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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 22

NYC Launches “Ageism Stops With You”

Campaign to Challenge Stereotypes and Build

an Inclusive Future for All Generations

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
he NYC Department for
the Aging (NYC Aging) has
Tlaunched Ageism Stops With
You, an ambitious, citywide media
campaign aimed at challenging age-
based stereotypes and inspiring New
Yorkers to value every stage of life.
Unveiled at the City Store in down-
town Manhattan, the campaign uses
print, video, and digital messaging
across the city to encourage New
Yorkers to recognize ageism, call it
out, and actively work to end it. The
guiding message is simple: a city that
respects every generation is stronger,
fairer, and more resilient.
The launch brought together
senior leaders from the Depart-
ment of Citywide Administrative Yorkers as they age. employees, preserve institutional ard said the program proves that
Services (DCAS), NYC Public “For New York City to be tru- knowledge, and strengthen oper- closing generational gaps is essential
Schools, and the Department of ly inclusive, we must serve all New ations across agencies. Today, 136 to strengthening communities and
Youth and Community Develop- Yorkers, regardless of age,” May- Silver Stars are employed across city ensuring young New Yorkers inherit
ment (DYCD), signalling an un- or Eric Adams said at the launch. departments, demonstrating the val- wisdom, resilience, and perspective.
precedented, cross-agency commit- “We’ve made real progress in de- ue of age-diverse workplaces. DCAS Commissioner Louis A.
ment to uprooting ageism through livering services and care for older NYC Public Schools and DYCD, Molina praised the campaign’s visi-
education, workforce development, adults, but ending ageism requires both members of the Cabinet for bility, noting that featuring Ageism
media outreach, and intergenera- shifting mindsets across generations. Older New Yorkers, highlighted Stops With You prominently at 1
tional engagement. Together, the Ageism Stops With You takes that their own intergenerational pro- Centre Street underscores the city’s
agencies framed the campaign as a step. I applaud NYC Aging and our grams. NYC Public Schools uses an commitment to dignity and inclu-
pivotal step toward redefining what partner agencies for uniting behind ageism curriculum to teach students sion. “Every generation brings val-
it means to age with dignity and this vital campaign. Together, we are how stereotypes form and how to ue,” he said. “Experience and inno-
purpose in New York City. building a more welcoming and in- challenge them. More than 1,800 stu- vation together make our workforce
The centerpiece of the campaign clusive intergenerational city.” dents have completed the program — and our city — stronger.”
— a powerful video that debuted at NYC Aging Commissioner Lor- so far, with more schools joining City leaders emphasized the ur-
the launch — will air on local tele- raine Cortés-Vázquez described age- each year. “Ageism is learned, but gency behind these efforts. In 2010,
vision and circulate widely on social ism as “an insidious form of discrim- so is empathy,” said Schools Chan- the number of older New Yorkers
media, especially through DYCD’s ination that cuts across race, culture, cellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “We surpassed the number of school-aged
platforms to engage young New and age.” She emphasized that with are helping students build a culture children for the first time. By 2040,
Yorkers. The wider campaign has older New Yorkers playing an in- rooted in dignity, respect, and con- an estimated 20 percent of city resi-
already taken over subways, buses, creasingly central role in the city’s nection.” dents will be age 60 or older. As New
LinkNYC kiosks, community and workforce, neighborhoods, and civic DYCD’s “My NY Story” initia- York prepares for this demographic
ethnic media outlets, and NYC Ag- life, the campaign represents a time- tive brings young and older NYCHA shift, campaigns like Ageism Stops
ing’s website, ensuring the message ly and necessary intervention. “This residents together for structured sto- With You will help shape a city where
reaches millions. campaign reminds us that everyone rytelling sessions. Participants share older adults remain active, engaged,
The initiative builds on the Ad- can be affected by ageism — but personal histories, discover shared and valued.
ams administration’s broader record anyone can be part of the solution,” experiences, and build trust across With agencies united, programs
of investment in older New Yorkers. she said. generations. In 2025 alone, the pro- expanding, and a public message
Over the past three years, the city has One of the city’s key anti-ageism gram brought 100 residents together now resonating across every bor-
expanded services through the Cabi- initiatives is the Silver Stars program, for more than 100 hours of inter- ough, the campaign marks a signifi-
net for Older New Yorkers, sustained launched by NYC Aging and DCAS generational dialogue — work that cant step toward ending ageism and
NYC Aging’s budget beyond federal in 2022. The program hires retired earned a national Program of Mer- building a New York where every
COVID-19 relief, and launched in- city workers to return in part-time it award from Generations United. generation can live, work, and thrive
novative programs to support New roles where they mentor younger DYCD Commissioner Keith How- — together.

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