Colorado Springs, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Trails

Description: Innovations in Aging Collaborative focuses on issues affecting the growing older population in the Pikes Peak area. As part of that focus, IIAC hoped to promote healthy recreational activity and reduce high rates of health problems, such as diabetes. Partnering with local organizations, including the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, Bike Colorado Springs and AARP Colorado, IIAC activated areas around the Sand Creek Trail. This included hosting community creek clean-ups, as well as a mural project involving a local artist and students. Since the activation, the City of Colorado Springs has continued to make improvements to the Sand Creek Trail.

Pueblo, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility

Description: For years, Posada worked with unhoused residents of Pueblo to help them find temporary and permanent housing. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, however, those served by Posada were even more in crisis, so the organization shifted its resources to emergency needs such as food aid and rent and utility assistance. Posada also began renovating a former motel into single-room-occupancy units for older adults experiencing homelessness. When completed, the former Sunset Motel will include 17 units, and its residents will have convenient access to case managers and supportive services, including health care.