[Press Conference: "AARP Age & Friendly Livable Community Initiative" on October 28, 2025]
[00:00:25]
WE HAVE A FEW SEATS HERE IN THE FRONT IF SOME FOLKS AREN'T SHY AND WANNA HELP US FILL THOSE IN THE FRONT.
AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND WELCOME TO A A RP HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY CELEBRATION.
WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE AS COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER.
ON BEHALF OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER REAFFIRMS THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S COMMITMENT TO AARP'S AGE-FRIENDLY AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES NETWORK.
BY 2031 IN FIVE AMERICANS WILL BE 65 OR OLDER.
HOUSTON'S RECOMMITMENT TO THE AGE-FRIENDLY INITIATIVE ENSURES THE CITY CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE ACCESSIBILITY, INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION, AND INCLUSION, BENEFITING EVERYONE, NOT JUST OLDER ADULTS.
A A RP IS PROUD TO BE THE NATION'S LARGEST NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO EMPOWER OLDER ADULTS, LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE AS THEY AGE.
I ROSALINA MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOR A A RP TEXAS, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
AND THIS ISSUE MATTERS TO ME PERSONALLY AS SOMEONE WHO IS CARING, WHO IS A CAREGIVER TO HER AGING PARENTS.
I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE MY INCREDIBLE TEAM, JACKIE GALE, ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.
WE HAVE JENNIFER WRY AND CHANDRA WEIGEL, WHO ARE ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTORS OF OUTREACH AND LOCAL ADVOCACY.
I DON'T SEE HER IN THE ROOM YET, BUT SHE'S OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER AND IS ON OUR BOARD.
THE A-A-R-P-H FRIENDLY NETWORK IS PART OF A GLOBAL EFFORT DESIGNED TO CREATE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CAN THRIVE THROUGH SAFE STREETS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION AND PURPOSE.
WE KNOW THAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD IS GOOD FOR AN 80-YEAR-OLD.
WHETHER YOU ARE IN A STROLLER OR IN A WALKER HERE IN HOUSTON, THAT MEANS COLLABORATING WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICES, NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES IN OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS VIA OUR AGE-FRIENDLY CITY COALITION MEMBERS TOTALING MORE THAN 100 HERE IN HOUSTON.
MANY OF YOU HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY.
OUR AGE-FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITY PLAN TOOK EFFECT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE CELEBRATING.
AND IT'S A COMPOSITE OF OUR PARTNERS EFFORTS TOWARD MAKING HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE.
EVERY IMPROVEMENT WE SEE IN HOUSTON'S QUALITY OF LIFE COMES FROM PARTNERS THAT DO THE WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY TOGETHER, THESE PARTNERS HELP ADVANCE AARP'S MISSION TO MAKE HOUSTON SAFER, MORE CONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE FOR ALL.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, A A RP HOUSTON HAS ADVOCATED FOR OUR PARTNERS INITIATIVES FOR ACCESSIBLE SENIOR HOUSING AND CHANGES IN BUILDING CODES FOR MORE VERSATILITY, MORE ALZHEIMER AND DEMENTIA RESOURCES, EFFICIENT RUNNING BUSES, BETTER SIDEWALKS AND SAFER STREETS.
PARTNERS LIKE FIT HOUSTON IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, ASIA SOCIETY, TEXAS CENTER, ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, COMPLETE STREETS COALITION, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES, AND MANY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS THAT CARRY OUR PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT OUR NINE DOMAINS OF LIVABILITY.
IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT THOSE NINE DOMAINS ARE, YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE ON THE SCREEN.
WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH OLDER, WITH, WITH OUR CITY LEADERS TO KEEP THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER ADULTS AT THE FOREFRONT.
WE WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM A FEW OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICES, I BELIEVE SALLY ALCORN'S OFFICE, AND WE ALSO HAVE DR. CYNTHIA WILSON JOINING US FROM OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS.
MANY OF THEM HERE IN THE ROOM.
IF YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER, PLEASE STAND.
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS ALL OUR LOCAL ADVOCACY WORK, OUR PROGRAMMING IS ALL BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
AND THAT'S REALLY HOW WE DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES FROM OTHER NONPROFITS IS WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THE VOICE IS HEARD.
AND OUR JOB IS REALLY TO ENSURE, AGAIN, THAT WE DESIGN THOSE PROGRAMS
[00:05:01]
WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS AND OUR MEMBERSHIP IN MIND.WITH THAT, I WANT TO, UH, INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO OFFICIALLY COMMEMORATE THE CITY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK, WHO SHE IS HERE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION REAFFIRMING HOUSTON'S LEADERSHIP IN BUILDING AN AGE-FRIENDLY LIVABLE CITY.
I I SAID THE MAYOR MUST HAVE CHOSEN ME BECAUSE I HAVE THE GRAY HAIR AND I MAYBE FIT IN
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT AGING, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS A CAREGIVER FOR MY GRANDPARENTS AND CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER DEMENTIA OR RESOURCES THROUGH THE VA TO, TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES INDIVIDUALLY IS A CHORE.
SO IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE OVER 65, WELL, NOW I THINK IT'S 55 IS A LITTLE OLDER, BUT ANYWAY, FOR THE, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS SUCH AS MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THAT OUT LOUD, BUT ANYWAY, GREAT TO BE HERE ON THE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO, UH, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY, UM, FOR AARP'S AGE-FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITY NETWORK.
AND WHEREAS HOUSTON HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF AARP'S AGE-FRIENDLY NETWORK SINCE 2014 WITH AN AGE-FRIENDLY LIV LIVABLE COMMUNITY, DEFINED AS ONE THAT IS SAFE AND SECURE, ENABLING RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES, ABILITY, LEVELS, AND BACKGROUNDS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN CIVIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE.
AND WHEREAS THE COMMON THREAD AMONG COMMUNITIES AND STATES ENROLLED IN THE A RP AGE FRIENDLY NETWORK IS THE BELIEF THAT LIVABLE PLACES BEST SUPPORT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHEN LOCAL INSTITUTIONS COMMIT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE.
AND WHEREAS HOUSTON'S A FLC PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 2019, COVERING NINE DENOMINATIONS OF, EXCUSE ME, NINE DOMAINS OF LIVABILITY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED BY MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WITH RELEVANT INTEREST AND EXPERTISE.
AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS BUREAU, BY 2034, THE NATION WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE AGED 65 AND OLDER ME THAN UNDER 18.
AND HOUSTON CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE AS A LIVABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY BY ENSURING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND SERVICES, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, ACCESSIBILITY AND THE ABILITY TO AGE IN PLACE, AND POLICIES THAT CONNECT HOUSING, HEALTH, EDUCATION, WORK AND COMMUNITY LIFE.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THAT SENIORS ARE THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND DESERVE CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGH POLICIES THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY, MOBILITY OPTIONS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE, WHILE MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON LED BY MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, RECOMMITS TO ITS AGE-FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITY PLAN, IT COMMENDS AARP'S AGE-FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR ITS MISSION TO FOSTER EQUITABLE, SAFE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES FOR THE VERY YOUNG, THE VERY OLD AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN.
THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE HERE BRIDE PROCLAIM OCTOBER 28TH, 2025, AS THE AGE-FRIENDLY LIVABLE COMMUNITY NETWORK DAY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER, JULIE MARTIN.
JOAQUIN
WE'RE GONNA DO, YOU'RE GONNA DO A PICTURE FIRST, THEN MAYBE I'LL GET YOUR NAME RIGHT.
NOW I CAN INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN, WHO I'VE KNOWN SINCE HE WAS A LITTLE BOY, BUT WITH ALL HIS CHILDREN.
HE'S GONNA GET GRAY HAIR LIKE MINE.
[00:10:01]
YOU, COUNCILMAN CARTER.UH, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY GREAT TO BE HERE, UH, TO CELEBRATE AARP'S AGE FRIENDLY AND LIVABLE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION.
UM, THANK YOU TO A A RP AND ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK TO MAKE HOUSTON A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND I REALLY, UH, LIKE HOW EVERYONE IS EMPHASIZING IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE SENIORS AND YOU TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS, YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE.
UM, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR OLDER ADULTS THAT CAN THRIVE.
WHEN I THINK OF EVENTS LIKE THIS, I THINK OF, UM, OF MY MOTHER, QUITE FRANKLY, UM, SOMEONE THAT CONTINUES TO VOLUNTEER, SOMEONE THAT STAYS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND YES, UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO ANY SENIOR EVENTS AROUND HER, SHE STILL DANCES, UH, THE WHOLE, THE ENTIRE TIME.
UM, IT'S A REMINDER THAT AS YOU GROW OLDER, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN.
IT MEANS STAYING ENGAGED, CONNECTED, AND VALUED.
THAT'S WHY TODAY'S CELEBRATION IS ALL ABOUT CREATING COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT ACTIVE AGING, INCLUSION AND INDEPENDENCE.
AS A CITY, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND WALKABLE, FULL OF ACCESS.
GREEN SPACES CONNECTED BY RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HIGH QUALITY LIFE FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS.
UM, AND I DEFINITELY WANNA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE TALK ABOUT GREEN SPACES, SAFE, WALKABLE.
UM, ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO OF COURSE, LJ WITH FIT HOUSTON.
UM, WE ARE DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THE EAST END, SPECIFICALLY AT MASON PARK, UH, WHERE WE'RE NOT ONLY HAVING A WALKING GROUP, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO A, UM, A FIT STATION WHERE AGAIN, IT'S AGE FRIENDLY FOLKS CAN, UH, GET, GET AROUND, COME TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY HEALTHY.
INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE WALKABILITY, PARKS AND LIVABILITY AREN'T JUST GOOD URBAN PLANNING, THEIR INVESTMENTS IN WELLBEING AND DIGNITY OF OUR RESIDENTS.
HOUSTON IS STRONGER WHEN EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, CAN PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY LIFE.
WHETHER IT'S EXPANDING GREEN SPACES, IMPROVING SIDEWALK ACCESS, OR SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT THAT BRING GENERATIONS TOGETHER.
WE'RE BUILDING A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
I WANT TO THANK A A RP AND EVERYONE FOR, FOR BEING HERE, UH, THAT CHAMPIONED THIS VISION.
ALSO, MARY ESTHER, WHO'S A DISTRICT I RESIDENT AND A VERY, VERY, UM, STRONG VOLUNTEER FOR A RPI CAN'T, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY EVENT.
YEAH, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY EVENT THAT SHE'S NOT AT.
AND ALSO RECRUITING FOLKS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE, UM, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THERE'S SPACE FOR EVERYONE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA, AGAIN, JUST WANNA THANK ROSALINA AND HER TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO TOGETHER.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT AGING IN HOUSTON MEANS, IT MEANS AGING IN COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT EVERYONE FROM YOUNG, ESPECIALLY TO OUR OLDER ADULTS AS WE CELEBRATE, UH, AGING, AGING FRIENDLY IN HOUSTON.
NOW WE HAVE, UH, COUNCILOR MEMBER RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU CHRIS, HE, LINDA, FOR INCLUDING ME.
AND THANK, UH, EVERYONE AT A A RP FOR THE WORK YOU DO ADVOCATING FOR OUR OLDER HOUSTONIANS, OUR RETIRED PERSONS.
I'M VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT THAT GROUP OF HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE RETIRED BUT HAVEN'T STOPPED WORKING, UH, TO HELP, UH, OUR COMMUNITY BE BETTER.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN A, A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON THE LAST, UH, 19 MONTHS OR SO.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I DO AT CITY COUNCIL IS I CHAIR THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE AND, UH, WE TAKE UP ISSUES THAT, THAT, UH, ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, THAT AFFECT ALL HOUSTONIANS, INCLUDING OUR SENIORS.
WE'VE, WE'VE TAKEN UP ISSUES LIKE NOISE, SHORT TERM RENTALS, UH, MOTORIZED SCOOTERS AND THE LIKE.
AND, UM, WE TRY ON CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE HOUSTON BETTER AND MORE LIVABLE FOR EVERYONE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOCUS ON ARE PARKS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ ALLUDED TO THAT FACT.
OUR GREEN SPACES, OUR PARKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT PLACES THAT WE CAN GET OUT AND WALK AND ENJOY NATURE, MAKING OUR CITY MORE WALKABLE SO THAT WE CAN GET EXERCISE AND ENJOY, UH, HOUSTON AND OF COURSE BE SAFER.
MANY OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE MADE HOUSTON SAFER.
WE WERE ALWAYS LOOKING TO MAKE HOUSTON SAFER, INCLUDING FOR OUR SENIORS.
THE LEGISLATURE PASSED, UH, A JUGGING LAW EARLIER, UH, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT IT'S GONNA, THAT IT'S GONNA HELP US PROTECT OUR SENIORS BETTER.
AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THIS GREAT MISSION OF REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR OLDER HOUSTONIANS.
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AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE PAULA JOHNSON WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.UM, THANK YOU PAULA FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
SHE'S WITH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING IS THE BUREAU CHIEF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A, SOME COMMENTS.
UM, AS SHE SAID, I'M PAULA JOHNSON, BEARD CHIEF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
AND WE CALL OURSELVES THE AAA, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH AAA CAR INSURANCE 'CAUSE IT'S A LOT EASIER.
SO WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE, AS A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER, UM, WITH THE AGE, UH, FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITY AND WORKING ON THOSE DOMAINS.
SO OUR MISSION FOR THE AAA IS THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS SO THAT THEY CAN AGE GRACEFULLY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEN THEREBY RESERVING THEIR AUTONOMY, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND CULTURAL CONTINUITY.
SO THE GOAL IS TO PREVENT EARLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND FOSTER INTERGEN INTERGENERATIONAL STABILITY.
SO WE ARE THERE TO HELP, NUMBER ONE, TO BE A TRUSTED VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT HEALTH, ABOUT HOUSING, AND ABOUT MOBILITY.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE IMPLICATIONS THAT THE AGE-FRIENDLY HAS DONE IS HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO INTEGRATE AGING SERVICES ALSO INTO EMERGENCY PLANNING.
AND SO THE AGENCIES, OUR SUCCESS HAS DEMONSTRATED HOW LOCAL ENTITIES CAN DRIVE POLICY THROUGH SHIFTS IN AGING AND THROUGH HEALTH EQUITY.
AND SO I WANTED ALSO WHEN I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT MY NOTES AND WHAT I WOULD SAY WAS TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER.
UM, LAST YEAR I GOT TO GO TO NEW YORK SOMEPLACE I'VE NEVER BEEN BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN REPRESENTED HOUSTON AND THE AGE INCLUSIVE CITY INITIATIVE.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE DONE THROUGH THE AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY AND BRING THEM BACK.
AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY CREATED ACTUALLY A DOCUMENT THAT WOULD GIVE OTHER CITIES A BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO MAKE THEIR CITIES LIVABLE, AGE FRIENDLY AS WELL.
AND THEN I ALSO LIKE TO GO BACK AND THINK A A RP, UM, THE PANDEMIC SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, BUT IT, IT WASN'T.
IT'S THAT THEY LOOKED AT YOUR AAA.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW COULD WE TAKE VACCINES INTO, INTO, INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS.
THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A VEHICLE THAT ALLOWED US TO GO TO THE SENIOR'S HOMES AND ACTUALLY GIVE THEM VACCINES WITHIN THEIR HOME SO THAT, UM, THEY WERE PROTECTED.
SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SAY A COUPLE WORDS, THANK A A RP AND JUST BEING A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS HERE AND READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE THAT YOU OFFER US.
AND PAULA ALLUDED TO OUR COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANTS, WHICH A FEW OF YOU HERE HAVE BEEN BENEFICIARIES OF THAT.
SO BEFORE WE WRAP UP, LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.
A A RP BELIEVES THAT GREAT COMMUNITIES DON'T JUST HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
THEY ARE BUILT INTENTIONALLY THROUGH COLLABORATION AND SHARED PURPOSE.
AARP'S COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM IS ONE OF OUR MOST POWERFUL TOOLS FOR LOCAL ACTION.
NOW IN ITS NINTH YEAR, THE PROGRAM HAS INVESTED OVER 24 MILLION NATIONWIDE THROUGH MORE THAN 2000 GRANTS FUNDING QUICK ACTION PROJECTS THAT JUMPSTART LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN 2025 ALONE, A A RP AWARDED 4.2 MILLION TO 383 GRANTEES, MANY OF THEM HERE IN OUR BACKYARD, SOME OF OUR PAST RECIPIENTS.
AND IF YOU'RE HERE REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION, PLEASE COME UP.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED THE GRANT IN THE PAST AND THEY RECEIVED THE GRANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO BUILD ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
AND SO IT LAUNCHED AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
IF ANYBODY'S HERE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLANNING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE COME UP.
WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER WHO RECEIVED THE GRANT IN 2025 AND THEY'RE LAUNCHING A DIGITAL RESILIENCE INITIATIVE.
THE PROGRAM ENSURES OLDER ADULTS CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY DURING A DISASTER WITH CHROMEBOOKS AND SOLAR POWERED CHARGERS, AS WELL AS TRAINING ON HOW TO USE THE DEVICES.
WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER, ARE YOU HERE? IF NOT, OKAY.
UM, AND THEN FIT HOUSTON AND THE CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION COALITION.
SO, UM, AND THEY'RE CONDUCTING WALK AUDITS TO ASSESS SIDEWALK CONDITIONS, SAFER STREETS, AND EXPLORE POTENTIAL TRAIL EXPANSIONS.
AND THEY ARE A TWO TIME RECIPIENT OF THE GRANT AT,
[00:20:04]
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES AND THEIR CHORE CORE.THE TRAILER WAS EQUIPPED WITH TOOLS TO HELP OLDER ADULTS WITH CHORES FOR YARD WORK WHILE MATCHING THEM WITH VOLUNTEERS TO AN OLDER ADULT.
I KNOW WE HAVE CHERYL HERE, SO WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THE PAST RECIPIENTS AND THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE SHORT TERM PROJECTS THAT TURN TO LONG LASTING CHANGE, AND THAT'S WHAT A A RP DOES IN YOUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE TO BE HERE, TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, TO OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO AMPLIFY OUR MESSAGE THROUGH YOUR WORK.
SO ENJOY YOUR LUNCH AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.