As the AARP DC Volunteer State President, I am proud to represent 68,000 AARP members in the District, and on behalf of them and all older District residents, we are advocating for a budget that honors their dignity and needs. For the District’s FY2026 budget, our message is clear: District seniors deserve their fair share of the pie.
This past summer, AARP Virgin Islands (AARP VI), in partnership with the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services, successfully convened the first two of three Elder Justice Summit sessions. These gatherings brought together legislators, financial professionals, advocates, legal professionals, first responders, law enforcement, and mandated reporters. The consensus was clear: existing protections are insufficient. Findings from the first two sessions have shaped AARP VI’s legislative priorities, and the organization has pledged to lead the charge in advancing changes that will safeguard the financial futures of our elders.
AARP VI has already briefed Senators Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Avery L. Lewis, Kurt A. Vialet, Kenneth L. Gittens, and Marvin A. Blyden of the 36th Legislature, and has engaged the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Scams and data breaches are in the news a lot. Considering myself a savvy consumer, I had never been the victim of either. I had taken what I thought were all the appropriate steps to protect myself.