Connecticut Age Well Collaborative

Karen Green, our wonderful Operations and Network Coordinator, joined the Maine Council on Aging yesterday for their webinar 'Serving Older LGBTQ+ Adults in Our Communities.' Karen will talk about her work with the LGBTQ+ #MoveableSeniorCenter, a program that offers a welcoming pathway for #LGBTQ+ older adults to access senior centers and trains senior center staff to move to an intentionally #inclusive mindset. Thank you to the Maine Council on Aging for this opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge across our region!

Did you hear? We're assembling a list of community-nominated places and programs that demonstrate age, dementia, and disability #inclusivity — we call it AgeWell Across Connecticut. To make it the best list possible, we need to hear from you! Tell us about the hidden gems in your #community that are helping everyone thrive, across the lifespan. Nominating takes less than five minutes, and you can submit as many nominations as you like. Nominations are due August 30; the final list drops September 12. Nominate today at https://lnkd.in/eEEF_bTH #AgeWellAcrossCT #everyage #everyability

Many thanks to Lindsey McDivitt for her thoughtful review of 'A Kids Book About Ageism.' Lindsey writes fiction and non-fiction for children and reviews picture books with accurate and diverse images of aging and older adults on her blog, 'A is for Aging.' Read the review of our book: https://lnkd.in/exMuQxqY Did you know? If you've read 'A Kids Book About Ageism,' you can review it, too! Write a review on Goodreads: https://lnkd.in/ePBH5hES Rate the book on Amazon: https://lnkd.in/eJ-AusZB

Creating inclusive spaces for people of all ages and abilities requires vision, passion, and flexibility. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative is postponing #AgeWellFest. We remain committed to celebrating every ability and age, and will share updates about the event at a later time. Thank you for your understanding. In the meantime, we’re still excited to highlight Connecticut's incredible work on aging, dementia and disability #inclusivity this fall! From the best paved hiking trails, to inclusive businesses, to stellar programming — what are the hidden gems that make your community inclusive? Nominate your favorite places and programs today for inclusion on our statewide list. https://lnkd.in/eBiD9TtD

Smart Growth America's yearly analysis of pedestrian deaths in the U.S. makes a convincing case that our nation’s streets are dangerous by design - designed primarily to move cars quickly, at the expense of keeping everyone safe. Notably, the report finds that people between the ages of 50 and 65, and people over 75, are more likely to be struck and killed while walking. (Impacts on people with disabilities could not be analyzed, due to the limitations of accident data reporting.) Read 'Dangerous by Design' at https://lnkd.in/etZCgMkR #transportation

Will we see you at #AgeWellFest on September 12? AgeWellFest is no ordinary conference — it's a hands-on celebration of experiential learning. You'll be able to take a walking tour of downtown Meriden with Connecticut Main Street Center, try out a Digital Talking Book Machine with the Connecticut State Library, challenge your mind with cognitive exercises led by LiveWell, and so much more! Find out more at https://lnkd.in/eH4ZPYjQ

We were honored to read that Janine Vanderburg, a co-founder of Changing the Narrative, a leading anti-ageism initiative, featured 'A Kids Book About Ageism' in a recent e-newsletter! She writes, "This is the book I wish I'd written... I look forward to reading it to my grandson, Levi." Thank you so much, Janine. ❤️ #disruptageism Get your copy today! Amazon: https://lnkd.in/ecdHq7T3 Barnes & Noble: https://lnkd.in/eHiSHbqR

Still thinking about sponsoring #AgeWellFest? The deadline to decide is this Wednesday, July 24! Several levels are available - from simply promoting your organization's mission through a learning station to providing essential financial support for the event. Not interested in exhibiting? Donations are also gratefully accepted and will be acknowledged in event promotions. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/eTsiHwa3 #EveryAbility #EveryAge

AARP's Community Challenge Grant Program is investing $3.8 million across the country through 343 quick-action projects, helping communities make immediate improvements to support residents of all ages. We were thrilled to see that six Connecticut towns were among the grantees! Congratulations to Bethel, Ellington, Fairfield, Manchester, Torrington, and Vernon. Find the complete list at https://lnkd.in/eCWxDcA3 #CommunityChallenge

Heads up! The deadline to apply to host a learning station at #AgeWellFest is next week. What's a learning station, you ask? It's an interactive presentation of your work with a hands-on component — it could be a role play, a discussion prompt, a demonstration, a creativity exercise… the possibilities are many! How can you invite people to go deeper into your organization's mission through a 5-10 minute experience? Download our Sponsorship Packet to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eTsiHwa3 #EveryAbility #EveryAge