Presentation Slides for Each Conference Speaker
Click each image for the full slide presentation
Most people want to age in place in their communities,
but many Bergen County towns aren't prepared for that
The bedroom-community era has passed. Most of us want towns that offer choices for how we live, how we get around, how we work, recreate and stay connected. Towns without the baked-in housing, transportation and affordability challenges that can dampen quality of life for all of us.
We need a new suburban-living cookbook - one that yields communities for all ages
The recipes for creating communities that meet residents’ needs and desires throughout the lifespan are already out there. Your community doesn’t have to start from scratch.
Bergen County has an active, 7-year-old age-friendly movement – community leaders working in collaboration with government, business, nonprofit and academic partners.
Leaders from Age-Friendly Communities in Englewood, Fair Lawn, Garfield, Ridgewood, Teaneck and Westwood are available to offer mentorship and guidance.
Who were the Sponsors?
The Age-Friendly North Jersey alliance is a partnership of government, business, municipal, philanthropic and civic leaders who have been working together since 2016. In more recent years the six Bergen communities in the alliance have been actively sharing their expertise and insights with other interested Bergen communities and working more closely with Bergen County government leaders and others in the county's aging services network. In 2023, our alliance launched Age-Friendly Bergen Roundtable, a bimonthly convening of elder-care providers, social service agencies, health officials, and others who are committed to improving the lives of Bergen County's older adults.
Email Janet Sharma, Coordinator, Age-Friendly Englewood at 201-591-5162 or [email protected]connect with these community innovators and solution seekers.
Image Below: Age-Friendly North Jersey leaders at their 2023 kick-off meeting in January
Background on Conference Presenters
Dr. Emily A. Greenfield
Hub for Aging Collaboration at Rutgers
Emily A. Greenfield, PhD, is a Professor of Social Work and Director of the Hub for Aging Collaboration at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She is an internationally recognized leader in community gerontology and active contributor to Age-Friendly Communities Movement in NJ.
The Hub for Aging Collaboration at the School of Social Work advances excellence in collaborative research, teaching, and engagement to improve social contexts for aging and health equity.
Stephanie Hunsinger
Stephanie Hunsinger is the State Director of AARP NJ. In this role, Stephanie oversees the State office staff and volunteers and sets the strategic planning and direction at the state and local level.
AARP New Jersey educates and advocates on behalf of those 50+ on issues that are important to AARP's 1.3 million members, their families, and to all Garden State residents, including helping guide efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and the state to be great places for people of all ages.
Tanya Rohrbach
Tanya Rohrbach manages New Jersey Future’s land use planning work., providing strategic assistance to help communities plan and implement actions that foster resilient and vibrant places for all community members. Tanya authored a community guide to implementing age-friendly land use decisions in NJ.
New Jersey Future, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, promotes sensible and equitable growth, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments to foster resilient communities.
Julia Stoumbos
The Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation
Julia Stoumbos directs strategic program development in the field of Aging in Place for The Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation, In this role, Julia advises the Foundation on its philanthropic investment decisions, works closely with grantees, nurtures new links between organizations, and facilitates opportunities for collaboration.
Located in Bergen County, The Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation works in partnership with a network of organizations and leaders to advance research-based systems and policies and best practices for successful aging.
Davit Topchishvili
Bergen County Division of Senior Services
Davit Topchishvili serves as Planning Analyst and Coordinator of Federal and State Aid at the Bergen County Division of Senior Services. In this role, Davit is responsible for Division’s strategic planning, identifying the needs of served populations, conducting studies, surveys, and needs assessments, presenting reports, and recommending uses of federal, state, or private foundation aid.
As Bergen County's designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA), the Division is the primary planning, coordinating, and funding agency for senior programs and services in the county.