Learn how to make your community more livable in this virtual lunchtime series

Looking for ways to make your cities, towns and rural areas great places for all ages? Meet the people and organizations that are working to improve important domains of "livable communities" in a weekly lunchtime series "Let's Get Livable over Lunch" live on Facebook.

Join us for a virtual series featuring AARP NC and community partners to learn how we can all play a key role in creating a sustainable, healthy community during the current COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Each week, you'll hear more about issues and projects that are helping people stay healthy, active and socially engaged in communities all across North Carolina. You'll also have a chance to interact with the weekly guests to help inspire you to make needed improvements where you live.

With North Carolina's population rapidly aging, more communities have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities to share resources, ideas and best practices that are sparking change.

So grab your lunch and spend a half-hour at noon learning more from North Carolina planners, experts and volunteers leading changes that help people of all ages live better lives.

You can watch each program live to interact with the guests, or view on demand with these links:

Original Airdate/Program:

7/13
Respect and Resilience
These are difficult times impacting the lives of our families and black communities. The issue of racial injustice and disparities is complex, deep-seated, and can feel overwhelming. Velva Jenkins, CEO, YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear and Suzanne LaFollette-Black, AARP NC Coastal Associate State Director discuss the problem and solutions.

6/29
Discovering Personal Balance During COVID-19
The Pandemic has exposed core societal and personal vulnerabilities. At the same time, there is the potential to reveal our strength and inner resilience. MaryLynn Bennett, Behavioral Health Faculty at MAHEC discusses maintaining our personal balance and discovering an inner strength we may have not realized through the COVID-19 experience and beyond.

6/22
Taking Care of Yourself During the Pandemic
What can we all do to take care of ourselves and stay physically active during the pandemic? Get inspired about the possibilities with Chuck Vestal with the City of Winston Salem, Recreation & Parks Department. Chuck shares best practices and up to date knowledge on staying safe and strong during the pandemic indoors and outside.

6/15
Retooling Your Business
The Pandemic has posed significant challenges to our once thriving small business community. Join us to hear more about the inspiring story of Judy Gross who, after retiring from a career in nursing, started a small business which integrated her passion for sewing, design and retooled her business due to COVID-19.

6/8
Staying Connected During Trying Times
Caring North Carolina organizations are finding creative ways to maintain social and intergenerational connectivity as we move in and out of COVID-19 physical distancing requirements. Patricia Calloway, Executive Director of Ashe Services Aging talks about creative strategies to keep older adults in rural West Jefferson connected across generations during these trying times.

6/1
Making Your Home More Livable for Years to Come
Is your home the place where you want to be? If not, now is a good time to think about simple low-cost ideas as well as and higher-cost long term solutions that can help stay safely at home for years to come. Given our renewed commitment to aging in place, the COVID-19 crisis can have the unintended benefit of opening a small window of opportunity to plan ahead and begin to act affirmatively on our desire to remain in our homes safely and independently as long as possible.

Richard Duncan of the Universal Design Institute shares tips and best practices to make your home a safe and comfortable place to be quarantined.

5/18
Keeping Pedestrians and Cyclists Safe

We have roads to everywhere but nowhere to go. How can streets and sidewalks be re-tooled to work with us to promote active transportation at times when driving is discouraged and practicing physical distancing is vital? Mike Sule, Executive Director of Asheville on Bikes, discusses how community members can physically distance and stay healthy while engaging in projects that can result in safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and people of all ages.

7-20
Building community through local food
We can get healthier today while supporting our local farming community. Local fresh food is more available than ever for all of us, especially those who receive federal nutrition benefits such as SNAP/food stamps or Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers. Ellie Mullis with the Double Up Food Bucks Program explains how you can safely and affordably access fresh local foods regardless of income level during the Pandemic and beyond.

7/27
How has the pandemic helped nursing homes evolve?
The intense focus on protecting nursing home residents is transforming the long-term care system. This program highlights perspectives on policies, tactics (such as virtual visitation via technology) and legislation that will help protect nursing home residents and staff. The presenters also help us to become aware of an underlying issue of social isolation that can occur in long term-care settings.