Sioux Falls, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities

Description: Sioux Falls residents -- like people in many places -- were grappling with anti-Black and anti-Asian racism. To teach residents how to disrupt bias and address discrimination, St. Michael Parish's newly formed diversity committee organized two Bystander and Upstander workshops. The first workshop invited older adults, youth and their parents and older adults to discuss ways to communicate better, specifically across cultural backgrounds. The second aimed to build awareness of other cultures, with families invited to participate together. Participants learned to recognize racism and intervene with de-escalation techniques. Project organizers said the workshops, helped bridge the gap that some of our diverse members have been feeling and experiencing and brought it to the forefront to those of us who had no idea.

Crooks, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Park enhancements

Description: The Town of Crooks set out to build a public space where residents could honor veterans and spend time outdoors in ways that worked for older adults and people with mobility challenges. As the park took shape, limited lighting and shelter made walking paths and gathering areas harder to use safely, especially in the evening. Crooks Veterans Park addressed these gaps by adding accent lighting along the walking path and installing a picnic shelter with electrical access. The lighting improved visibility and security after hours, while the shelter created a shaded place to sit, reflect and gather during visits and events. These upgrades expanded how and when residents could use the park and supported plans to make the trail fully accessible. Attendance at Veterans Day events continued to grow, reinforcing the park as a place veterans, older adults and families return to together.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.