Old School: About Old School

About Us

Mission

Old School works to end ageism by convening people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities who share this goal. We are particularly committed to fostering an inclusive space for historically marginalized groups, and supporting them. We create, curate, and widely disseminate free educational material about ageism and how to undo it. Through community dialogue and innovative collaborations, we raise individual awareness of ageism and inspire collective action to dismantle it in every sphere of life.

Vision

Old School is advancing a world where aging is no longer a privilege, and everyone has the opportunity to move through life with purpose and dignity. We believe in the power of the collective, and show up for other social justice movements, ensuring our advocacy centers the lived experience of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, and other marginalized groups. Our work is grounded in powerful truths that demand elevation: everyone is aging, and everyone experiences being treated unfairly because of their age. This makes ageism a gateway to understanding the intersectional nature of all oppression, and of all activism. This paves the way for genuine equity and collective liberation.

Values

We believe kindness is essential. We prioritize care-centered practice grounded not in compliance but in reflection and true consent. We know dismantling ageism means confronting sexism (aging is gendered), ableism (disability is stigmatized), and racism (which denies multitudes the chance to age at all). We understand trust takes time. We reject proprietary mindsets and think an open-source mentality is essential to movement-building. We recognize lived experience as a critical form of knowledge, and design programs that elevate community leadership and collective decision-making. We support initiatives that are necessary for some and good for all. We think addressing the relation between age and power is essential. We prioritize free or low-cost offerings so access is not gated by institutions, price, or credentials. We reject hierarchy, and operate by consensus. We are transparent: what we say is what you get.

Wondering where to begin? Here are some suggestions.

Old School’s Origin Story

What people are saying:

Old School is valuable for my work as a freelance journalist, connecting me with academics, professionals, and leaders in the field of aging. I regularly peruse the site to spot trends and stay abreast of cutting-edge thinking.

—Kevyn Burger

2018 GSA Journalist in Aging Fellow, Minneapolis, MN

Wow!! The hub is fantastic!! Thank you for developing this important web-based resource and curating the content. Happy – and eager- to spread the word.

—Risa Breckman

Executive Director, NYC Elder Abuse Center at Weill Cornell Medical College

Old School is sublime! l am developing ways for arts organizations to integrate ageism into their Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, and it has already provided me so much literature for my research.

—K.C. Buller

Seattle University, MFA Arts Leadership

Really great stuff on there that can be of so much help to us in our age discrimination cases.

—Joyce Collier

attorney and member of the National Employment Lawyers Association

Old School is a game changer. It allows those of us working to change the culture of aging to connect, learn from each other, and build on each other’s efforts.

—Marlene Krasovitsky

Director, EveryAGE Counts campaign, Australia

Old School exposes ageism’s toxic effects and impresses with all that's fueling the anti-ageism movement. Everything you need to shape your own role in eradicating this prejudice is here. Get informed, get inspired, get moving!

—Wendl Kornfeld

Member NYC Gray Panthers, Age activist

Old School is a central part of the great movement we need to deal with the longevity revolution and the joy of life until we’re dead.

—D Kaganova

Visual Artist

It’s a fantastic resource for dismantling ageism and encouraging discussions about growing old!

—Cathy Bollinger

Managing Director, Embracing Aging

Old School is fantastic! Kudos on pulling together a terrific resource. I will continue to utilize it and share it with colleagues and friends.

—Kirsten Jacobs

Director, Dementia and Wellness Education, LeadingAge

I am so thrilled to see this resource. It has been bookmarked and I look forward to digging into it. Thank you for your work and please please please, keep it up!!

—Emily Miller

LMSW, MSW

I’ve really appreciated the resources compiled in Old School for my students who are studying aging. They find it very helpful and it’s great having these resources in one place.

—Clara Berridge

Assistant Professor, UW School of Social Work

It would have been so useful to have access to Old School when I was an undergrad studying gerontology. I am thrilled it exists now!

—Joe Quinn

Houston

I’m madly building my syllabi and collecting resources and I have to say, the curriculum support on your site — now that I’ve had some real time to sit with it — is FANTASTIC. Big props.

—Nancy Nowacek

Artist and Assistant Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology

I’m delighted to be included in the site and delighted about the project in general. I’m incorporating it into my current course on ageism and ableism.

—Erin Gentry Lamb

Associate Professor and Chair of Biomedical Humanities Director, Center for Literature and Medicine, Hiram College

It’s clear and straightforward and directs attention efficiently toward the resources themselves.

—Pat Sampson

Seattle, WA

I worked for the man who invented the term 'ageism' (the late Robert Butler) and I know he would be proud of what Old School will achieve. It will take a long time to dismantle ageism, but the battle has already begun.

—Harry R. Moody, Ph.D.

Retired VP for Academic Affairs, AARP

Old School is an incredible resource. I’m thrilled to be able to point people to it.

—Marci Alboher

Vice President, CoGenerate

I have signed up to Old School and really look forward to drawing on it for the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism.

—Alana Officer

Senior Health Adviser, Ageing and Life Course, World Health Organization

As a research officer in an ageing institute in Singapore, it's really wonderful to see so many resources available on ageism. I plan to dive deeper, and hopefully start some kind of ageism-awareness initiative.

—Sheena Carlsen

Geriatric Education and Research Institute, Singapore

Old School is a REALLY great resource. I've bookmarked it so I can return for more. The best way I know to become more intentional in my fight against ageism is to learn, learn learn!

—Ayana King

CEO, Maximum Communications

What a wonderful resource you have created and made available. You're right that the women’s movement could have benefited from a repository such as Old School.

—Jann Freed

Ph.D., Leadership Development and Change Management Consultant. The Genysys Group

Before most people knew what anti-ageism was, Old School went public as the go-to archive. Now everyone needs to join the fight. Here are the intersectional resources to help society make progress.

—Margaret Morganroth Gullette

author of AGEWISE and ENDING AGEISM

This site is pure inspiration for joining the anti-ageism movement. Thank you!

— Katie Wright

Content Marketing Specialist for Senior Health & Wellness

Old School is new school for everyone to get informed and in front of ageism today.

—David Tarr

Founder, Maturious

As a marketing consultant who helps businesses communicate with older consumers, I’ve found Old School very useful. A significant movement is underway, and the site offers a great way to find out more and, in your way, get involved.

—Julian Harcourt

owner, Greyafro Marketing

When I think I ‘only have’ maybe 15 years left (will be 83 yo), I think what’s the point of pushing myself? I’m wrestling with that. Your site gives me another outlook on ‘getting older’.

—Tz

from Dallas, TX

Thank you so much for assembling such a war chest of valuable tools for all of us advocates to draw on. I plan to use it in my coaching practice and make it available to the aging organizations I am part of.

—Larry Steward

Aging-in-place expert

We are sharing Old School with our global PIONeers in 66 countries. An essential source for all! Thank you for leading the way!

—Moira Allan

Co-founder & International Coordinator of the Pass It On Network.

You have my admiration for Old School. It is a strong gathering of resources to challenge ageism in all its forms.

—Stephen Katz

Professor (Emeritus), Trent University, Peterborough

What an invaluable resource. I'm always looking for good content to spark deeper conversations and Old School has quite the curated collection!

—Matthew Cahill

diversity consultant

We’re very pleased to announce the launch of A Site For All Ages, the Israeli home for combating ageism. Our inspiration was the Old School Clearinghouse.

—Liat Ayalon

Professor, Bar-Ilan University

Thank you for all the wonderful material Old School makes available for free. And the zoom sessions that always get me to think about age and ageism in new ways.

—Candy Leonard

sociologist and research consultant

Encyclopedic! Unbelievable vast knowledge within! It reminded me of an Old School record store, to which I can return again and again, finding delicious information.

—Sheila Malkind

Founder & Executive Director, Legacy Film Festival on Aging

Advocating is a passion of mine. A million thanks for inviting us into the community of change makers!

—Cory A. Scurlock

co-creator of "Ageism Affecting Young Professionals."

We love Old School! We use its treasure trove of trustworthy information to educate homeowners and their communities about the requirements—and evolving options—for the modern lifespan.

—Customized Aging

I dove into Old School yesterday and was practically salivating. There is so much there, and I look forward to sharing this resource with my community.

—Sundae Schneider-Bean

intercultural strategist and host of the IN TRANSIT podcast

I've long felt very uncomfortable when told I didn't look 78, or that my voice on our silver phone sounded so much younger. After I found Old School, I began responding, “How I should look at 78?"

—Elke Schilling

founder of Sllbernetz, Germany

I'm so grateful to the Old School for making my anti-ageist work—and that of many other age scholars and advocates—available in one place! It makes activism easier. Altogether, the site gives us energy to fight the powers that keep ableist/ sexist/ racist/ classist ageism anchored in culture.

—Margaret Morganroth Gullette

author of AGEWISE and ENDING AGEISM

Having dived into Old School, I feel so much better equipped to challenge my own bias and shift the way I view, interact and speak to and about people of different ages.

—Kylie Patchett

menoPAUSE Self Care Coach and Story Teller

Come to this site when you’re looking for reassurance that the fight against ageism is alive and well. What a fabulous resource for organizations pursuing quality of life and care for older adults and their families.

—Valorie Villela

Director, Well Program Development, On Lok

We were delighted to learn about Old School, and will be using it to inform our efforts to combat ageism going forward. The website is so rich.

—Dr. K. Rao Podhuri

University of Rochester

Old School is a radical, revolutionary undertaking.

—CZ Nnaemeka

Chief Innovation Officer

The Old School website is chock-full of thought-provoking content. I’m extremely grateful for it, and have already returned to it several times.

—Raymond A. Jetson

founder of Aging While Black

I teach 'ageing and intergenerational relations' to undergraduate and postgraduate students. The extensive information on Old School helps them critique and appraise our approach to ageing and tackling age inequality.

—Catherine Elliott O’Dare,

Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin

As a grassroots advocate focussing on ageism, I value the Old School Hub’s immense contribution to countering discrimination based on age. I'm thrilled it will make my research on in both French and English so much easier.

—Jeanne Brideau

educator

My conference could not have happened without all the support and time from the Old School Team.

—Hilary Siebens

Siebens Patient Care LLC

When I first joined Office Hours because Ale engaged with me at a community meeting, I didn’t know what to expect. I always thought ageism was about old people. I have now been part of Office Hours for almost two months and learn so much every time. It is a welcoming space with so much to offer for beginners. I am looking forward to the 2026 strategic plan.”

—Erick Mayorga

healthcare professional

I FINALLY stopped feeling embarrassed about using my cane in public. A huge reason for that new confidence came from you and your Old School team’s intersectionality resources. You all have really helped me confront my internalized ableism. shorter version: I FINALLY stopped feeling embarrassed about using my cane in public. Old School has really helped me confront my internalized ableism.

—Gahlia Eden

Training + Network Manager, Lifetime Arts

About Us

Mission

Vision

Values

Old School’s Origin Story

What people are saying:

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What people are saying: