Mac users: Increase text size by holding command and +. Decrease text size by holding command and -.The Massachusetts Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (MABVI) and Boston University Innovate@BU have announced a partnership to develop a challenge open to BU students and alumni to solve community transit problems that will benefit society at large–and particularly for older adults and the blind and low vision community. Continue reading
Category Archives: News and Updates
DPH, Health Policy Commission Announce ‘Moving Massachusetts Upstream’ Program and RFP
The “Moving Massachusetts Upstream” (MassUP) initiative is a partnership across Massachusetts state agencies including the HPC, the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Office of the Attorney General, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
The vision of the MassUP initiative is better health, lower costs and reduced health inequities in Massachusetts through effective collaboration among government, health care systems, and communities. MassUP includes two distinct but complementary work streams: an investment program, and a state-level interagency policy alignment working group. Continue reading
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Safe Routes to Schools ‘Signs and Lines’ Program
The Safe Routes to Schools “Signs and Lines Program” from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will provide design services and up to $6,000 in construction funding to a selected municipality for a low-cost infrastructure project around a public elementary or middle school. For any communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly and have – or are seeking – partnerships with local schools, this is a great opportunity to create inter-generational activity. Continue reading
University of Massachusetts becomes first university system to join Age-Friendly University Global Network
The five-campus University of Massachusetts system endorsed the 10 principles of the Age-Friendly University, as defined by Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network at Dublin City University, joining an international effort intended to highlight the role of higher education in responding to the challenges and opportunities associated with an aging population. Continue reading
AARP Hosting Virtual Placemaking Workshop
The 2019 AARP Livable Communities Placemaking Workshop will showcase the many ways local leaders and community volunteers can help to create public spaces that are vibrant, welcoming, safe and accessible.
Workshop attendees will:
- learn about the economic, social and health impacts of placemaking
- be introduced to examples of infrastructure-intensive placemaking efforts that have successfully transformed a city, town, street or neighborhood for the better
- see how smaller, temporary “pop-up” demonstration projects (including parklets, bike lanes, plazas and alley “activations”) can be used to inspire a community
- gain strategies and tools for implementing placemaking projects
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Local Cultural Council Program
Mass Cultural Council’s Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences annually. Each year, LCCs award more than $4 million in grants to more than 6,000 cultural programs statewide. The program promotes the availability of rich cultural experiences for every Massachusetts resident.
With an application deadline of October 15th, these grants can benefit local Age-Friendly and Dementia Friendly initiatives by improving inclusiveness of older adults and access to arts and cultural opportunities for residents of all ages. Continue reading
Age-Friendly Grant Opportunity: Mass. Census Equity Fund 2020
The Massachusetts Census Equity Fund 2020 is a statewide funding initiative with the mission to increase participation in the 2020 census in communities that are at significant risk of being undercounted.
Through this statewide grant program, the aim is to support community based organizations to educate, organize and empower residents in hard-to-count communities to respond to the 2020 Census. The 2020 Census will face additional challenges and barriers reaching those in historically undercounted communities.
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Portal Open to Submit Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Grant
The Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Fund team announced that the portal to submit an application for the Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) Change Approaches funding opportunity is now live! Please visit the How to Apply page to learn more about submitting your idea and to access the online portal. Continue reading
Boston Celebrates Age-Friendly Bench Program
Mayor Martin J. Walsh, along with the City of Boston’s Age Strong Commission, Public Works, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, AARP, Tufts Health Plan Foundation and WalkBoston celebrated the Age-Friendly Bench program in Grove Hall. The program expands the number of benches across the city, with a particular focus on raising the availability of resting locations for older adults. Continue reading
Governor Announces Announces $34 Million in Community Development Block Grants to 63 Communities
Governor Baker and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) recently awarded $34 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Awards to support a variety of housing, community and economic development projects in 63 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Many of these projects are helping cities and towns become more Age-Friendly through improvements to a community’s physical environment. Continue reading