AARP Hearing Center
Volunteer Advocates for Older Kentuckians
Former corporate chief diversity officer Ralph De Chabert, 79, is putting his years of experience to work on the AARP Kentucky Executive Council.
iStock
As a former corporate chief diversity officer, Ralph De Chabert believed an important part of accomplishing his mission was hearing the voices of — and supporting — older workers.
“People are put out to pasture beyond age 50 in many organizations,” says the 79-year-old Louisville resident and AARP volunteer. “Their expertise and creativity and innovation is often overlooked.”
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
De Chabert served 14 years as chief diversity and global community relations officer for
Louisville-based spirits producer Brown-Forman. Now, he’s putting those years of experience to use as a member of AARP Kentucky’s volunteer Executive Council, which collaborates with AARP’s paid staff on strategic advocacy and outreach priorities.
“Ralph was really attractive to us because he’s been in several corporate leadership positions,” says Troy Broussard, AARP Kentucky’s state director. “He knows how to speak to legislators in an effective way.”
De Chabert enjoys meeting with policymakers to discuss issues important to older Kentuckians, such as fraud prevention. He has particular empathy for Kentuckians targeted by criminals, as he lost $2,000 himself in a used-car scam earlier this year.
“My issues were minuscule compared to the money others have lost in the crypto space,” De Chabert notes.
Broussard says De Chabert is skilled at building relationships and collaborating with other AARP volunteers. “He’s always seeking knowledge, and when you see one person on the team doing that, the others tend to follow,” Broussard notes.
De Chabert says he finds volunteering with AARP meaningful — he’s advocating on behalf of his peers while also benefiting himself by staying engaged and connected to others.
“You’re giving of yourself, but you’re getting,” he says.
De Chabert has also worked to improve the lives of younger Kentuckians. After retiring in 2022, he spent two years as a full-time English teacher at a Louisville alternative school for teens who have had challenges in their lives.
“He comes with a wealth of knowledge, and he’s a great role model for kids,” says Sara Sutton, the school’s principal. “He has life experiences to talk about ... things that he’s overcome.”
De Chabert says he plans to reach out to the college intern at the local AARP office to get her thoughts on how to bridge generational divides.
“I’m always looking at that younger generation and the older one,” he says. “My wildest dream would be to demonstrate that if you bring those two groups together, magic would happen.”
More on Volunteering
- Explore AARP Volunteer Opportunities
- Read Stories of AARP Volunteers Making an Impact
- Learn How to Nominate Someone for AARP's Top Volunteer Award
More From AARP
Volunteers Power a Family Tradition
“Do you have a grandpa that has gone above and beyond for you? I do!”
Kentucky Grandparent Of The Year Essay Fun
Key details on contest entries, forms and deadlines
No Hero Left Behind
From the foothills of Appalachia to the Congressional chambers of Washington D.C., Heather French Henry has supported veterans and their families attempting to navigate reintegration into civilian life.