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Building Bridges Across the Generation Gap: The Shared Struggles of Millennials & Boomers
May 19, 2017 @ 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Believe it or not, Millennials and Baby Boomers have much in common, especially when it comes to the changing U.S. political economy. Join us for an intergenerational happy hour discussion unpacking the impact of America’s fractured social safety net across generations.
It’s no secret that today’s young adult generation faces unprecedented financial insecurity. Compared to when Baby Boomers were young, Millennials (born 1980 and after) have lower incomes, less savings, and lower net worth. They are also disproportionately likely to be uninsured, underemployed, or unemployed, and many are saddled with unprecedented levels of student debt.
Boomers are also facing serious challenges. Pensions have been dramatically eroded in recent decades, and many boomers will be forced to work beyond the normal retirement age and/or to reduce their standard of living. Social security is under political attack and proposed cuts to Medicaid may also reduce the resources available for long-term care.
A common thread across the generations is the increasingly weakened U.S. social safety net—Social security, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and “welfare.” Not only have these programs deteriorated in recent years, but they are newly threatened by the Trump administration and the current U.S. Congress.
The program will begin with brief presentations from new research on the challenges that Millennials and Boomers face, followed an intersectional discussion of the common ground (as well as differences) between the two generations.
Speakers:
Millennial Keynote: Kevin Stump, Young Invincibles
Boomers Keynote: Ruth Milkman, CUNY Graduate Center & Murphy Institute
Ed Ott, Murphy Institute | Kate Aronoff, Dissent Magazine | Doris Welch, NYC Chapter, NYS Alliance for Retired Americans | Luba Cortes, Make the Road New York | Lorraine Barcant, AFSCME 375 | Eric Kingson, Syracuse University
Musical Performance by the Raging Grannies
Co-Sponsored by Young Invincibles, PSC-CUNY, NYC Chapter, Alliance for Retired Americans, NYC League of Woman Voters, and the Murphy Institute, CUNY.
