Bandana Shrestha

AARP volunteers are in a class of their own! They bring a lifetime of experience, passion for the well-being of their community and a desire to serve. This year, we will be featuring other AARP volunteer leaders who are working on behalf of 50+ Oregonians and their families in our state.

June is LGBT Pride month! The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. This year, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in the LGBT civil rights movement. To honor and celebrate this important anniversary, AARP Oregon has several events planned.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! AARP recognizes the needs of AAPI communities and works to provide us all the resources to grow and live life together—now and beyond. This month, we invite you to join us in recognizing and celebrating AAPI communities.

Across Oregon, from the high deserts to the temperate coast, Oregonians love their communities and envision a future where they can continue to live and thrive where they live. That is the overwhelming conclusion of the Building a Communities for All Ages: Age-Friendly Oregon listening tour that AARP Oregon conducted in the summer and fall of 2019. Findings from the statewide tour, which included community conversations in thirteen communities spanning the state, as well as interviews with community leaders and subject matter experts representing diverse sectors and geographies, will be available for distribution in May 2019.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! AARP recognizes the needs of AAPI communities and works to provide us all the resources to grow and live life together—now and beyond.

What happens when we are not able to drive or use public transit? How do we get around to meet our everyday needs and stay connected in to our community? AARP research tell us that transportation and mobility options are fundamental to our well-being as we grow older. But too often, lack of accessible, reliable transportation options keep older adults and people with disabilities from participating in everyday activities or meeting basic needs.

Welcome to the 2019 Portland Metro area NeighborWalks season! Did you know that we are celebrating our 5th anniversary this year? We are so excited for you to join us at one of our 16 walks this season. Our first 2019 walk is scheduled for May 28th and last one will be on October 12th. NeighborWalks volunteers have worked hard to design fun opening and closing celebrations as well as, of course, accessible routes and educational opportunities so we can learn about the history and current issues of the neighborhoods where we walk. We thank our volunteers and our wonderful partners for five years of great walking and invite YOU to join us this year. Scroll down for the full schedule!

On February 28, Governor Kate Brown signed into law Senate Bill 608 to stop unchecked rent increases. AARP Oregon proudly supported the bill and worked for a number of years along with many other advocates across the state to make sure that people who rent their homes are protected from no-cause evictions and rapid increases in the rent of their homes. Hundreds of AARP volunteer leaders and activists from around the state contacted their legislators in support of the bill.

The unprecedented housing crisis we are experiencing here in Oregon has meant that we hear a great deal about the lack affordable housing in our communities. As the single biggest item on most household budgets, the rising cost of housing impacts the well being of people of all ages and abilities, especially those living on fixed and low incomes. For many, paying rent or mortgage means going without medication or food. For other still, increasing housing costs can mean displacement or even homelessness. So it is exciting that local municipalities, state policy makers, and housing advocates are working together to devise bold solutions to address housing affordability in our communities, from increasing housing production through allowing innovative and new types of housing, protecting renters from skyrocketing rents, to preserving and funding affordable housing.

AARP volunteers are in a class of their own! They bring a lifetime of experience, passion for the wellbeing of their community and a desire to serve. AARP Southern Oregon Volunteers are no different. One could even argue that they have something extra going for them – the AARP Southern Oregon Community Action Team.