Our Story

Our Story

Pages for the Ages (PFTA) began with a simple question:

What happens when generations read together and truly listen?

The idea first took shape in a leadership course at Rollins College, where students explored how literature might bridge generational divides. That idea quickly became a pilot intergenerational book club with local seniors, and the response was immediate and powerful.

Participants didn’t just discuss books. They shared perspectives, challenged assumptions, and discovered how much they had to learn from one another.

As the pilot progressed, Pages for the Ages was further developed through independent study by Erin Andress and Stephanie Carmany, in close partnership with participating students and seniors. Together, they refined the model into a meaningful, repeatable program grounded in shared learning and dialogue.

Today, Pages for the Ages is proud to be the first official program of the Winter Park Institute. Through intergenerational book clubs, PFTA brings high school students, college students, and senior citizens together for conversations centered on humanity’s greatest needs.

Book selections are inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on themes such as health, education, equity, community well-being, and care for our planet. These conversations help participants see both the shared challenges we face and the role each of us can play locally.

Past selections include How to Build the Life You Want by Arthur Brooks, Educated by Tara Westover, Night by Elie Wiesel, and Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown.

At its core, Pages for the Ages is about human flourishing:

• Connection across generations.

• Curiosity over certainty.

• Conversation that builds community.

We invite you to be part of it!