Union City, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Christian City, a 500-acre charitable campus near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, provides housing and other support for people who are in need. The organization offers affordable housing older adults, as well as assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care. To encourage older people to lead healthier, more active lives, it operates a Senior Wellness program. The initiative also helps stave off social isolation, which cant contribute to physical and mental decline. This project added mile marker posts, a message board, side markers and signs identifying walking paths on the campus. In addition, Christian City provided residents with walkers with built-in pedometers. Following these improvements, the organization reported a 20 percent increase in participation in its walking program. Today, Christian city offers an array of other senior fitness activities, including Tai Chi and chair aerobics.

Atlanta, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Resources about housing options, safety and services

Description: To help residents stay in their neighborhood following construction of the Atlanta Beltline bike and pedestrian trail, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership hired resource coordinators. The coordinators work to inform longtime residents about the organization's Legacy Resident Retention Program, which provides financial assistance to cover property tax increases. The efforts ensure low- and moderate-income families aren't displaced, enabling intergenerational wealth building and allowing them to take advantage of the BeltLine.