Three partnerships in the Centralina region were each awarded a "JumpStart the Conversation" grant on August 25, 2008.
The winning projects exemplify the use of innovative ideas focused on creating livable communities for all ages and theme of "land use planning and design". These strategies are aimed at the over 11 percent of residents age 65 and over in the Centralina region, and will encourage services that strengthen "aging in place"and increase accessibility to resources and independence among older adults.
The Jumpstart the Conversation Grants followed a workshop in the Centralina Region, titled Land Use Planning and Design: Creating a Livable Community in the Centralina Region for All Ages. As part of the Aging in Place Initiative, the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, was selected by MetLife Foundation, Partners for Livable Communities and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging to host the sixth of 12 national workshops on creating livable communities for all ages.
This workshop, co-hosted by the Centralina Council of Governments and Centralina Area Agency on Aging, was a unique opportunity for Centralina to begin looking at the region and to hear how other communities have begun to create livable communities. Participants learned how to apply for small grants given to support innovative ideas that further the concept of land use planning and design.Local leaders are calling for strategies to help strengthen "Aging in Place" services. Speakers and panelists focused on ways to address physical environment issues like housing and transportation
Centralina/Charlotte Jumpstart Grants
- Centralina Foundation in partnership with the Centralina Council of Governments, the Town of Waxhaw Planning Department, and the Council on Aging in Union County
To develop a “Land Use Ordinance Best Practices Checklist” that would encourage communities to become more senior friendly. Partnering with the Centralina Council of Governments, the Town of Waxhaw Planning Department, and the Council on Aging in Union county, the Centralina Foundation will create a Steering Committee comprised of members of each organization to assist in the development of the checklist and assessment of land use regulations in Waxhaw. The checklist will serve as a framework to identify ordinances in need of change in order to develop an increasingly senior friendly community.
- Downtown Davidson, Inc. in partnership with the Town of Davidson
To offer weekly transportation services to seniors living in the town of Davidson, NC. Using existing resources offered by the Department of Parks & Recreation, this initiative will provide seniors with the opportunity to run errands without worrying about driving or transportation arrangements. Another goal of this project is to address the need of older adults to have more independence and freedom in planning their schedules.
- Council on Aging
To use Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Charlotte as case studies for the development of senior-friendly communities. These studies will identify characteristics that support NORCs so that they may be disseminated for educational and advocacy programming. The Council on Aging has already developed a task force to address housing and related issues as they pertain to the Charlotte’s aging population. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive housing plan for older adults through 203
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The 2007-2009 Aging in Place Workshops
Over the course of three years, 12 regional workshops on the Aging in Place initative were held around the United States. The workshops originally began with a trial pilot of two in 2007, held in Arizona and Tampa Bay; but due to the overwhelming success and the amount of awareness raised, Partners and n4a continued to hold a nother 10 workshops over the course of two more years. This brought regional expertise and and local awareness to national and pressing issues, with a strong focus on building community ties and partnerships for solving issues affecting older adults.
Each workshop was focused on a particular theme. The theme reflected a local issue of interest and will also focus on an area of Aging in Place that the community has just begun (or not even begun) to explore. National and local experts on Aging in Place and the specific theme joined workshop participants in a panel discussion addressing local and national challenges around the theme, examples of success stories, and opportunities for both local and national action.
The workshops were free and opened to the general public. The intended audience was that of civic leaders, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, private and local businesses, and the older population. Each workshop had an agenda of a half a day discussion, with local audience members and community leaders participating in the process. Each community and workshop was chosen by MetLife Foundation, and the themes were actively chosen by the communities themselves.
The “JumpStart the Conversation” Grants
The second component of the workshops were the opportunity for local groups to partner and take community-wide action on Aging in Place. Partners awarded 10 partnerships, tied to the workshop communities, a small grant each to create an action plan to solve a problem relating to Aging in Place or an opportunity for the initiative to prosper in the community. With the help and support of MetLife Foundation, each community was able to complete their targeted goal and push further with creating a more livable community for all ages.
It is envisioned that these action plans and project grants were the first steps toward a more comprehensive community effort. These grants applications covered a range of topics written to fund a town meeting to gather input on local assets and challenges, community mapping of the many assets available, sidewalk benches at appropriate locations, or the exploration of para-transit options functioning in other localities.
About the Aging in Place Team:
MetLife Foundation:
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to carry on MetLife’s longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide. Through programs focusing on empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities, MetLife Foundation increases access and opportunities for people of all ages. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has made more than $530 million in grants and $75 million in program related investments. Learn more about MetLife Foundation.
Partners for Livable Communities (Partners)
Partners is a non-profit leadership organization working to improve the livability of communities by promoting quality of life, economic development, and social equity. Since its founding in 1977, Partners has helped communities set a common vision for the future, discover and use new resources for community and economic development, and build public/private coalitions to further their goals.
Partners promotes livable communities through technical assistance, leadership training, workshops, charettes, research and publications. More than 1,200 individuals and groups from local, state, national, international, public and private and media organizations make up Partners’ resource network and share innovative ideas on livability and community improvement. Learn more about Partners for Livable Communities.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
n4a is a leading voice on aging issues for Area Agencies on Aging across the country and a champion for Title VI-Native American aging programs. Through its presence in Washington, D.C., n4a advocates on behalf of the local aging agencies to ensure that needed resources and support services are available to older Americans and their caregivers. Learn more about the National Associations of Area Agencies on Aging.
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Age Friendly Cities
Rapidly urbanizing world populations are also rapidly aging. The number of people aged over 60 worldwide is expected to double from 11 percent to 22 percent by 2050 [i]. The need to adapt cities to meet the needs of an aging population is more important now than ever, and creating connected cities accessible for all ages is an integral part of responding to these demographic shifts. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of fostering responsible policymaking and networking related to aging in cities, and organized its Age Friendly Cities Project [ii] in 2005.
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 The D.C. Office of Planning (OP) has awarded a $75,000 “ArtPlace Arts and Culture Temporium” grant to Partners for Livable Communities (Partners) to develop and manage temporiums in underutilized spaces in the Deanwood neighborhood, one of the District’s earliest African American communities.
Under this grant, Partners will develop and manage DeanwoodxDesign, a project that showcases the rich arts, cultural, historical, and green space assets of Deanwood and Ward 7 through a community-wide, intergenerational, and collaborative effort. This project engages artists and a diverse network of Deanwood institutions and stakeholders to cultivate community pride, showcase and create great art, and invigorate the creative economy.
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Terms:Announcements, Arts & Culture, CBC Best Practice, CBC Event, Community Building, Community Engagement, Creative Economy, Culture Builds Communities, Design, Multicultural, Neighborhood Revitalization, Placemaking, Public Art, Public-Private Partnerships, Urban, Washington, DC
Partners announces the launching of the City Leaders Institute on Aging in Place (CLI), a one-year, pilot program focused on making local-level changes to facilitate aging in place.
This program is funded by MetLife Foundation and implemented by Partners for Livable Communities (Partners).
As part of this program, five Civic Teams were invited to participate as part of the 2012-2013 class. Each team has identified a specific goal for the year-long program.
- Arlington County, Virginia, aims to create a walkable, livable, urban environment that enhances welcoming connections and eliminates barriers between and among places, and enables all people to work, live, play, and visit in Arlington.
- Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, Florida, aims to identify and develop a platform to educate older people, public officials, and the community-at-large about issues related to elderly pedestrians, drivers, mass transit users, and travelers.
- Montgomery County, Maryland, aims to develop and implement a nonprofit and faith-based summit to clarify the needs of affordable, alternative housing options for older adults.
- Phoenix, Arizona, aims to develop new and enhanced service delivery mechanisms to connect older adults with their peers and with the community, to provide relevant activities and services, and to leverage their talents.
- San Diego, California, aims to increase community health and wellness among youngsters and older adults in the City of La Mesa and the La Mesa Spring Valley School District by implementing an intergenerational Safe Routes to School program and other strategic plans focused on health and wellbeing in this community.
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Terms:2012, Aging, Aging in Place, AIP Best Practice, AIP Event, AIP Press/Media, AIP Report/Publication, Announcements, City Leaders Institute on Aging in Place, Partners, Partners Events, Services
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