Civil Discourse in an Era of Polarization

People are unhappy; we live in a time of fragmentation and polarization. Our society is divided by rampant tribalism and fears of “the other,” marked by a distrust and anger of how groups are different, with the distress centering on politics. The Amer… Continue reading

Musicians Bring Healing to LA’s Homeless

(Editor’s Note: This story was previously published by PBS NewsHour.) Vijay Gupta is a Juilliard-trained violinist and MacArthur Genius Award winner who’s been using music as a way to connect with L.A.’s homeless and incarcerated and promote healing. A… Continue reading

Embrace Being a ‘Gym Rat’

A former bodybuilder, now a ballroom dancer, builds stamina at the gym. A tax preparer fends off the fear of a sedentary life with two fitness classes. A cycling instructor confesses that teaching motivates him to “show up regularly.” And a retiree wit… Continue reading

The Baseball Player Who Lived a ‘George Bailey’ Life

Imagine growing up in a Michigan farm town, shipping off for WWII training and landing on a U.S. Navy baseball team with Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams. Imagine pitching for a military squad with teammates who played for the New York Yankees, the D… Continue reading

Living Life With the End in Mind

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a special report for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Cathy Wurzer made a dying man a promise. Through interviews with Bruce Kramer (a former dean at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.) beginning in 2… Continue reading

10 Things to Consider When Relocating After 50

Deciding on a new city to call home after 50 can be best approached if you think like an informed consumer. That means doing your research. You are effectively buying an area’s offerings of a new lifestyle, and your new place in life. You may be a gran… Continue reading

Intergenerational Places Help Young and Old Thrive

  Each day, PreK and kindergarteners arrive for school in Jenks, Okla.  in classrooms deeply embedded in a skilled nursing home, Grace Living Center. Their two public school classrooms, along with a sunlit atrium and bright playground, are the hub of t… Continue reading

When Book Clubs Are a Social Event

The late musician and composer Frank Zappa got it right when he said, “So many books, so little time.” More than ever, many avid readers have transformed the solitary act of reading into an opportunity for socialization by joining book clubs. The New Y… Continue reading

I Crashed My Mother’s Red Hat Society Group

As she turned 83, my mother, Jill Burger, declared that every birthday is worth marking in a big way. I jumped on a plane to be with her for her most recent special day when she was the star of a family party featuring cake, presents and three generati… Continue reading