Washington, DC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills

Description: Extreme heat threatens older adults in DC, especially those aging at home without resources or knowledge to prepare. To address this, the agency held 17 workshops at local centers and villages, reaching over 450 participants, and distributed more than 500 Cool Kits with essential supplies. A 2025 emergency preparedness calendar featuring inclusive artwork and seasonal safety tips was also created. Attendees reported greater confidence and asked for more sessions. One participant shared "I did not know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke," and noted the importance of this training.

Honolulu, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills

Description: Low-income older adults in Honolulu's Chinatown neighborhood experience everyday stresses that can compromise their ability to adapt to environmental impacts. The Krause Family Foundation connected local elders with climate change research scientists, artists and civic leaders. To do this, project organizers installed several self-teaching learning stations and created a temporary art installation. The mural-like installation -- which they displayed at the ARTS at Marks Garage -- portrayed individual and neighborhood climate action goals. Organizers say the project helped older adults consider the impact of stressors such as heat, a lack of walkability, unsafe crosswalks, flooding and poor waste management.

West Sacramento, CA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills

Description: West Sacramento officials were disturbed by the statistics: older adults are more than twice as likely to die or be injured in a house fire. City officials commissioned a video to educate older adults about ways to improve fire safety, focusing specifically on people living in areas with higher incidences of fire-related accidents. The video featured the local fire marshal and residents, who were quizzed on their knowledge of fire safety. They discussed whether they had fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in their homes and what they thought was the leading cause of fires. The video aired on public access television and project organizers posted it online and promoted it via social media. Additionally, the City handed out 96 free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to locals.