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Asian Americans for Housing and Environmental Justice (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Transportation Systems Change
└ Transportation Systems Change
Older Asian American Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles faced language and cultural barriers that made public transportation hard to navigate, leaving many isolated. To address this, the group provided in-language travel training, hosted monthly pop-up events at transit hubs and farmers markets and created culturally relevant route maps. Outreach connected with about 4,000 older adults, and volunteers offered one-on-one guidance. The effort secured a five-year city contract to expand language services and influenced policy changes, helping the participants feel connected and empowered with safer, more accessible transit options.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Saco, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Older residents in Saco and nearby towns struggled with limited transportation options, making it hard to reach groceries, social activities and essential programs. Age-Friendly Saco introduced an on-demand shuttle using donated vans, hired drivers and mapped routes based on community surveys. The service now provides rides for errands and social engagement, helping residents maintain independence. One rider said, "I won't drive forever... I'm glad to know this service exists," reflecting its impact on reducing isolation and meeting daily needs.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Dallas, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Better Block Foundation tackled unsafe streets and missing sidewalks in Dallas, where older adults lacked accessible spaces to gather. The team installed an ADA ramp, added benches at bus stops and introduced speed bumps near a food bank serving 1,800 families. Volunteers transformed a parking lot into a shaded seating area and created market stall designs for future use. The effort prompted city discussions on street redesign and tree planting. As one partner said about the speed bumps, "We are so grateful... It's very dangerous. We have needed them for a long time."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chapel Hill, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Frequent crashes on high-injury corridors put pedestrians, especially older adults, at risk when walking to transit or community centers. To address this, the town piloted traffic calming measures including modular refuge islands, a traffic circle and a chicane near key locations. It also hosted a Vision Zero Community Safety Festival and outreach events to educate residents and gather input. These efforts improved safety and accessibility, energized community engagement and accelerated adoption of an updated Traffic Calming Policy, laying the foundation for broader Vision Zero initiatives.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Los Angeles, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Expanding HighSpeed Internet
Description: Recent wildfires showed that many older adults, including those aging with disabilities, could not reliably receive alerts or take part in emergency planning. World Institute on Disability responded with digital literacy and disaster preparedness workshops for older adults impacted by the fires, supported by an accessible, screen-reader-friendly toolkit for ongoing use. Older adult peer mentors helped guide participants and extend support beyond the sessions. One participant said they had never joined disaster planning because others made safety decisions for them, but the training helped them ask about alerts and communication options. Participants reported greater confidence using technology for alerts, telehealth and coordination, strengthening self-advocacy and readiness for future emergencies.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Los Angeles, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The 35,000 inhabitants of Los Angeles' Westlake/MacArthur Park community live within a 10-minute walk of Golden Age Park, and a third of those residents live in poverty. Working with city agencies and local senior centers, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust wanted to beautify the small park and provide a space for gardening and gathering. New picnic tables, a barbecue pit, tool shed and plantings transformed the park into an inviting center for recreation. Since the improvements, the City has footed the bill for continued maintenance. A mural to enliven the site is now in the works.
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