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Forge2gether trains teens to develop strong communication and networking skills by connecting them with adults to learn career lessons, life advice, and real-world wisdom. Through structured interviews and guided conversations, teens learn how to ask professional questions, listen actively, follow up thoughtfully, and carry themselves with confidence in professional settings.
At the same time, adults feel valued as they share their experiences and insights.
Together, we strengthen connections across generations while preparing teens to build meaningful professional relationships.
Mission + Service Hours
Forge2gether.org, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to building resilience and understanding in teens, enhancing their emotional intelligence while connecting generations through impactful life and career advice.
You will receive 3 service hours for completing our 40-minute training and participating in a high-quality 30-minute interview.
You will get 2 service hours for any additional high-quality interviews after that.
Teens: There is no limit to how many interviews you do! Just follow the easy steps to sharpen your skills and connect and learn from others!
Athena Alexander –
Founder & Executive Director
Athena Alexander, a junior at Bishop O’Dowd High School, founded Forge2gether after living through the pandemic and seeing how disconnected people had become. She first volunteered by tutoring elementary students in West Oakland, where she saw how much kids benefit from attention, patience, and encouragement. Later, while volunteering at an assisted living facility, she noticed that older adults also craved conversation and connection.
Seeing both ends of the age spectrum experience the same loneliness inspired Athena to create Forge2gether, a program that helps teens and older adults connect through guided, meaningful conversations. She believes genuine listening can build understanding and bring a sense of belonging to everyone involved.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a stark warning that loneliness and isolation is a national health threat and how “we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity and substance use disorders.”
Our Research Goal
Forge2gether is both a service project and a social experiment rooted in psychology and the science of empathy. Our goal is to understand whether meaningful, structured conversations between teens and older adults can increase life satisfaction, empathy, and overall well-being for both generations.
Each Forge2gether interview includes short pre- and post-surveys that measure emotional connection, optimism, and mood. By analyzing these responses, we aim to discover how genuine human interaction affects loneliness, purpose, and happiness.
All data is collected anonymously and reviewed by independent researchers. Over time, the findings will help us publish measurable results and contribute to larger studies on intergenerational connection, emotional intelligence, and community well-being.
Our vision is simple: to show that listening is powerful enough to heal isolation, one conversation at a time.
Our Key Initiatives
Intergenerational Conversations
At the heart of Forge2gether are our structured, one-on-one interviews between teens and adults. These conversations, guided by research-based questions, build empathy and understanding across age, background, and experience. Each dialogue around life and career choices is designed to leave both people feeling more seen, valued, and hopeful.
Emotional Intelligence Training
Before conducting any interviews, every student completes our Forge2gether Training Program. This 40-minute training teaches listening skills, emotional awareness, and communication techniques grounded in psychology.
Teens learn to create safe, meaningful, and uplifting conversations, skills that last a lifetime and are made even more important as jobs in our AI future will rely heavily on capitalizing and differentiating ourselves with "people skills."
Research & Impact Study
Forge2gether integrates real research into its design. Using pre- and post-conversation surveys, we study how intergenerational dialogue affects empathy, mood, and well-being. Each interview helps us gather data for a future published study, proving that human connection can be both heartwarming and scientifically measurable.
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