Volunteer Spotlight: Sparking Change Through Stories and Art

At 72, Jack Howell of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, calls Voices of Migration the best idea he’s ever had—and he has good reason to. The longtime community advocate and part of the team of the Spanish-American Civic Association never considered himself a volunteer, much less an AARP member, until a conversation about a grant application took an unexpected turn.

But a few years ago, Howell got in touch with AARP Associate State Director Grace Rustia to talk about a project he was looking to get underway in Southeast Lancaster. And what began as a conversation turned into a partnership—and a calling.

With Grace’s encouragement, a small seed grant, and the work of Cricket Forge, Jack helped launch a project collecting the oral histories of older adults in the Southeast Lancaster neighborhood. That evolved into Voices of Migration, a nature-based placemaking effort centered on the stories of older residents, many of whom are Latino immigrants. These narratives, accessible via QR codes placed around the Southeast section of the city, celebrate life journeys while elevating voices too often unheard.

The heart of the project is a public art installation near a senior center undergoing a major renovation in southeast Lancaster, a historically disinvested neighborhood now experiencing renewal thanks in part to AARP’s involvement. “The investments we’ve made have attracted over a million dollars in city support,” Jack says. “It’s no longer just a neglected space—it’s becoming a true people place.”

The art park features monarch-themed murals, native plantings to attract butterflies, and a striking 14-foot laser-cut steel sculpture of monarchs attached to a wind ribbon—symbols of mental health and migration—emerging from a moving trunk. A relocated monarch butterfly-shaped bench, fence art showcasing native species, and interpretive signage with audio stories bring the space to life.

For Jack, it’s about more than beautification. “We’re keeping stories of elders and young people alive,” he says.

Though he spent much of his life using volunteers in his own work, Jack says it wasn’t until working with AARP that he saw himself in that role. “Grace lit a match under me and made me think about the value of volunteering. That changed everything.”

Now, Jack’s work with SACA is drawing attention across Pennsylvania, with the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts encouraging him to replicate the model elsewhere. Whether or not that happens, one thing is clear: Jack Howell’s best idea has already taken flight—and it’s bringing others along with it.