Malvern, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: The community of Malvern is an art hub for the region, but several spaces in the town were underutilized and aesthetically unappealing for residents and visitors. Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development improved two public corridors, allowing people to gather there. The Wabash Trace Corridor now boasts upcycled metal art panels. Additionally, artists and volunteers transformed an underutilized alley on the east side of Main Street into Malvern's Art Alley. The Art Alley -- which connects Malvern's downtown -- features murals on fences, garage doors and the backs of buildings. An interactive map includes a QR code, which links to a website showing the locations of each piece of public art.

Lincoln, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Digital navigation skills

Description: Older adults in Lincoln faced barriers to using personal devices, limiting access to family, services and fraud protection. Pop-up workshops gave 139 participants hands-on help with their own devices, supported by college volunteers. Seventeen attendees received new tablets with setup assistance, and all learned to spot scams. The program boosted confidence and prompted libraries to expand digital literacy classes, while Aging Partners explores sustaining similar efforts.

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