Michael Olender

Are you looking for that special “something” that allows you to give back to your community? Are you interested in helping develop meaningful programs that will allow older Charlotteans to make better long term care decisions for themselves and their families? Would you like to use your talents and experience to help others avoid hunger and live healthy lives on a fixed income? Are you interested in learning how else you can make a positive impact for people 5-+ in your community?

Are you looking for a dynamic speaker for your next meeting? Are you interested in learning how to address the challenges of aging in America? Would you like to learn about the wide range of free tools, resources and opportunities that AARP offer right here in Charlotte?

In the spring of 2013, AARP North Carolina began building a new, permanent base in the Queen City to help develop new initiatives that would aid people 50+ to live their lives to the fullest. Two full time staff – Michael Olender and Leo Scarpati – spent the year laying a foundation on which to build a range of new local initiatives that would be felt across all areas that are important to older North Carolinians. Here’s a peek at what we accomplished in the last 8 months:

On November 21, Charlotte City planners, along with civic and business leaders, met to both recognize current efforts and to identify new ways to make Mecklenburg County more attractive to older adults. AARP North Carolina hosted a summit that helped city planners and community activists learn more about aging trends and research on the 50 plus population to better inform local decisions.

AARP is focused on making Charlotte and the region more livable for people of all ages. Walkable Charlotte Week, our Livable Communities Listening Sessions, and the upcoming Making a More Livable Mecklenburg livable communities summit are helping to engage people 50+ on the effort to meet the challenges of the coming demographic changes. This week AARP North Carolina's local team in Charlotte conducted Walkable Charlotte Week, which aimed to raise awareness about the issue of walkability and why that is an essential component of creating a livable community.

Throughout November, AARP will be continuing its Charlotte programs on the Affordable Care Act. At these November sessions, we will be joined by counselors to help answer detailed questions about how the ACA affects you and your family, including the new "Marketplace". Space is limited and pre-registration is required (see links below).

Join AARP members and friends at Charlotte Bobcats and Checkers games in fall 2013!

As an area’s population evolves, so must its community. Mecklenburg’s evolution includes an ever-increasing aging population with an increased reliance on transportation, mobility and housing.

Do you know of an intersection or street crossing in yourcommunity that is challenging or even dangerous for a pedestrian to cross? If you’re like most people, you certainly do. But now you can help do something about it!

Since being launched earlier this summer, the new AARP Coffee and Conversation series has engaged hundreds of AARP members and 50+ Charlotteans on a variety of issues. As a new program coming from the new AARP office in Charlotte, it has been an exciting time for the staff and AARP volunteers who organize and facilitate those programs. With October's full offering of new sessions approaching (see below for the list of October's programs), the excitement is building even more, as October marks the beginning of the Affordable Care Act's "marketplaces" and the time when more people want simple answers to sometimes complex questions.