Wilmington, DE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections

Description: In March 2020, the Delaware Children's Museum closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Grandparents Day in September, museum staff developed a specialized online curriculum for grandparents (and the grand at heart -- those who aren't officially grandparents but serve the in the role). Project organizers distributed 300 You're Grand activity bags at the museum's drive-through and at a local community center. Each bag included instructions for remote activities for connecting with grandchildren online or over the phone.

Lebanon, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections

Description: Many older adults and people with disabilities in the Upper Valley felt excluded, with surveys showing low levels of belonging. To address this, SNSC partnered with 21 organizations to earn Disability-Friendly Certification and distributed 200 sensory toolboxes stocked with items like noise-canceling headphones and communication cards. Staff received tailored training to improve accessibility and inclusion. These efforts expanded welcoming spaces, raised awareness and strengthened community ties, aiming to reduce isolation and improve belonging for older adults and others with disabilities.

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

Brooklyn, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections

Description: Organizers with Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet hoped to document the experiences of local African-American older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this, the Brooklyn-based danse and cultural institution launched its Wellness Works initiative. The outlet trained volunteers to conduct interviews using the StoryCorps model. Volunteers then interviewed more than 25 people from each of New York's five boroughs -- including their own grandparents. Information from the interviews helped shape local health policy, highlighting disparities in health care during the pandemic. Since the project concluded, organizers have continued to offer webinars and look for ways to preserve oral history.