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Placemaking US (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
In Long Beach, older adults lacked spaces for cultural connection in a neighborhood marked by poverty and pollution. Placemaking US built a traditional communal comal using techniques developed long ago, and hosted tortilla-making workshops where elders taught masa preparation. More than 100 participants, including local chefs and volunteers, joined intergenerational sessions that celebrated heritage and sustainability. The project created lasting programming at Rancho Los Cerritos, turning it into a hub for cultural exchange and reducing isolation. One participant shared, "I didn't realize how much I missed this until I felt the heat from the comal and smelled the fresh masa."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Kenai, AK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Hey gek'a, also known as the lingonberry or lowbush cranberry, is used by Alaska Native people to treat headaches, swelling, sore throats and tuberculosis and to dye mats, baskets and skin. After the installation of six raised gardening beds on the campus of the Dena'ina Wellness Center, Kenaitze Indian Tribe elders and other community members have improved access to the berries. They also grow 11 other indigenous, medicinal plants at the site, including chamomile, yarrow and stinging nettle. Each plant is tagged with its Dena'ina name, as well as its uses, enabling visitors to learn about the tribe's language and traditional knowledge.
Aztec, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Aztec lacked inclusive spaces for older adults to gather and reconnect after years of isolation. The Leanor was renovated with ADA features, indoor seating and outdoor upgrades including a pergola, firepit and six garden spaces for flowers and vegetables. Pop-up craft fairs and coffee gatherings brought residents together during renovations. The space now hosts storytelling, artisan markets and intergenerational programs, with older adults leading gardening and art activities. One organizer noted teens move furniture were eager to help and loved visiting with them, generating community engagement.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Barceloneta, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: An abandoned lot in Barceloneta left older adults without a safe, inclusive space for recreation and connection. The project converted the site into a community garden with ramps, picnic tables and shade structures. It also hosted monthly workshops on farming and composting. Volunteers helped install accessibility features and maintain the space. The garden now serves as a hub for learning and social interaction, promoting food security and emotional well-being. One community leader said she was grateful for a place where she could unwind and talk while being surrounded by nature, highlighting its impact on residents quality of life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Long Beach, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Pedestrian Safety
Description: The project will add signs, crossings, seating and events along the Santa Fe Avenue corridor. These improvements will make walking safer and help residents reach food and community destinations.
Long Beach, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Older adults in Long Beach faced severe transportation barriers that kept many from medical care and social programs, deepening isolation after the pandemic. The Healthy Aging Center provided more than 1,000 free taxi rides for appointments, pharmacies and grocery trips, helping residents regain independence and reconnect with community resources. "This program brought me back to life... getting out of the house again after staying at home these past few years has been a blessing," said one participant. The service also improved compliance with health plans and sparked advocacy for sustainable transportation options.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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