Akron, OH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: Akron's North Hill neighborhood is home to many Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants and refugees displaced by famine and war. Many immigrant families rent garden plots at Akron Cooperative Farms, with multiple generations working together to grow produce. To better meet the community's needs, Asian Services in Action constructed an enclosed pavilion for the cooperative's neighborhood farmers market. Asian Services in Action partnered with TRY Ministries -- which provides jobs skills training to formerly incarcerated people -- and the City of Akron stepped in to lay a level, concrete floor for the space. Replacing tents, the pavilion offers vendors and shoppers protection from inclement weather, as well as shade on sunny days. This makes the market more accessible, giving allowing residents to purchase culturally important fresh vegetables, which are often unavailable at local grocery stores. Project organizers say the pavilion will also offer a venue for community events.

Littleton, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: In rural Littleton, winter weather and lack of transit often isolate older adults from civic life. The community center tackled this by installing high-speed internet, streaming equipment and a public laptop, along with safety upgrades and lightweight tables for easier setup. Residents can now join meetings and events online, reducing barriers for those unable to travel. The improvements also enhance security and convenience for groups using the historic building. A town official praised the new streaming service, saying it will "encourage more community engagement."

Cokeville, WY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: To help visitors with disabilities access its programming, the Cokeville Senior Citizens Center made repairs to its buildings and grounds. To make the Center ADA-complaint, project organizers replaced dangerous, crumbling concrete, repaired a stairway, constructed a new sidewalk to the parking lot and replaced a deteriorated wooden deck. The Center also beautified its courtyard to accommodate outdoor gatherings, adding a barbeque area, new lighting, seating and planters to grow vegetables.