Poetry to Bridge Generations

Poetry is the voice of the soul.

Through poetry teenagers and elders can exchange information about the life span in relation to aging, examine their beliefs about aging and their role in their own aging. Poetry can connect generations and for both teenagers and elders, sharing poetry can expand their known worlds.

Each year the Poetry to Bridge Generations Contest awards prizes to local youth and elders and hosts a Winners Celebration and Poetry Slam to hear readings of the winning poems and provide an opportunity for face-to-face dialogue about poetry and poems.

This program was created in 2009 and is maintained by a partnership of the University of Nebraska at Omaha Department of Gerontology with public and private schools connected by the UNO Advanced Placement Program and Service Learning Academy.  The Omaha Public Libraries and the Nebraska Writers Collective are the founding and continuing community partners. The program is managed by student members of the university chapter of Sigma Phi Omega, the national gerontology academic honor society and the Sigma Phi Omega faculty advisor with the help of volunteers from partner organizations and our community.      

The 2016 content concluded with the Winners Celebration and Poetry Slam on Sunday, October 16, 2016. Read a selection of winning poems from elders and winning poems from youth.

2017 Poetry to Bridge Generations Contest

To participate, elders aged 50 and older and youth in grades 7 through 12 are invited to each submit two poems. One of the poems should be about how the world views or how society treats older people and one poem should be about how the world views or how society treats teenagers. The top three elder and top three youth winners will reach one poem each at the Winners Celebration & Poetry Slam on October 15, 1-3 P.M., on the UNO Dodge Campus. Two sets of cash prizes will be awarded: one for elders and one for youth. The prizes are $100 for first place, $50 second place, $25 for third place, and $10 for seven honorable mentions. See the event flier.

Submission Period: April 15 - October 6. Each submission should include the following information in the upper right corner: 1) Elder Track or Youth Track; 2) full name, address, phone, and email address; and 3) title of poem.

Questions should be directed to unospochapter@unomaha.edu or 402.554.2272.

The Intergenerational Poetry to Bridge Generations Content is sponsored by the Omaha Public Library, Omaha Public Schools, and the University of Nebrask at Omaha.