(October 12, 2025) Seventeen-year-old Anant Patel, born in Orlando, Florida, carries a conviction that art can heal divides. “My mission is simple,” he tells Global Indian. “To bridge generational and religious gaps through art, poetry, and most importantly, understanding.”
A senior at Orlando Science School, Anant has founded the Bridging Generations Initiative, a project that uses art and poetry to connect with elderly communities, many of whom have lived through decades of separation, migration, and change.
At home, Anant moves easily between worlds: Gujarati and American, tradition and modernity. “Both of my parents grew up in Gujarat, India,” he shares, “and immigrated to the U.S. over 20 years ago. We primarily speak Gujarati at home, though we’re all fluent in English.” His upbringing, steeped in dual cultures, shaped his belief that compassion and coexistence are not just ideals but daily choices.
The spark of an idea
The Bridging Generations Initiative began as a personal journey of rediscovery. “Interestingly, this is my first year taking an art class in over a decade,” Anant says. “While creating a digital portrait for my AP Art class, I reconnected with my long-lost passion for art.”
That spark soon grew into an initiative. Working mostly independently, though occasionally with his friend Aiden Ortega, who assists with some of the artworks, Anant has been sharing his art with seniors. Each piece, delivered digitally, carries a message of empathy and shared humanity.
He is currently in discussions to expand the initiative by sending art to senior homes in different places in the U.S. “I’m also collaborating soon with the Gujarati Samaj of Central Florida,” he informs.
Beyond borders
Growing up he often encountered narratives that shaped how people viewed “the other.” “These messages weren’t always overt or hateful,” he explains. But they were persistent enough to shape how people around him viewed differences in religion.
Art by Anant
As he grew older, Anant began questioning those inherited ideas. “When I learned more about global injustices, I started to understand how easy it is for humanity to get lost in conflict and rhetoric. I realized that peace doesn’t begin with institutions or governments. It begins with individuals who choose to see one another as human first.”
That realization became the moral compass behind his work. Through art and poetry, he seeks to “celebrate coexistence, compassion, and forgiveness.” Each brushstroke, he says, “is a reflection of the belief that no matter our faith or background, we all are human. We all carry the same emotions: love, fear, hope, and longing for peace.”
Moments that matter
When Anant shares his work with seniors, the results are moving. “Some smile quietly,” he says.“Others share stories about their own pasts—times of separation, migration, or rediscovery.”
Those moments affirm his belief that connection is reciprocal. “I see that my generation has something to learn from theirs,” he says. “And they, too, find comfort in knowing that the next generation still believes in unity.”
The 17-year old’s reflections carry the maturity of someone far beyond his years: “Humanity is not something to be found—it’s something we must continually nurture. Understanding begins where judgment ends, and peace begins with the courage to question what we’ve been taught.”
The other side: STEM and service
Outside the world of art, Anant serves as a leader on his FTC robotics team, 15065: A Byte Irrational. “I also enjoy writing, especially haikus and poems,” he adds, showing how his mind balances logic with lyricism.
He is also the Vice-President of BrightMinds Inc., a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by his best friend, Jad Itayem. “Through BrightMinds, we aim to empower local youth with hands-on STEM learning experiences,” Anant explains. “From building model rockets to hosting egg drop contests, we make STEM fun, engaging, and accessible, and all our events are completely free for students in the community.”
Anant Patel with BrightMinds Inc. team
Empathy as a way forward
For Anant, both art and science share the same purpose: building understanding. “Coexistence isn’t just an ideal; it’s a responsibility,” he remarks. “We may pray differently, speak differently, and see the world through different lenses, but at our core, we are bound by the same desire to love and be understood.”
As Anant Patel continues sharing art and compassion across generations, he is painting possibilities of healing divides and bridging generations.
- Follow Anant Patel on LinkedIn
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