In 2008, Project for Public Spaces collaborated with AARP to create and publish a set of documents that would provide the elderly with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully interact with their local Department of Transportation. The processes involved with addressing concerns about local infrastructure can be intimidating if one does not have a clear understanding of how they system operates. A person may become frustrated when he or she feels their opinion on a matter has not been heard.
NeighborWorks America is a member-based organization with 237 members working in more than 2,700 urban, suburban, and rural communities. Members consist of nonprofit community-based organizations that focus on community revitalization and production of affordable housing for lower-income people. Nationally, the organization has two agendas that focus on or are related to aging adults. These programs involve civic engagement and housing. With regard to civic engagement, the group holds a conference called Community Leadership Institute Seminar in a new location each year. This conference, or seminar, has many different talking points, one of which is titled Growing in Grace and Wisdom: Tapping the Strength of Seniors in Your Community. This workshop explores ways to work with seniors and how to benefit from their talents and skills while helping them learn how to age in place.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) encourages its 1,500 member organizations to institute programs for seniors through the publication of research reports, collaboration with other organizations, production of webinars, promotion of case studies, and the provision of other resources, such as those found in the “Older Americans Outreach Toolkit.”
“Aging in Place ” and “Green Living” might seem like an unlikely pairing. However, advocates from both camps have found many commonalities between the two. Aging today is not solely an issue of health and finances; the issue of aging has developed into so much more than that because of drastic increases in life expectancy over the past century. Unfortunately, poorly designed elder communities unfairly isolate individuals because of their age or capacity. As a result, these auto-dependent communities create barriers for older individuals, but also create barriers to healthy living and civic engagement for all individuals.
Eighty million members of the boomer generation (born between 1946–1964) have reached or are approaching the traditional retirement age of 65. These boomers overwhelmingly want to age in place. Yet few communities are prepared to meet the needs of older residents, or to engage these residents in civic life.
Arts and Cultural Institutions: Developing New Audiences and Better Neighborhoods. In the next two decades, this country will see a major shift in demographics of the population.The number of adults age 65+ in the U.S. will double, to more than 70 million. This upward trend is also true of the immigrant population. Immigrants now account for one in eight U.S. residents, the highest level in 80 years. For organizations that provide opportunities for arts and cultural participation, these demographic trends represent a challenge and an opportunity to expand their audiences and take leadership roles in their communities.
How are arts and cultural institutions responding? What types of programs have been instituted? What new partnerships have been made? How has staff composition changed? These are questions that Partners has been asked to answer thanks to funding from MetLife Foundation. We are approaching arts and cultural organizations in six major cities—Atlanta, New York City, Phoenix, Dallas, Tampa and Chicago—about how and why they are reaching out to these two growth populations.
If you have a program reaching out to older adults or immigrants, we would like to hear from you. You do not need to be located in one of the cities above—all good programs are welcome. Please contact Penny Cuff at Partners (
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or 202-887-5990 x 101).
Partners for Livable Communities Trustee, the Honorable Ron Littlefield and Robert McNulty have just returned from an exciting two-day conference at Stanford University’s Center on Longevity. Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Trustee Emeritus of Partners, has asked Littlefield and McNulty to join a distinguished group of co-authors writing a book on successful aging in America.
As Founder and President of Partners, Robert McNulty brings over 30 years of knowledge and experience on civic invention, arts and creativity, and agendas of social inclusion. Partners’ successful Aging in Place Initiative (www.aginginplaceinitiative.org) is just one aspect of the expertise McNulty will contribute to the book. The Honorable Ron Littlefield will relate his perspective from the seat of local government. Most importantly, Littlefield will detail Chattanooga’s neighborhood-based initiatives to support older citizens which have drawn national attention.
The book’s working title is Planning to Stay: New Visions of Aging in Place. Check back for progress updates!
This brochure highlights the prevalent issues of today affecting all of our communities and provides concrete examples of the myriad types of institutions that have become “Fulcrums of Change” for the betterment of the people and neighborhoods where they are located.
Weekly workshops that bring together a diverse audience of participants in order to promote multi-cultural, intergenerational interaction within the community.
