Building Livable Communities
There's positive change in the air as AARP celebrates its 50th year. Affirming our commitment to livable communities, we've joined forces with Rebuilding Together, the country's leading organization that improves the homes and lives of the elderly, disabled, and displaced, as well as other low-income or at risk people. The two organizations share a vision of barrier-free, universal design ideas at home that allow people to age in place and maintain control of their lives.
We've already worked jointly and successfully in the Gulf region repairing the damage of Hurricane Katrina. Now we're taking that partnership to all seven Celebration Cities, where Rebuilding Together's strong local organizations will work closely with AARP's state and national personnel on exciting, large-scale community renovations.
Connect to Change is working with local municipalities to identify a variety of deserving projects. Crews have already broken ground on the inaugural site at Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles. There, they'll fully renovate the school's theatre, which will then kick off a performing arts program, all renamed in memory of the high school's famous principal, Ethel Percy Andrus, who later founded AARP.
Equally exciting is how you can help. As we identify projects like the one at Abraham Lincoln, we're securing volunteers in each of the Celebration Cities. Care to get a little dirt under your finger nails revitalizing an important landmark in your area? Please check back shortly with this web site as details become available about how you can participate.
Back to 50th anniversary main page.
