact community has on the world, and how community looks very different than it did before media or any sort of technology. We analyzed concepts like social connection and isolation and how we see this taking place in our own lives. After this, we ended our term with an essay about community by selecting a community we are a part of, identifying a problem, and presenting a solution or call to action to address this problem. With this in mind, I selected something I know very well—St. Vincent de Paul and something called intergenerational leadership. It was written for academic purposes, so yes, it had a word requirement and certain sources I needed to include, meaning this is quite a lengthy essay, but I hope you find some sort of value in it. I have changed the formatting slightly, making it a little less formal and hopefully a quicker read if needed, but the content remains the same. Anyway, if you wish, scroll to read the essay.
Warmest Regards,
Zoie, ELT Vice-President
When one thinks of community, an image of people may come to mind, a group of people who believe the same things and have the same values and morals. While this is true, there are also communities struggling, some who are barely breathing and are in desperate need of revival or some sort of spark, and even more so, people to carry on the legacy of that community. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a 193-year-old Catholic nonprofit that began in Paris, France, by a group of university-aged students led by a man named Frédéric Ozanam, who is in the process of becoming a Saint recognized by the Catholic Church. This non-profit has spread to 150 other countries, including the United States, and has been functioning for 180 years since the first meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1845. It currently has over 80,000 members and is operating in all 50 states (n.d.). St. Vincent de Paul is a nonprofit that helps with a wide range of needs to individuals and families in need, including rent and utility assistance, food assistance, diapers and formula, pharmaceutical needs, and re-entry programs. Really, no act of charity is foreign to the Society, meaning if there is a way to help an individual or family in need, members of St. Vincent de Paul, known as Vincentians, will do their absolute best to serve their communities.
So, where does St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) fit within the community, and how is it applicable to this concept? Well, if one were to look at the demographics of SVdP, one would conclude that many members are retired and at least 60 years old, and that youth and young adults are far and few between, especially given that SVdP has over 80,000 members. SVdP, once started by university-aged students, is now primarily composed of senior members, meaning membership and, eventually, the overall impact of SVdP will dwindle. While many senior members are open to youth and young adult involvement, there is a need for a spark or a mindset shift. Without the intention to change and improve this community of friends growing in spirituality while serving those in their communities, there will be even more isolation, disconnection, and burnout amongst members. Therefore, something called intergenerational collaboration, and a co-designer mentality will need to transpire and be learned by current and future members.
First, a little background on the topic. My involvement with SVdP began when I was five years old and has been a part of my life ever since. I grew up around Vincentians of all ages, and many of them are like extended family. I won the Young Vincentian Excellence Award in 2024 and am now honored to be the vice-president of the SVdP USA YYAEL Committee, Emerging Leaders Team. With these experiences, I learned how to serve others and the importance of intergenerational collaboration: “Youth-adult partnerships are transformative collaborations that go far beyond traditional mentorship. These partnerships create environments where young people are seen as capable, creative, and critical contributors to solving community problems,” (Bascom & Sullivan, 2024). Without the guidance of senior members, certain best practices and wisdom would be lost, but at the same time, younger members look with fresh eyes and help maintain a youthful spirit.
At St. Vincent de Paul, volunteers are told to focus on the relationship with those they serve, and this is true for young members as well as for how to encourage and implement intergenerational collaboration. When one thinks about it, there are many opportunities for mentorship and growth on both ends—the senior members and the youth members. Because the nonprofit has servant-leadership roles, there are numerous opportunities for mentorship. Additionally, since many of the members are retired, they have had career experience and are resources for young members in that regard as well. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office (2023), “Members of these connected communities are more likely to recommend job and educational opportunities to one another, collaborate on ideas for innovation, build partnerships for local businesses, and directly advance economic progress in their communities.” Thus, building connections across all age groups provides opportunities for career knowledge and experience to be shared, allowing intergenerational collaboration to take root.
To make these collaborations tangible, senior and youth members can co-lead projects, such as organizing food drives or community events, allowing each generation to contribute their distinct strengths. Skill-sharing at meetings and service projects can be established in which senior members teach practical skills about serving others and certain community resources or share their professional experiences, while younger members introduce new approaches to outreach or community needs. Pairing senior and youth members in mentorship teams, with the opportunity for reverse mentorship, ensures learning flows both ways. Joint service projects that allow senior members to experience the helpful energy of youth and young adults and build a sense of coming together can make a real difference in the lives of those served, while also building understanding and respect within the nonprofit.
According to Volpe (2022), “As social creatures, humans need interpersonal contact to survive. These connections range from your inner circle of family and close friends to the outer rungs of your social network — other pet parents at the dog park, for example — and it’s important to have this variety. ‘To try and count on one person to fill all of your emotional and psychological needs is not a good thing,’ says Gillian Sandstrom, a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex. ‘There’s research showing that you thrive more when you have lots of people to fill up various emotional needs.’ Becoming a member of communities helps build this social diversity” (par. 2). When both senior and young members work together in these intentional ways, they can envision and initiate collaboration that is truly intergenerational and create a more diverse and welcoming culture.
Additionally, serving others and giving back are ways to minimize disconnection and grow relationships. This is central to the mission of St. Vincent de Paul, which brings people together to serve those in need and grow in friendship along the way. For example, SVdP service projects, such as organizing local food drives, filling care packages for families facing hardship, and visiting neighbors in their homes, have offered real opportunities for members of all ages to connect not only with those they help, but also with each other. Through these shared experiences of service, members strengthen their sense of community and understanding. It allows them to see others as humans and grow more deeply in harmony with one another. When one begins to recognize the needs of others rather than just their own, one can expand their realities and see beyond themselves, allowing them to branch out and explore the unknown. Khan (2019) has a point in saying, “This lack of connection to those who are truly in our community means that people are no longer humanized. You can never humanize a person on the internet like you can your next-door neighbor” (par. 3). Serving others is just one way to build relationships and build fruitful communities.
Finally, to start fostering intergenerational collaboration within SVdP, members should consider several practical next steps. First, one can initiate mentorship pairings that match senior and younger members, enabling two-way learning and support on specific projects or regular activities like the monthly meetings. Second, it would be a good idea to organize idea-sharing sessions during meetings or events, where members of all ages come together to brainstorm solutions and share perspectives on the non-profit’s current challenges. Changing the mindset from a “yes, but” to a “yes, and” will encourage further ideas rather than shutting down young members with the negative spin of “yes, but” in replies. Finally, to encourage a co-designer mentality when doing service projects, intentionally forming teams that include both senior and youth members, is beneficial as everyone can take on meaningful roles and benefit from that shared experience.
By taking these immediate actions, SVdP can begin to revitalize its legacy and ensure its community remains vibrant and connected across generations. Members of all ages must be intentional and flexible in this process to effective intergeneration collaboration and embodying the co-designer mentality. To end with one word of encouragement from the Surgeon General’s Office (2023):
Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships. Our individual relationships are an untapped resource—a source of healing hiding in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives. Answer that phone call from a friend. Make time to share a meal. Listen without the distraction of your phone. Perform an act of service. Express yourself authentically. The keys to human connection are simple, but extraordinarily powerful. (p. 5)
Simple actions of inclusion and having a mindset of intergenerational collaboration allow for multiple generations of outlooks to unite and create something innovative while still allowing the wisdom of those with experience and those who are energized to come together and flourish, building something that respects and values both perspectives.
References
History-SVdP USA. Society of St. Vincent de Paul. https://ssvpusa.org/about-us/history/
Khan, A. (2019, Dec. 26). The loss of community the existential threat. Medium. https://adityakhan.medium.com/the-loss-of-community-an-existential-threat-d1677bb9f573
Rogers Bascom, J., & Sullivan, B. (2024, December 9). 6 Effective Ways to Strengthen Youth-Adult Partnerships. National Youth Leadership Council. https://nylc.org/6-ways-strengthen-youth-adult-partnerships/
U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
Volpe, A. (2022, Mar. 24). Why community matters so much-and how to find yours. Vox. https://www.vox.com/22992901/how-to-find-your-community-as-an-adult
