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NYC Aging, NYC Schools, and NYAM Receive Nearly $400,000 to Expand Anti-Ageism Classes

Grant from Next50 expands classes from high schools to K-12, aiming to raise awareness and reduce discriminatory attitudes.

New York, NY – The New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), Department of Education (NYC Public Schools), and New York Academy of Medicine (NYCAM) have been awarded nearly $400,000 from Next50 to expand NYC Aging’s Anti-Ageism Resource Guide. This initiative will teach more students about ageism, its societal impact, and ways to combat it, ultimately reducing this form of discrimination. The grant will also support expanding the use of the resource guide to more schools and grade levels.

The three-year grant, totaling $389,761, will broaden the program to reach more schools and grade levels. Its goal is to help students and school administrators recognize ageism and understand its impact, empowering them to be agents of change who inspire others to rethink aging.

“Teaching more students about ageism reduces its harmful effects in our communities, and that’s why education is the first step in creating the society we envision,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Expanding our educational efforts is key to building the age-inclusive city we all deserve to live in. This initiative complements other measures we’ve implemented, such as creating the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, improving public safety with Older Adult Liaisons in every police precinct and service areas, and breaking down silos between city agencies to deliver better services for older adults.”

“Ageism impacts everyone, no matter their gender, nationality, or religion,” said NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “Educating young people about the harmful effects this type of discrimination has in the workplace and their communities will help reduce it in our society. Most importantly, these classes will help combat the ageist stereotypes that they are bombarded with in the media on a daily basis. When we eliminate ageism, we create a society where everyone — no matter how old they are privileged to become — is valued for who they are their and the contributions they make.”

“In our public schools, we’re teaching our kids how to be leaders in their communities. In order to be effective and equitable changemakers, our students need to know how to support New Yorkers of every age and every walk of life,” said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “I am proud to be partnering with NYC Aging to bring this important programming into our schools and to help our children tackle bias, challenge preconceived notions, and grow into responsible New Yorkers.”

"It is our mission to help end ageism in this country,” said Peter Kaldes, President and CEO of Next50. “That is why we’re honored to partner with the New York City Department of Aging in this three-year project. They are exemplars of thoughtful innovation, real collaboration, and commitment to equitably changing aging.”

“NYAM is excited to serve as the evaluation partner for NYC Aging’s ‘NYC's Partnerships for Anti-Ageism Guided Education (PAGE)’ program, generously funded by the Next50 Foundation. This grant will enable the City to expand the scope and scale of the Anti-Ageism Resource Guide to include K-12 schools, and NYAM will measure and evaluate the effectiveness of this program in order to create a more evidence-informed approach to combating ageism” said Ann Kurth, PhD, CNM, MPH President, NYAM. “This partnership is one of multiple ways that NYAM and NYC Aging have worked together over many years to advance the health and well-being of older — and therefore all — New Yorkers.”

In February 2023, NYC Aging and NYC Public Schools launched the Intergenerational Connections to Fight Ageism Pilot, introducing the resource guide to 13 Brooklyn high schools. The pilot has since expanded to include four additional high schools. The resource guide equips teachers, principals, and other staff with tools to integrate anti-ageism content into classroom lessons and after-school programs.

The Next50 grant will expand the program to at least 40 elementary, middle, and high schools across all boroughs. NYAM will assess the program’s impact, measuring its success in changing attitudes and behaviors.

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About NYC Aging:

The NYC Department for the Aging’s (NYC Aging) mission is to eliminate ageism and empower older adults to live independently in their communities. Through a network of over 300 older adult centers and naturally occurring retirement communities, NYC Aging provides vital programs and resources to nearly 1.8 million older New Yorkers, fostering their physical and mental well-being.