Honolulu, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Engaging residents alongside thought leaders in problem solving

Description: An interactive exhibit at Children and Youth Day events educated young people about the importance of age-friendly cities. The event, held annually at the state capitol building, attracts 40,000 attendees each year. Students from a local high school created the virtual reality experience using the popular Minecraft video game. The virtual video presents a simulated tour of an age-friendly neighborhood. The student designers based the experience on a World Youth Congress workshop, where delegates conducted a walk audit of Honolulu's Chinatown. After donning their virtual reality goggles, Youth Day participants took a survey on age-friendly communities. In the years since, Age-Friendly Honolulu has continued to conduct walk audits and engage schools and youth groups in its advocacy work.

Washington, DC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Engaging residents alongside thought leaders in problem solving

Description: The George Washington University Center for Aging, Health and Humanities held a one-day Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge. Leaders from GWU, Georgetown University, Age-Friendly Washington, D.C., Arlington County, Va., Alexandria, Va. and Montgomery County, Md. Convened to tackle local problems relating to housing, transportation, civic participation and other topics. The event generated strategies to improve age-friendly infrastructure throughout the metropolitan area. Following the event, organizers compiled an online repository of educational resources, as well as information about intergenerational programming.