York County, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities

Description: To better capture local history, the York County History Center launched its Share Your Story initiative. Organizers specifically hoped to include the voices of underrepresented community members, including BIPOC residents and people with disabilities. The Center constructed a mobile recording booth, which it set up in local schools and a senior center and at community events, including a Juneteenth celebration, a community theater performance and a local street fair. The listening booth's first outing allowed the History Center to record stories of lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers say the stories they collect will inform museum exhibits, as well as the Center's online offerings.

Camp Hill, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places

Description: This Foundation sought to reduce barriers that kept older adults and people with disabilities from enjoying outdoor recreation, including transportation challenges, limited access to equipment and uncertainty about how to participate. The project created educational materials, trained volunteers, offered skill-building sessions and launched gear-lending libraries so residents could try activities without cost. Partnerships with local community centers helped provide transportation to parks and forests. These efforts increased participation and built confidence among older adults, while volunteers and partners learned how to support inclusive recreation. One participant noted that barrier-removal training sparked practical ideas that made nature feel more accessible.

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