Connecting Generations: The “Call the Boomers” Project

On the bustling streets of Boston, vibrant yellow payphones invite passersby to “Call Boomer.” Meanwhile, about 3,000 miles away in Reno, Nevada, similar payphones urge residents of the Sierra Manor senior complex to “call Zoomer.” The aim? To facilitate conversations between strangers.

This initiative, known as “Call the Boomers,” stems from Matter Neuroscience, a company based in New York focused on exploring what they term “biomarkers of happiness.”

Kara Kessler, a social strategist at Matter, explained that the project seeks to demonstrate at a molecular level that people thrive on connections. By bridging the gap between “the two loneliest demographics”—older adults and younger individuals—the initiative hopes to foster meaningful dialogues.

As the organization’s website states, “Young people and older adults tend to experience higher levels of loneliness than any other age group.” The aim is to spark intergenerational connections that are meaningful, despite differences in lifestyle or politics.

Kessler noted that the ultimate goal is to redirect focus from stress to bonding. “We’re looking at a neuroscience approach that’s more about cannabinoids than cortisol,” she said. Cannabinoids are chemicals in the brain that create feelings of well-being and can counteract cortisol, a stress hormone.

This isn’t the first time Matter has experimented with payphones. Their initial project linked residents of the liberal city of San Francisco with those from conservative Abilene, Texas. “We wanted to encourage people to find common ground,” Kessler said, indicating the shift from political labels to generational divides.

She remarked that negative experiences from the previous project were “almost negligible,” with most participants enjoying the chance to converse with different individuals.

Now, as the “Call the Boomers” concept unfolds, the team is busy collecting audio recordings of these exchanges. The intention is to prove that simple human interactions can significantly uplift mental well-being.

Kessler added, “Our research is really about discovering non-drug treatments for depression.” Looking ahead, she expressed hope for future projects that engage people in fun, enlightening ways, encouraging self-discovery.