Poetry to Bridge Generations

Poetry is the voice of the soul.

Through poetry teenagers and older adults 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 Intergernational Poetry Contest awards prizes to local youth and adults over 50 to help bridge the gap between the generations. The event features a Winners Celebration and Poetry Slam to hear readings of the winning poems and provides 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 (SPO), the national gerontology academic honor society, and the SPO faculty advisor. Additionally, volunteers of partner organizations in our community help to bring this fun event together.      

The 2017 contest concluded with the Winners Celebration and Poetry Slam on Sunday, October 15, 2017. Read a selection of winning poems from elders and winning poems from youth.

2018 Intergenerational Poetry Contest Information

When:     Sunday, October 14, 2018
Time:      1 - 3 p.m.
Where:   UNO Campus, Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC), Room 201
Why:       To Bridge the Generations

To participate:

Adults age 50 and older (group name: 50+)
youth in grades 7 through 12 (group name: teen)

Each entrant submits two poems:

1. How the world views or how society treats older people
2. How the world views or how society treats teenagers.

Submission information:

When:  February 26 until October 1, 2018
How:    Online, Email, or Mail
What:   2 poems per entrant

Include on each poem in the upper right corner:
            1. Your age group (Teen or 50+)
            2. Your full name, address, phone, and email address
            3. Title of your poem

Prizes for each age group:

Must be present to claim prize.

The top three winning poets from each age group will read their poems at the Winners Celebration & Poetry Slam on October 14, 2018. Parking is open to the public and a map can be viewed here. 

See the event flier.

Ways to submit:

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

The Intergenerational Poetry Contest to bridge generations is sponsored by the Omaha Public Library, Omaha Public Schools, the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Dual Enrollment Program, and the Department of Gerontology.