Impact
Evidence-Based Programming
Our program has been studied twice by University of Southern California professor Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang. The first study was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2017. The second study in 2019, was funded by the Templeton Foundation.
These evaluations provided an evidence-based framework for our model with the number one outcome being “a greater sense of purpose” for our student participants.
Benefits
Quantitative findings from two USC studies showed:
These articles discuss how Sages & Seekers cultivates a sense of purpose for the teen participants.
How Friendships with Elders Help Teens Find Purpose
New Research Shows that Transcendent Thinking can Increase Teens’ Sense of Purpose
Results of our one-year study funded by the National Endowment for the Arts showed that Sages & Seekers intergenerational storytelling intervention increased adolescents’ reported sense of social connectedness, psychological wellbeing, and purpose-in- life, and especially so for participants with the lowest initial levels. Moreover, adolescents’ changing abilities to conceptualize their future goals in terms of ethical and relational values, instead of hedonistic or pragmatic motives, mediated the increases in reported purpose-in-life. Older adult participants showed increased generativity and working memory performance.
For the Templeton Foundation study, the overarching empirical aims of this project were to investigate the developmental trajectories of youths’ meaning-making across the intervention, and to probe the effects of meaning-making on changes in virtues, purpose, spirituality, civic participation and stress regulation. Participants reported self-transcendent purpose scores, wisdom scores, hope and gratitude scores increased from pre- to post- intervention.
Testimonies
College Researchers
University of Southern California professor Dr. Mary Helen Immordino- Yang conducted both studies of our program. Here she talks about the efficacy of Sages & Seekers.
Educators
Listen to what high school teachers and university professors have to say about utilizing our programs in their academic curriculum and the profound benefits to their students.
Participants
Our participants share their experience and feelings about the impact of our programs and the resulting benefits of authentic conversation with another generation.
Impact of Sages & Seekers
This short documentary, produced by Andrew Dubbins and USC Impact, shows the close relationship that developed between Geraldine and her Seeker Madeline.
Tributes
These featured relationships exemplify the power of the Sages & Seekers program, demonstrating that two generations, decades (and sometimes continents!) apart can find commonality and develop a meaningful relationship. Sages & Seekers has launched many friendships that have transcended age, geographic, and socio-economic boundaries.
Ruth & Julia
Julia and Ruth met at the in-person program at Larchmont Charter High School in Los Angeles. Read Julia’s tribute to Ruth here.
Gary & Heaven
Gary and Heaven were paired together as a Sage and Seeker at Pali High in Pacific Palisades, CA. Read Heaven’s tribute to Gary here.
Andie & Valen
Valen, a Seeker in Argentina, and Andie, a Sage in New York City, have developed such a special friendship that they have done Sages & Seekers online as partners 3 times. Read one of Valen’s tributes here.
Jennifer & Jonathan
Jennifer and Jonathan met in our online program in Winter 2022. Read Jonathan’s tribute to Jennifer here.
About us
Sages & Seekers is a program of ONEgeneration. Sages & Seekers offers intergenerational collaboration between older adults, the Sages, and students, the Seekers. ONEgeneration is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.
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