When you meet Pina, her warmth and enthusiasm is palpable, and reveals a larger presence than her petite, refined appearance might convey. Conversely, Ryan Kinney’s fluffy hair, funky sunglasses, and whimsical socks allude to his laid-back nature.
Pina (who asked that her last name not be used) was educated in Naples, Italy and the U.S.A., and currently resides in Hamilton Township. Ryan was born and raised in Hopewell Township and is completing his junior year at Temple University. As generations are defined, Pina is a Boomer and Ryan is Gen-Z.
Pina and Ryan work together at Grounds For Sculpture and have become good friends and are a prime example of a growing trend, known as cogeneration, defined as combining generational talent toward a greater good.
Pina and Ryan bring diverse lived experience and skills to GFS and both arrived through vastly different paths.
Pina shared: “My mama was blind. I was her eyesight 24 by 7. So, when she passed away, I was lost. I was really in a dark, dark place.” A friend suggested that she consider volunteer work and Pina declined. She instinctively knew that volunteering at a hospital or something similar would not be a good fit. Pina had never heard of Grounds For Sculpture but her friend persisted and submitted her contact information and a GFS manager called.
Pina went in, completed the application, and started the next day. That was seven years ago. “This place brings me joy and life and I want people to feel the same way.” With no background in art or horticulture, Pina learned all the sculptures and trees on her own. Today, she helps with weddings, events, and education for kids, including ARC Mercer.
In November 2021, Ryan attended the opening of a new exhibit known as Night Forms and met Grounds for Sculpture Executive Director Gary Schneider. Ryan mentioned that he was a freshman at Temple University in the school of Sports, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, and was taking a course called “The Business of Leisure.” Schneider confirmed that GFS was a real-world example of Ryan’s academic classwork.
Ryan followed up and applied for an entry level position. Today, Ryan is an event assistant and supports GFS during the summers and over school breaks.
Grounds For Sculpture’s mission is to combine “art and beckoning spaces to welcome, surprise and engage all visitors.” Their vision to achieve this is by inviting “a diverse public to create, learn, and discover personal meaning in their interactions with art, nature and one another.”
Pina and Ryan live the vision. Pina describes the staff and other volunteers as “family” and the grounds as “magical.” She mentioned that she met Ryan during Covid and even with masks, they had an immediate connection. “He loves to help people. He is always professional and smiling. He’s the best.” The feeling was mutual as Ryan shared, “Everyone loves Pina. She helps all the other volunteers and does so much with education.”
Pina concluded, “Here is what I teach, ‘When you walk through that gate… everything that is bothering you, leave it behind. This is a new place, a new world for you. Relax, take a deep breath and enjoy.’”
* * *
Older and younger people have become increasingly isolated, with younger people reporting increasing loneliness and mental health issues, and older people reporting rampant ageism. Combine that with our nation’s increasing societal polarization and it doesn’t bode well for finding solutions to the many important issues facing the world.
Many nonprofit boards and service organizations that work to solve these issues are packed with older people who often speak about trying to fill their seats with younger participants since “they are the future.” This is especially true when discussions turn to issues such as climate change. Interestingly, this attitude is seen by younger people as another form of age segregation.
In an interview quoted in a cogenerate.org study funded by AARP, “What Young Leaders Want from Older Allies,” a Millennial interviewed said those statements rub the wrong way. “Don’t put that all on my shoulders, it’s an unfair burden to say one generation is responsible for solving problems that existed before we were even born. I’ve learned to say thank you, but let’s build this thing together.”
In the same study, 76% of Gen-Z and 70% of Millennials “Wish they had more opportunities to work across generations for change.”
Another interesting study finding was “Personal connection before collaboration. Always.” Many of the young leaders believe that you must first connect on human level. Oftentimes, connections develop through shared affinity toward a common cause. Ryan and Pina bore out that finding.
To read the other findings and demographics of the study, visit cogenerate.org/young-leaders.
As the population ages and record numbers of Boomers retire, thanks to improved health and longevity, we are seeing more folks like Pina embracing a second act that reframes their work to aspirations that provide fulfilling and impactful chapters of their lives.
New York Times columnist David Brooks’ book, The Second Mountain, suggests that our culture encourages life’s first journey to be successful, make your mark, and experience personal happiness. But once atop that mountain, many find the view unsatisfying and embark on a second approach. On the second mountain, life moves from self-centered to other-centered.
There is no shortage of books, programs, retreats, and University fellowships offering to help navigate a midlife encore after retirement. Chip Conley, Founder of the Modern Elder Institute suggests that the goal is to repurpose and empower the accumulated wisdom, energy and experience of humans living longer lives than ever before.
Cross-generational friendships like the example of Pina and Ryan provide a compelling alternative to age segregation and helps forge the connections that both generations will find gratifying.
If we can harness the wisdom of our elders and connect it with the energy our youth, we can find innovative ways to solve the problems that no generation can solve alone.
Pina and Ryan at Grounds For Sculpture,
