Macon, MS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Older adults in Macon lacked a central space for civic engagement. To combat this, the historical society repurposed its Welcome Center into a community hub. The project added kitchen appliances and A/V equipment and hosted events like community town halls, workshops and holiday programs. Volunteers supported activities and outreach, helping attract hundreds of residents. As one board member shared, "AARP enabled the Society to broaden its perspective; welcome our entire community; and reach higher in its goals." The center now anchors inclusive gatherings and economic development efforts.

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

Seymour, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: In a neighborhood where many older adults face food insecurity and health risks, pantry visitors often waited outside for hours without shelter, sometimes leading to medical emergencies. The project installed a permanent awning to provide protection and dignity, added a mural to brighten the space and foster pride and distributed Spanish-language outreach cards to connect residents with services. These changes made waiting safer and encouraged more people to seek help. "On really busy days, if it were raining, we wouldn't even attend... now we feel comfortable," said one couple.

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

Cuba City, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: For more than ten years, Cuba City's planning documents promised an intergenerational gathering space downtown. This project made good on that promise, converting a gravel parking lot into a gathering space. Organizers hoped the Presidential Plaza Project would increase walkability and draw traffic to Cuba City's Main Street business district. To activate the space, volunteers installed a bike rack, outdoor games and picnic tables with umbrellas for shade. A Wi-Fi hotspot provides free internet access for visitors. To beautify the area, residents painted a large mural on the pavement, which pays tribute to frontline workers' contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. A later addition to the mural depicts the Mississippi river and includes an area for visitors to play hopscotch.