Studio City : Seniors, Teens Plan Shared Issues Forum

Affirmative action, the sexual revolution, drug use, teen pregnancy, age discrimination, crime and Internet censorship are among the topics that will be tackled Tuesday at an unusual community forum aimed at bridging the generation gap.

The forum brings together members of the San Fernando Valley Gray Panthers and North Hollywood High School’s Interact Club to discuss topics of shared interest.

The two groups will speak to one of those hot-button issues--not yet disclosed--as a main topic. Some of the other issues will be addressed during a question-and-answer period.

Odd as it may seem, senior citizens and teenagers have a lot in common, including a shared sense of age-related oppression, said forum coordinator Dorace Deigh of the Gray Panthers.

Teens aren’t taken seriously because they are perceived as immature, and senior citizens’ ideas are pooh-poohed as outdated, she said.

Through a three-year partnership with the high school, the Gray Panthers are attempting to dispel such notions and bring the generations closer.

“For the young people, the forum is an opportunity to find out that old people aren’t all in nursing homes,” Deigh said, laughing. “We’re politically aware and some of us are activists. For the older people, it’s an opportunity to connect with younger people, to find out what their interests are.”

The forum, which is free to the public, will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, 12355 Moorpark St.