See More Projects Like This One

Garfield, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Through its Generations for Garfield initiative, the City of Garfield set up pop-up wellness centers at its local VFW post. Part of a pilot program, the centers provided a centrally located, multigenerational space for programming, including arts, cooking and exercise classes. Since the pilot, the effort culminated in construction of the Garfield Engagement Center in 2019.

Milwaukee, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: To encourage healthy movement and eating, this project conducted walking tours for older adults in three neighborhoods, culminating in cooking demonstrations using ingredients found in those neighborhoods.

Newport, RI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Newport wanted to encourage community members to eat locally grown fresh produce. In partnership with the Jamestown Community Garden, the Center wrote and published the first two chapters of a community cookbook. They then distributed copies of the book through the local food pantry. The first chapter offers tips on cooking with fall produce -- such as zucchini and squash -- and the second focuses on cooking for one. In addition, the center hosted a food expo, which gave residents access to info about local food resources. The community center intends to host similar events in the future.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robin Bush stayed home, alone except for her cat. Fortunately, Bush and more than 100 additional kupuna (the Hawaiian term for grandparent or elder) found a way to develop intergenerational connections through Purpose Pals. A partnership between Hawaii's Afterschool Alliance, Age-Friendly Honolulu, Blue Zones Hawaii, and AARP, the program has matched more than 100 kupuna with young adults ages 18-24. The pairs socialize during regularly scheduled video and phone calls. The initiative takes personal interests, skills, life stories and experiences into account when making matches. Participants can then talk about anything, from favorite recipes to career advice to current events. We looked for ways to promote social connectedness and, in particular, create a more age-friendly community by fostering friendships across generations, Purpose Pals organizer Christy Nishita said.

Hilo, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places

Description: Like in many communities around the country, older adults in Hilo were particularly isolated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. To help older adults connect with friends and neighbors, the East Hawai'i Cultural Center created an outdoor mobile stage. The modular stage hosted free and low-cost theatre, dance, music, hula, poetry performances and lectures at venues throughout the community, including several at two senior centers.

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