AARP Livable Communities On the Road

The AARP Livable Communities initiative strives to support a diverse range of advocates — all of whom have an important role to play in creating great places for people of all ages. 

Whether you’re a bike advocate, an aging services provider, a Main Street coordinator or the lead organizer for a walking club, you likely can’t affect community change on your own. Neither can we!

That‘s why AARP representatives attend national conferences and events where others involved in livability efforts gather to share best practices.

In 2020, the AARP Livable Communities team will have a presence at more than 10 practitioner-focused conferences where attendees can meet us, collect our free publications and connect with peers who have successfully used an “age-friendly approach” to achieve impact in their community.

^{The following list is presented in chronological order:} 

National Bike Summit

March 15-17, Arlington, Virginia: First up: the National Bike Summit. This annual event brings together bicycling advocates and leaders in the “human-powered” mobility world to share information, get inspiration from national leaders, and advocate for better federal investment in safer streets for all.  Find us there and pick-up an AARP-branded bike light, a copy of our latest publication, The Pop-Up Placemaking Tool Kit, and learn more about how to apply for an AARP Community Challenge grant program.
Learn more: BikeLeague.org

American Society of Aging National Conference

March 24-27, Atlanta, Georgia: Thousands of aging services and sutidies professionals and community volunteers will be gathered at the American Society of Aging National Conference. The 2020 conference will focus on the increasingly diverse and multicultural older adult population. AARP Livable Communities will be on hand to showcase the reach and impact of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Stop by the AARP booth for an invitation to our age-friendly reception (for existing and potential network member communities) and to meet AARP staff from several states and programs who can speak about livable communities issues work throughout the country.
Learn more: ASA.org

Southeast Greenways and Trails Summit

April 1-4, Jacksonville, Florida: At the Southeast Greenways and Trails Summit we’ll focus on how Florida and other states along the proposed 3000-mile East Coast Greenway Trail that are advocating for more “complete” streets that enable older adults and people of all ages to walk and bike more — and do so more safely. AARP Livable Communities will be introducing Gil Penalosa, the founder of 8 80 Cities and one of our initiative’s frequent collaborator, who will deliver what will surely be a riveting and inspiring keynote address. (If you won’t be there, you can get a taste of what he’ll do by watching his energetic presentation at the 2016 AARP Livable Communities National Conference.) 
Learn more: Greenway.org

Coming Soon

Watch for another update like this in a couple of months. In the meantime, take advantage of early-bird registration rates and plan to meet up with us at the:

American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference
April 25-28, Houston, Texas, Planning.org

Main Street Now Conference
May 18-20, Dallas, Texas, MainStreet.org

Congress for the New Urbanism’s 28^th Congress
June 10-13, Minneapolis, Minnesota, CNU.org

At every event, we’ll be on hand to share free publications and resources, connect age-friendly leaders with one another and answer questions about how your state’s AARP office and others in your region may be able to support your community’s age-friendly livability efforts.

Danielle Arigoni

As the director of AARP Livable Communities, Danielle Arigoni supports AARP’s state offices and the nearly 500 communities and several states enrolled in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. She leads the team responsible for supporting the network’s members; developing free practitioner-focused publications; delivering direct technical assistance to nearly 100 communities each year; and producing the free, weekly AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter (see below). Learn more

Page published March 2020