Sioux Falls, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Inclusive civic engagement efforts

Description: Sioux Falls residents -- like people in many places -- were grappling with anti-Black and anti-Asian racism. To teach residents how to disrupt bias and address discrimination, St. Michael Parish's newly formed diversity committee organized two Bystander and Upstander workshops. The first workshop invited older adults, youth and their parents and older adults to discuss ways to communicate better, specifically across cultural backgrounds. The second aimed to build awareness of other cultures, with families invited to participate together. Participants learned to recognize racism and intervene with de-escalation techniques. Project organizers said the workshops, helped bridge the gap that some of our diverse members have been feeling and experiencing and brought it to the forefront to those of us who had no idea.

Windham, CT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The project will create a community gardening program to help older adults grow food locally. It will enrich the design of a new green space at a senior center and will provide tools and weekly group sessions led by a master gardener.

Portland, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will turn an overgrown area into a community garden featuring medicinal and edible plants. The accessible space will host educational workshops and give community members a place gather and socialize. In addition, produce from the garden will be donated to people in need.