GENERATIONS TOGETHER / SENIOR VOICES
A YOUTH-LED ORAL HISTORY PROJECT / 01
THE STORIES WE CARRY
A whole life. In their own words.
Everyone has memories that deserve to be heard. Senior Voices invites young volunteers to sit down with an older adult, listen to their experiences, and preserve their stories through a recorded conversation. Choose your own day, ask your own questions, and begin with someone you know.
In the registration form, select “Voices Across Generations.”
01
YOUR OWN SCHEDULE
Choose a date that works for you and the older adult you interview.
02
YOUR WAY TO CONNECT
Speak in person, over the phone, or on a video call.
03
PERMISSION COMES FIRST
Get signed consent before recording. Share the recording privately with GT.
THE REASON WE LISTEN
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History lives in the people around us.
Some of the most important histories have never been written down.
Older adults carry memories of the places they have called home, the people who shaped their lives, and the changes they have witnessed firsthand.
Senior Voices gives younger generations the opportunity to hear these experiences directly. Through conversations recorded with permission, we preserve personal histories while building understanding between generations.
WHAT A SINGLE CONVERSATION CAN REVEAL
Not every history begins with a headline.
A place.
The neighborhood someone grew up in. The streets they remember. The ways a community has changed.
A person.
A family member, a teacher, a friend. The relationships that helped shape an entire lifetime.
A moment.
A decision, a tradition, a turning point. An experience that someone still carries years later.
These stories do not have to be famous to be worth remembering. They only need someone willing to listen.
GET INVOLVED
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YOUR CONVERSATION. YOUR START.
Two ways to begin.
You don't need a special event or previous interviewing experience to take part. Start with someone you already know, or request an opportunity to connect with an older adult through our team.
One program. One registration.
Whichever path you choose, getting started is simple.
Select “Voices Across Generations” in the volunteer registration form. If you request a GT-arranged interview, your preferred date is tentative until confirmed by our team.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
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YOUR FIELD GUIDE
One conversation.
Four steps.
From your first question to your final recording, we've made the process simple enough to complete on your own schedule.
Prepare / Listen / Preserve
Register.
Select Voices Across Generations in our volunteer registration form. Choose whom you'll interview, your planned date, and how you'll connect.
Prepare.
Read the Interview Kit, review the suggested questions, and have your interviewee complete the Consent and Release Form before recording.
Interview.
Have your conversation in person, by phone, or by video call. Listen carefully, record with permission, and keep the recording private.
Submit.
Email your recording and signed consent to info@generationstogether.us, along with the interview date, approximate duration, and a brief two- or three-sentence summary.
Finished your interview?
Use the subject “Senior Voices Interview - [Your Name].” For large files, email us to request a private transfer method.
YOUR INTERVIEW MATERIALS
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THE ESSENTIALS
Everything you need.
Two documents.
Before your conversation, take a few minutes to review the guide and complete the required consent form. These materials explain how to prepare, record responsibly, and submit your interview to Generations Together.
RESOURCE 01 / START HERE
Interview Kit.
Your guide to arranging and conducting a meaningful interview. Includes suggested questions, recording guidelines, consent instructions, and submission requirements.
RESOURCE 02 / PARTICIPANT PERMISSION
Consent & Release.
The older adult must review and sign this form before recording. It documents permission to participate and includes separate choices for any future publication of their story or recording.
REQUIRED BEFORE RECORDINGRemember: Consent must be obtained before recording. After your interview, email the recording and signed form to GT, following the submission instructions in the kit. Interviews are not automatically published.
info@generationstogether.usAfter the interview
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Finish carefully.
Submit securely.
Once your conversation is complete, there are just a few final steps. Save the recording responsibly, send in the signed consent form, and share a short summary so our team can review and follow up.
step 01
Save it.
Keep the recording stored privately. Do not post the audio, video, photos, names, or quotes publicly on your own accounts.
step 02
Email us.
Send the recording and signed consent form to our team using the subject line: Senior Voices Interview - [Your Name].
step 03
Include context.
In your email, include the interview date, approximate duration, and a brief two- or three-sentence summary. If the file is too large, ask GT for a private transfer method.
Good to know
Optional writing comes later. If you indicate interest in writing a story afterward, our team can follow up with you separately. Submitting an interview does not automatically mean it will be published.
Beyond the interview
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A creative extension Optional
A conversation can become a story.
Some conversations deserve a second telling. Volunteers interested in writing can turn their interviews into short narrative profiles that bring an older adult’s memories, experiences, and perspectives to the page. Writing is entirely optional and is not required to complete Senior Voices.
Express your interest.
Select Yes or Maybe when asked about optional writing in the volunteer registration form.
Hear from our team.
After your interview is submitted, GT may follow up with writing instructions and next steps.
Review before sharing.
Written stories are reviewed by GT and require the older adult’s approval before any public release.
No additional application is necessary. Simply indicate your interest when registering. Interviews can be completed without participating in the writing opportunity.
Questions about writing? ↗Want to volunteer a different way?
There are plenty of ways to make a difference. Explore a few more opportunities.