NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Senior Citizens, Teens Discuss Issues
“Gray power” met the MTV generation Tuesday.
In an effort to promote better understanding among youths and senior citizens, 40 members of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Gray Panthers met in Studio City on Tuesday with about a dozen students from North Hollywood High School.
During the two-hour forum, students and seniors discussed racism, splitting up the school district and teaching morality in school. The youths are members of their school’s IMPACT service club.
“If you’re an example of the public schools, we can be proud,” said Lillian Kohn, 72, of North Hollywood.
Kaine Alozie, 15, who was born in Nigeria, said she was amazed to learn how senior citizens are treated in the United States.
“In my country, seniors are looked up to as a model for the young people,” he said. “Why would they put them in a home?”
Students said they liked the exchange.
“It is so rare that people will take the time to listen to teen-agers who can’t drive, who can’t vote,” said Natalie Avital, 15. “We get really frustrated because we’re not idiots. We have minds.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
