The Legacy Project, Inc. Announces Partnership with Innovation80 and Civic Leadership Foundation to Launch Second Cohort of the Intergenerational Changemakers 

The fellowship will build intergenerational friendships among Chicago-based participants to publish a collective book and develop a civic initiative.

Chicago, Illinois –The Legacy Project, Inc. (TLP), a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to cultivating intergenerational connection through storytelling, is partnering with Chicago-based Innovation80 and Civic Leadership Foundation (CLF) to launch a second cohort of the Intergenerational Changemakers beginning Fall 2026. The fellowship will pair up to 10 younger adults (ages 15-25) with 10 older adults (age 65+) based in Chicago, IL. The second iteration of the Changemakers Fellowship will build on the success of its inaugural cohort by drawing on the expertise of Innovation 80 in intergenerational art creation and the Civic Leadership Foundation in civic engagement.

Over the six-month fellowship, each intergenerational pair will participate in a storytelling and writing exchange, culminating in the publication of the book. They will also each create one or more illustrations of their story to be included in the book. For the next phase, with support from the Civic Leadership Foundation, Fellows will spend two months designing and launching a civic micro-initiative that addresses a local issue that they both care deeply about.

Upon completion of the fellowship, each individual will receive a $250 completion stipend, and each pair will receive a $500 stipend to support their community project, which shall not be a partisan political effort and may include efforts such as creating a community garden or food pantry that serves residents of all ages, co-testifying at local government meetings on issues related to youth and aging, hosting intergenerational volunteer events to combat food insecurity or isolation, and convening a multigenerational civic dialogue on bridging social or political divides.

The cohort will officially launch with an in-person kickoff convening in Chicago on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Throughout the fellowship, participants will gather monthly to build relationships with one another and hear from leading voices in the fields of intergenerational engagement and social connection.

Through the Intergenerational Changemakers Cohort, multigenerational participants will have the opportunity to learn from one another and translate their cross-generational relationships into local impact.

About The Legacy Project, Inc.

The Legacy Project, Inc. is a national nonprofit connecting younger and older adults for multigenerational friendship and storytelling. We seek to combat social isolation & loneliness, document life stories, & foster a future where age is no barrier to friendship. The Legacy Project supports chapters across colleges, universities, and high schools across the country. 

About Innovation80 

Innovation 80 supports arts-based programs in underserved communities that build life skills, including self-confidence, creativity, teamwork and persistence. Its CoGen initiative encourages and funds programs that forge meaningful relationships between younger and older generations through creating art together. 

About Civic Leadership Foundation

Civic Leadership Foundation (CLF), a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 2007, helps young people turn what they care about into meaningful change in their communities. Partnering with schools and nonprofit organizations, CLF provides a project-based, learner-centered curriculum for middle and high school students in both in-school and out-of-school time (OST) settings. Along the way, students build the skills, confidence, and real-world experience to become engaged, purpose-driven citizens. CLF also equips educators and facilitators with the tools and support to guide young people as they lead, collaborate, and make a difference in their communities and beyond.