Learning to Co-exist With Your Inner Ageist

Learning to Co-exist With Your Inner Ageist

The World Health Organization defines ageism as a stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination based on age against others or ourselves. Ageism is an invisible but potent type of discrimination that creeps into our everyday lives. It shapes our perceptions, influences our decisions, limits our opportunities, and fosters disconnection.

Despite the fact that the 2021 Global Report on Ageism by the United Nations found that one in every two people held moderately or highly ageist attitudes, how we choose to define, view, and accept the real truths about aging begins and ends with one person – you. Each one of us has the power to change the tide of ageism to create a more age-inclusive world, but first, you must be willing to confront and reset your own inner ageist. Fortunately, that’s possible. While many ageist beliefs and attitudes are often rooted early in life, they’re not set in stone, they’re malleable. There within lies the opportunity. Join us and learn how to challenge and shed inherited ageist beliefs and unleash the pro-aging advocate within.

Learning Objectives

1. Gain a clear understanding of what internalized ageism is and how it shows up in everyday life.
2. Engage in reflective exercises and discovery discussions to learn more about your own ageist beliefs.
3. Learn strategies to challenge and rescript internalized ageist narratives to create a more optimistic outlook on aging.

This program is ideal for:  anyone who is struggling with age themselves or works with diverse age groups.

Cost: Free for SLA Members. $50 non-member. $30 nonprofits.

Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.

About Our Facilitator

Guadalupe Hirt is a four-time entrepreneur, social impact leader, pro-aging advocate, and middlescence life strategist. She pens the popular LinkedIn blog Dear Middlescent, a pro-aging stance focused on the beauty, truths, and opportunities of middlescence, and is a contributing blogger and program facilitator for Changing the Narrative. Most recently, she was the co-founder and CCO of SecondActWomen, a pro-age global community for women 40 & 50+. She is a 2021 Next Avenue Influencer in Aging Honoree, Facebook Community Accelerator Alum, and Encore Network board member.

Through her work, Hirt has graced virtual and in-person stages like Denver Startup Week, General Assembly, Microsoft, Startup Grind Denver, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Zayo. Hirt was featured in media outlets like Forbes, Next Avenue, NPR Denver affiliate, The Denver Post, Business Den, Daily Blast Live, and Lioness. She is

Prior to her work ageism advocacy, she was an Associate Producer at Project Eñye, a multimedia documentary and social justice project rescripting the conversation around culture, identity, and belonging. She starred in the award-winning, short-subject documentary Being Eñye, and also co-authored a cultural workbook to help middle school and high school teachers facilitate first-generation conversations in the classroom.