Social isolation and loneliness among older adults represent a growing public health concern in the United States, contributing to increased risks of depression, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life. However, loneliness also affects college students, who face social transitions, academic pressure, and separation from established support systems. Despite evidence that social connection improves health outcomes across the lifespan, loneliness is often treated as an inevitable part of aging rather than a preventable social condition shaped by structural factors and limited community support. This civic engagement project explores digital storytelling as a strategy to foster intergenerational connections for older adults and college students. 

Northampton Neighbors is an organization that supports older adults in maintaining connection, dignity, and independence. Through a university course led by Dr. Gloria DiFulvio, students are paired with older adult members for weekly meetings focused on relationship-building and storytelling. These relationships culminate in recorded personal narratives uploaded to StoryShare and the Library of Congress. 

My project addresses delays in uploading these stories through organizing, editing, and publishing. I oversee a team of student editors, coordinate workflow using a shared tracking system, edit audio recordings, write summaries, and upload finalized stories with photos and transcripts. This applied methodology is informed by literature demonstrating that digital storytelling can enhance memory, self-efficacy, mood, and social connectedness among older adults. By increasing public access to participants’ narratives, this project supports intergenerational relationships and highlights digital storytelling as a practical, community-based response to loneliness.