The Current:
Intergenerational Community Design

Join us for a virtual lightning talk on April 10 with Marci Alboher, Chief Engagement Officer (CxO) at CoGenerate and Parsons student Esha Rao.

Join CoDesign Collaborative for the first edition of The Current, a virtual, student-led lightning talk series highlighting vital topics in design, on April 10 with Esha Rao and Marci Alboher, CXO at Generate, to explore the power of intergenerational connections in fostering well-being and resilience. With 20% of the U.S. population now over 65—many facing economic insecurity and social isolation—and 40% of students reporting feelings of sadness and loneliness, the need for meaningful cross-generational relationships has never been greater.

Esha and Marci will discuss how intentional design of community and social structures can strengthen intergenerational bonds. From Japan’s Ibasho House to Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench and India’s Wisdom Circle, global initiatives have successfully bridged generational divides, improving social connection and mutual learning. Join us to learn how we can design for a more connected, resilient future.

Their conversation will delve into:

• The positive and negative narratives that shape intergenerational relationships
• Key assumptions and behaviors influencing social connection across ages
• Best practices from around the world that foster collaboration and resilience
• What’s next for intergenerational connection, and how can we shape it?

About Esha Rao:

Esha is a strategic designer and advisor with over seven years of experience in strategy consulting, human-centered design research, and startup strategy & operations. She has led multidisciplinary teams across businesses, foundations, governments, and social enterprises—including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the Ford Foundation—working in sectors such as education, gender & tech, healthcare, and agriculture. Esha has driven revenue growth and product development for the large-scale mental health platform Amaha and led high-impact projects on digital inclusion, policy strategy, product development and market entry, social and behavior change etc. while at Dalberg Advisors Asia and ThinkPlace US. She holds a Bachelor’s (Honors) degree in Economics and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Strategic Design and Management at Parsons School of Design.

About Marci Alboher:

Marci Alboher, an authority on career issues and workplace trends, is the Chief Engagement Officer (CxO) at Generate. Marci’s current focus is on the power of connecting, collaborating and innovating across the generations. A former blogger and columnist for The New York Times, her latest book is The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life. Marci is regularly called upon for commentary in media outlets around the world, and she has been interviewed by countless news organizations, including NBC’s Today and Nightly News, National Public Radio, and USA Today. She is a mentor-editor for The OpEd Project, on the faculty of the Modern Elder Academy and Union Theological Seminary’s Encore Transition Program, and serves as an Advisor to Able News and to the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing. A few careers ago, she spent a decade (rather unhappily!) practicing law. She lives in New York City with her husband Jay. You can find her on LinkedIn.