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Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, & Health Laboratory at the University of Maryland School of Public Health (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
This project created an online tool -- called My Block Counts -- which allows community members to collect and report information related to local environmental health. Before rolling out the tool, researchers held online workshops to teach the community about environmental justice, public infrastructure and community health. Then they invited community members to use My Block Counts to do an inventory of their neighborhoods. The virtual tool guides users through a series of questions about the built environment. Once users complete the questions, their responses are available for other users to access. Project organizers hope the data collected will help community members advocate for improved infrastructure in their neighborhoods. In the future, they plan to roll out the tool on a national level.
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Hagerstown, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington County Commission on Aging purchased and outfitted a trailer to operate as a mobile office. Commission staff deployed the trailer at drive-through vaccination events. That way, older adults seeking vaccinations could drive to the trailer's location, then complete their required paperwork without leaving their personal vehicles. During the first three months of 2021, the Commission held 12 events, vaccinating 670 people. Since the vaccination drives, the Commission has used the trailer for other mobile services. During tax season, it provided a space to coordinate tax document drop off and pick up.
Greenville County, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Mill Community Ministries hoped to increase the amount of healthy food it could provide to residents through its FoodShare program. To facilitate this, the organization purchased a refrigerated tractor trailer, which increased its cold storage capacity. Thanks to the trailer, Mill Village Farms delivered six times more deeply discounted produce in 2021 compared to the previous year, helping combat food insecurity in Greenville County. Project organizers say the increased storage capacity also helped expand Mill Village's network of partner organizations.
Fort Collins, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Many older adult residents in Fort Collins' two manufactured housing communities lack access to basic resources, such as fresh food, medical care and community connections. These challenges are especially difficult in the winter months when health complications tend to be exacerbated. The City of Fort Collins, in collaboration with local partner organizations, hosted two MCH WELL events for residents of the parks. These events connected older adults with community supports and organizations, social services, weatherization equipment and handyman assistance for their homes, as well as fresh produce and health services, such as COVID-19 vaccines and blood pressure checks. This helped residents lower their utility bills, avoid fines and fees from code violations and improve their physical and mental health.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Takoma Park, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Professional home assessments will be added to an existing program to guide repair and accessibility upgrades for older adults. Clear recommendations will help volunteers and contractors complete practical updates to support aging in place.
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Genesis residents lacked a safe, inviting outdoor space, leaving older adults and families isolated. The project installed 20 resident-painted mural panels, solar lights and a welcome sign, and redesigned the patio with movable seating for performances. A fall celebration with food and music marked the transformation. "The murals look so lovely, and the lighting makes this area feel more inviting," said one resident, noting how the space now fosters pride and connection across generations.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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