Innovators in Four Locations to Hold Discussions on Aging in Place throughout June with Grants Available for Innovative Community Ideas

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June 9, 2009– Washington, DC - As part of a national movement to promote “Aging in Place” initiatives, four communities in America will be hosting workshops throughout the month of June, bringing local experts together for discussions aimed at helping older Americans remain in their communities.

Attendees also will learn how to apply for “JumpStart the Conversation” grants designed to help local organizations bring innovative ideas to life. The workshops are sponsored by MetLife Foundation, Partners for Livable Communities (Partners), and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).

The events taking place during the month of June include:

• San Antonio, Texas - June 11, Redesigning Communities for Aging in Place
• Richmond, Virginia - June 17, Engaging Community Leaders in the Process
• Wichita, Kansas - June 23, Revitalizing Communities for All Generations
• Chattanooga, Tennessee - June 30, Building Partnerships

WORKSHOP: Building Partnerships: Creating a Livable Community for all Ages (Choose Chattanooga: Come Live with Us)
WHEN:  Tuesday, June 30, 2009
TIME:    9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN
TO REGISTER:    Visit www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/Chattanooga  

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WORKSHOP: Engaging Community Leaders in the Process: Creating a Livable Richmond Metro Area for All Ages
WHEN: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
TIME:   8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. 3rd Street, Richmond, VA  23219
TO REGISTER:  Visit www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/Richmond  

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WORKSHOP:     Redesigning Communities for Aging in Place: Developing a Livable San Antonio Metro Region for All Ages
WHEN:         Thursday, June 11, 2009
TIME:            9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE:       Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 1300 Guadalupe St, San Antonio, TX 78207  
TO REGISTER:   Visit: www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/SanAntonio

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WORKSHOP:  Designing Places and Spaces for Now and in the Future: Creating a Livable St. Louis Metro Region for All Ages
WHEN:           Tuesday, April  28, 2009
TIME:             9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHERE:          Engineers’ Club of St. Louis                     
TO REGISTER:  Visit www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/stlouis

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Beverly Foundation / February 12, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–The Board of Trustees of the Beverly Foundation today announced a five–year goal of $1 million in awards to services and programs that provide transportation to older adults. STAR Awards for Excellence will be given to innovative and cutting-edge senior transportation programs. Matching/Mentor Awards will be presented to long-time managers of senior transportation services.

MetLife Foundation / In the Mix / January 2009

(New York, NY)— “BRIDGING THE YEARS...Teens and Seniors Mix it Up!”, a documentary exploring relationships between teens and seniors in their local communities, will premiere on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings). The documentary, which visits intergenerational programs in urban and small town settings, is the latest program from In the Mix, the Emmy award-winning weekly PBS series for teens, and was underwritten by MetLife Foundation. Intergenerational programs are on the rise in communities across the country and allow teenagers and seniors to come together in an exchange of talents, resources, and support that benefit both the individual participants and the community. It’s a “win-win” for everyone involved.

Centralina Area Organizations Receive Grants to “JumpStart the Conversation”

October 21, 2008 – Charlotte, NC – Three organizations in the Centralina region of North Carolina were awarded a “JumpStart the Conversation” grant for projects focused on improving land use planning and design as a means for creating livable communities for all ages.  The winning projects were chosen based on their innovation and potential for improving the Centralina area’s “Aging in Place” services.

The grants were introduced after a workshop that took place on June 18 in Charlotte, NC, the sixth in a series of regional workshops focused on creating livable communities for all ages.  The workshops and grants are part of the national Aging in Place Initiative pioneered by Partners for Livable Communities (PLC) and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), and funded by MetLife Foundation. The workshop was hosted by the Centralina Council of Governments and the Centralina Area Agency on Aging.

By Sharon A. Heilbrunn / The San Diego Union-Tribune / July 31, 2008 / Read Article>

LA MESA – Nancy Martinosky, 79, sat in a wide circle of children and senior citizens and held a blue striped disc. On cue, she began shaking the disc, the beads inside moving in different directions to create the sound of ocean waves. All around her, noises resonated: To the left, a girl tapped a xylophone. Across the circle, a freckle-faced boy beat on a black bucket.

By Sharon A. Heilbrunn / The San Diego Union-Tribune / July 26, 2008 / Read Article>

At The Arc of San Diego's Starlight Center in Chula Vista, director Terri Thorn is busy researching community art classes for the center's developmentally disabled senior citizens. The classes would be a luxury for the nonprofit, which operates on a tight budget.