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Connecting Communities
Through Storytelling & Communication

Empower Media Exchange strengthens the local information ecosystem
by combining media literacy, practical communication skills and shared storytelling.
Through hands-on learning, mentorship, strategic narrative support and real-world publishing,
we help people and organizations build confidence, advance community goals,
and participate meaningfully in public life.

Empower Media Exchange Accepted into CoGenerate’s Community of Practice

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Empower Media Exchange
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Strengthening Intergenerational Collaboration to Expand Leadership Opportunities for Youth and Aging Adults

Empower Media Exchange (EMX) is pleased to announce its acceptance into the CoGenerate Community of Practice, a national initiative designed to advance intergenerational collaboration and strengthen leadership for youth and aging adults in civic and community settings.

EMX joins dozens of mission-aligned organizations engaged in reimagining how younger and older generations work together to tackle pressing social challenges and amplify civic impact. 

About the CoGenerate Community of Practice

CoGenerate is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging generational divides and fostering collaborative solutions. The organization defines “cogeneration” as the intentional partnership of older and younger people working side by side to co-create the future.

The Community of Practice supports youth- and elder-serving organizations in building practical skills, tools and tested models for intergenerational civic engagement. Participants around the country gain frameworks for designing programs that integrate cross-generational allies into leadership work and expand their impact across communities. 

By participating in this Community of Practice, EMX will deepen its commitment to intergenerational exchange, benefiting from shared learning with peers and expert practitioners and contributing its own insights from work in media literacy, youth development, age-based advocacy and support for the local news ecosystem.

Graphic showing a map of the United States shaded in hookup blue tones to indicate locations of CoGenerate Community of Practice members across multiple states. To the right, a donut chart titled “Where you hail from & where you focus” displays four segments labeled: Regional (34.7%), National (26.4%), Statewide (20.8%), and International (18.1%). Below the visuals is a banner reading “Who are we?” with the CoGenerate logo in the bottom right corner.
Regional representation of 2026 CoGenerate cohort members.

EMX and Intergenerational Co-Creation

This opportunity complements EMX’s ongoing mission to strengthen local news ecosystems, advance media literacy and expand workforce pathways for emerging communicators.

The organization’s youth– and elder-focused programs – ranging from media literacy workshops and student media training to mentorship in reporting and storytelling – equip people of all ages with the competencies, confidence and real-world skills needed in an increasingly complex information landscape. 

“I’ve worked with youth and older populations in intergenerational settings for over 20 years, and I recognize the importance of creating inclusion and belonging, especially in the media ecosystem,” says EMX President & CEO, Ruby Jones.

“In addition to the youth programming we’re currently facilitating, we are excited for upcoming programs that support age-inclusion in media, as well as amplifying the voices and perspectives of aging adults through media literacy. These initiatives are important, and they will create better outcomes in the future. We’re thrilled to be participating in the CoGenerate Community of Practice to prepare us for the work ahead.”

At the core of EMX’s programming is a belief that durable civic and media ecosystems are strengthened when generations collaborate:

  • Co-creation and mentorship. EMX connects youth with experienced communicators and journalists who serve as mentors, offering guidance on reporting techniques, ethical storytelling and media career pathways. 
  • Internship opportunities and career readiness. Through student media training and professional development offerings, youth and aging adults gain exposure to journalism and media production practices that prepare them for media-based careers and civic participation. 
  • Workforce pathways. EMX’s programming is designed to bridge education and employment, integrating career coaching, hands-on learning opportunities and portfolio development to support next-generation media professionals. 
  • Aging-Awareness & Ethical Coverage Courses: Structured learning modules that increase accurate and respectful representation of the aging population by equipping media professionals with best practices for reporting on age-related topics, avoiding stereotypes and ageism, centering lived experience and applying ethical, inclusive frameworks to storytelling across health, housing, culture and intergenerational issues.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond youth development, EMX works to fortify the broader local news environment. Through initiatives like Front Range Focus, a multimedia co-op and digital news platform amplifying community-centered stories, the organization enables community information sharing without paywalls.

EMX also helps nonprofits refine and communicate their narratives, contributing to healthier information flows and greater civic trust across Colorado’s Front Range communities. 

Next Steps, Next-Gen

Joining CoGenerate’s Community of Practice positions EMX to accelerate its intergenerational impact by adopting proven frameworks, experimenting with new collaborative models and engaging with a national network of innovators dedicated to intergenerational leadership and cross-age partnership.

Preparing for summer programming that supports the launch of content for and by youth and aging adults, the organization looks forward to sharing what it’s learned and piloting new intergenerational practices.

Empower Media Exchange is a growing hub where inclusive voices are elevated and community information ecosystems are strengthened. Excited for the future of storytelling and co-creation, the organization invites strategic organizational partnership and collaboration.

Editor’s note: To learn more about EMX’s intergenerational programming and support its initiatives, visit https://empowermediaexchange.org.