AARP Awards Community Grant to One US Virgin Islands Organization as Part of Record-Breaking Year for Nationwide Program

Communities across the US Virgin Islands are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.

In support of that work, AARP is excited to announce the largest number of grantees and funds to-date through the Community Challenge grant program. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 184 organizations across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as transportation, public spaces, housing, smart cities, civic engagement, coronavirus response and more.

AARP in The Virgin Islands is incredibly proud to have one grantee right here in our territory. Our goal is to support their efforts to create great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities and the coronavirus pandemic has only underscored the importance of this work.

Here in The Virgin Islands, the exciting and diverse project funded is the VI Council on the Arts’ expansion of a successful mural art initiative to more areas in the island of St. Thomas. The initiative activates senior/elder artists as a pilot for the expansion that will contribute to the successful aging of participants.

The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all residents. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in The Virgin Islands as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of all of the Community Challenge projects and AARP in The Virgin Islands livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.