Milllenials: From the Next Generation to the Now Generation

June 3, 2011 //

By Pia Infante



Whenever I hear the phrase “the next generation,” the first notion that comes to mind is the Star Trek: Next Generation t.v. series which ran from 1987 to 1994. Wow. As I write this I’m realizing this is not a current pop culture reference – dating me as the Gen X’er that I am!

I use it here to refer to Millennials – the generation born roughly between 1980 and 2000. And I’ve been reminded of the phrase because I was pleased to see that a couple of Millennial leaders from our TWI midst have been recently recognized as folks who have already stepped into their potential as the Now generation, not the Next.

Congratulations Ayofemi Kirby, of mobilize.org, and Amy Lazarus, of Sustained Dialogue Campus Network!

The Independent Sector has announced Ayofemi and Amy as members of the 2011 American Express NGen Fellows. This 9-month fellowship is designed to expand and develop the (under 40) non-profit leadership pool’s leadership skills and practices.

Ayofemi is the Director of Strategy and Programs for mobilize.org, a long time grantee partner of TWI’s and Amy is the Executive Director of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, a newer grantee partner of ours.

We are delighted to see their leadership acknowledged and curious to understand how TWI might better support the trajectory of Now vs. Next.