Ivan Lanier

As the U.S. population continues to age and as people stay healthy and active longer, American cities, towns, and counties must adapt to the needs of changing demographics to serve the interests of their residents and sustain economic and social vitality. Communities that adopt progressive and forward-thinking public policies and urban planning models will attract and retain more residents, provide varied business opportunities to serve the older populations, their families, and caregivers, and build infrastructure and policies that are friendly to all ages.

On Saturday, April 18th, AARP DC co-sponsors Horizons 2015: Uniting Energy Technology and Consumers, at the University of the District of Columbia Law School, 4340 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, D.C. from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM.

On April 8th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, the Anacostia/Bellevue/Congress Heights AARP Chapter #4870 will convene a Ward 8 City Council candidates forum at Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ, 3845 South Capitol Street, SW. Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer and former DC AARP state president, will be the moderator.

On December 10, 2014 at the DC Stadium Armory, nearly two years after the District embarked on the exciting journey to become an age-friendly city, Mayor Vincent Gray submitted to AARP the Age-Friendly DC by 2017 Strategic Plan. The plan now goes to the World Health Organization (WHO) as a part of the process for Washington, DC to be designated an “Age-Friendly City." This plan, a product of the Mayor’s Age-Friendly Task Force, reflects the commitment of District residents and stakeholders to prepare the city for a future with a growing older population. The document incorporates the voices of thousands of people, the knowledge of local and national leaders in many fields, and the best practices learned from other cities in WHO’s age-friendly network.

Hear from the Washington, DC mayoral candidates on October 9, 2014. AARP DC is ready to inform its 89,000 members and the general public about priority issues important to DC residents 50+. Muriel Bowser ( @MurielBowser), David Catania ( @DavidCataniaDC) and Carol Schwartz ( @DCCarolSchwartz) have pledged to participate.

On October 3, 2012, the District joined other aspirant-jurisdictions to become an Age-Friendly City as part of the pilot AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities through the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. The goal of this program is to provide a system to educate, encourage, promote and recognize improvements that make cities, towns, and counties more user-friendly not only for their older residents, but for residents of all ages.

On October 3, 2012, the District joined other aspirant-jurisdictions to become an Age-Friendly City as part of the pilot AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities through the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. The goal of this program is to provide a system to educate, encourage, promote and recognize improvements that make cities, towns, and counties more user-friendly not only for their older residents, but for residents of all ages.