ABOUT ETHAN

Four years ago, when I started high school, I was apprehensive. I didn't feel ready for the challenges ahead of me. As I adapted and became more comfortable, the pandemic began. During this time I became aware of the irreversible changes happening in the world. While most people were scrambling for toilet paper, or their next bottle of hand sanitizer, I started to worry about my future, and the future of the world.

Throughout my life I lived in an intergenerational household, with my great-grandmother and my grandparents. Some of my most cherished memories are of talking to my great-grandmother about her childhood. We often bonded in nature, including the times we picked currents that grew around my home. We would talk endlessly about her childhood, and the world I was discovering all around me. When my great-grandmother passed away, I felt a need for intergenerational connection and began volunteering at a long term care home. I loved seeing the joy on the residents' faces as we spent time together. This gave me insight into the lack of intergenerational connections in our society. One day, I helped a resident read their mail. Later that afternoon, amusingly, they said to me: "If anyone hurts you, let me know! I'll deal with them!" This showed me the importance and value of deep intergenerational connections.

   These connections and their value is what inspired me to start InspiringGenerations and “Ethan Lets Talk”.

Join me, lets talk…