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Vida Senior Centers (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Many older adults in Adams Morgan live in apartments without outdoor space, leaving them isolated and without access to fresh produce. Vida created a small garden where people could grow peppers, tomatoes and herbs central to their cuisine, teaching gardening skills and offering a sense of purpose. Volunteers described the joy of harvesting as "priceless." The project also strengthened community ties, with plans to expand the garden, integrate it into Vida's produce distribution program and involve neighbors in future growing efforts.
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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San Juan, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Older residents in a low-income area faced food insecurity and lacked accessible gardening options. The project installed raised beds with self-watering systems and added benches, making gardening easier for volunteers with mobility challenges. Free herbal medicine workshops taught residents to create remedies from garden plants, fostering engagement and self-sufficiency. The garden now supports regular harvests and volunteer leadership, with plans for home gardens tied to new housing projects. "It is heartwarming watching volunteers gush about food grown here," one participant said, reflecting the sense of community the effort created.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Portsmouth, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Residents of Atlantic Heights Senior Housing faced barriers to fresh food and outdoor activity, leaving many isolated. Gather partnered with the housing authority to build four raised garden beds, install a watering system and provide seasonal plants. Twenty residents helped plan, plant and maintain vegetables, herbs and flowers. The gardens now offer a sustainable source of produce, improve nutrition and foster social connection while removing mobility barriers. Success has inspired plans for gardening workshops and expansion to other housing sites.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Akron, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Shanti Community Farms created a Nepali garden to give older adults in Akron's diverse neighborhoods a place to grow familiar foods and reconnect with cultural traditions. Elevated beds made gardening easier, and families cultivated potatoes, mustard greens and Asian eggplant while preparing traditional dishes for picnics and farmers markets. The project boosted physical activity, improved diets and generated income through sales. It also strengthened intergenerational ties as grandparents gardened alongside grandchildren, reducing isolation and fostering community pride. Plans to expand into an education center promise lasting benefits.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will launch a community walkability and safety initiative to assess and improve pedestrian infrastructure. It aims to enhance mobility by identifying needed sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Organizers with Vida Senior Center were looking for ways to combat social isolation and create community cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many D.C. residents were practicing strict social distancing and remaining detached from their peers. To help people feel less isolated, Vida created Anos Dorados, a choir comprised of Spanish-speaking older adults. The choir performed virtually every Friday at the Center's weekly party. They also held eight free, in-person community concerts at events around the greater metropolitan area. Additionally, the choir produced a recording, which features seven songs reflecting Hispanic heritage.
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