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The Bridge of Co: Creation, Design, & Transformation

I recently attended the Promise of Adolescence gathering in Los Angeles. The day focused on how we can support and enhance the lives of young people today, and I was asked to do a PopUp Talk on “what I know.” What emerged was a stream of consciousness that settled itself into a poem.

 

The Bridge of Co

Not long ago, young people had access to nothing.

Now, they have unprecedented access to everything.

 

Access to tech

Access to knowledge

Access to Grinder and Tinder

Access to porn

Access to astrology

Access to health information

Access access access

 

And access to unprecedented stress.

 

Parent stress

Relationship stress

School stress

Social stress

Financial stress

Poverty stress

Sexual stress

Gender stress

Racial stress

Political stress

Climate stress

 

What I know is this:

Co-creation, co-design, and co-transformation,

Are the bridge that links the incredible

Know-how and wisdom of those of us who are not young

To the wisdom and power that young people already have.

Turning “access” into something far more powerful.

 

The fusion of science and design is one 

Elegant way to do this.

 

This is what I know.


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