East Lansing, MI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Digital navigation skills

Description: An intergenerational program will pair trained volunteers with older adults to provide regular, personalized support using everyday digital tools. The sessions will strengthen skills for communication, health tasks and staying connected to community activities.

East Lansing, MI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections

Description: Michigan State University's AgeAlive initiative hosted free weekly, virtual lectures for more than 300 older adults. Speakers -- who included Michigan State professors and students -- shared their research on a range of topics, including social media, gene editing, gentrification and the transatlantic slave trade. In addition, the University purchased Virtual Senior Center subscriptions, which provide older adults with access to hundreds of lifelong learning classes. To combat social isolation, they also launched the Senior Ambassador Program, which matches students with older adults for weekly virtual social visits.