FreshLens Chicago brings retired adults and high school students together through a shared creative practice: photography.

In its seven-week CoGen program, participants interview one another, discover common interests, and work in pairs to design and develop a photography project. Both generations contribute ideas and learn from each other.

The program creates opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration across ages. Photography becomes a starting point for conversation, helping participants see one another beyond assumptions about their generation.

Supported by Innovation 80, this work illustrates the purpose of CoGen: creating space for younger and older people to make art together and build meaningful relationships.

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