Rounding Out 2024 With NYC Department For The Aging's 'Boom! A Silver Dawning In American Cities' Conference

What a way to round out 2024!

Earlier this month, Jacynth had the honour of being invited by Commissioner Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, Michael Ognibene and Daneen Ausby to speak on the opening plenary panel at NYC Department for the Aging's inaugural national conference 'BOOM! A Silver Dawning In American Cities' in New York City.

Speaking on the panel alongside Jacynth were Michael Clinton of ROAR Forward, activist Ashton Applewhite, and New York Times Style journalist Guy Trebay. And the panel was moderated and chaired by Crystal Hudson, the Council Member for New York City's District 35 in Brooklyn.

With our populations ageing and ageism rife through society, together the panelists discussed the urgent need to transform attitudes around ageing, dismantle ageist attitudes  (internal, interpersonal and institutional), champion longevity, and adopt an intergenerational all incisive approach - along with much more. 

And no, they didn’t agree on everything. But that is what makes for an engaging, thought provoking conversation. And that is what makes this movement and space so exciting and rich with opportunity. 

Because we might have different approaches and prrspecives, but we are aligned and united with the same overarching goal. 

Plus the panelists each shared their own personal experiences of ageism... 

Jacynth's?

This year alone a major national women’s publication wanting to feature & partner with Ageism Is Never In Style told Jacynth that she personally couldn’t be included alongside it because she's ’too young’… and, separately, Jacynth was asked to pretend someone older than her is her boss to justify our success, impact, and working with us…. The irony!

Overall “Boom! A Silver Dawning In American Cities" was a brilliant 2 day conference that offered a much needed space to provide strategies & solutions for combatting ageism, support caregivers, & create an age-inclusive nation; and it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow international thought-leaders, innovators and change makers.

Hopefully it was the first of many more years to come, and we applaud the NYC Department For The Aging their pioneering approach, leading and setting an example with compassionate, kindness, knowledge, and open mindedness. 

And Jacynth will be back in the USA in 2025!