Our Alliance has some new ways to share information and connect with each other! Drs. Emily Greenfield and Althea Pestine-Stevens from Rutgers School of Social Work present new communications platforms intended to help us stay more connected and informed as local initiatives continue to evolve. Included in this discussion are an eNewsletter, Padlet bulletin board, Listserv, and Website/blog. Use this link to access the activity worksheets: https://docs.google.com/presentation/....

Featuring RoseAnn Ciarlante from Westwood; Carmen Morale, Tracy Carroll, and Cathy Rowe from South Orange and Maplewood, and Darleen Reveille from Garfield. Panelists from three communities who have been doing age-friendly work for at least 5 years share the diverse and widespread ways in which they connect, share information, and spread awareness with community members, organizational partners, elected officials, and more. Speakers provide tips for new leaders starting their age-friendly community work and lessons that they learned along the way.

Our June 8, 2022 alliance meeting on “Engaging Historically Marginalized Older Adults in Age-Friendly Communities” had two enlightening presentations by Drs. Laurent Reyes and Melanie Plasencia, followed by a lively Q & A session. Some key takeaways included: • The importance of recruiting people with historically marginalized identities as leaders; • Designing events that include elements of cultural importance; and • Recognizing the leadership already occurring in communities.

Panel conversation with peer leaders in municipal age-friendly advocacy: Cristina Cutrone, Deputy Mayor, Borough of Fair Lawn Karen Hartshorn Hilton, Trustee, Village of South Orange Barry Lewis, Township Manager, Township of Livingston Moderated by Althea Pestine-Stevens, Rutgers University School of Social Work

Enjoy this year-end review highlighting the work and activities of AFNJ members

Speakers: Mayor Jaclyn Veasy, Evesham Township Senior Citizen Advisory Committee Laura Van Dyke, Township of West Orange Older Adult Advisory Board Professor Emily Greenfield, Annabess Ehrhardt, Dr. Althea Pestine-Stevens, Hub for Aging Collaboration at Rutgers School of Social Work

Speakers from Age-Friendly North Jersey and Generations United share their experience with intergenerational programming. From Aging Well West Orange: Laura Van Dyke, Senior Services Coordinator for the Township of West Orange, and Dorothy Sanders, Local Health Outreach Coordinator, Department of Health, Township of West Orange From Fair Lawn for All Ages: Lisa MacClements, Age-Friendly Coordinator From Generations United: Donna Butts, Executive Director, Danica Derriennic, Special Projects Coordinator, Generations United

Many towns are expanding their community police efforts, and implementing or working with age-friendly initiatives is a perfect fit! Police partnerships can be part of broader efforts to create age-friendly communities, ensuring that older residents can live independently and safely. Join us to hear how Generations for Garfield has built a successful partnership between residents, the Garfield Police Dept. and the community. Also hear from West Orange about their outreach and efforts with older residents. See recording here: https://youtu.be/re18vu3L6JI

Learn the details and implementation timeline for the new Affordable Housing Calculations and important information about Fair Housing & Housing Discrimination Breakfast available at 9:45 AM, Networking until Noon Come and learn from experts about how current considerations in housing are impacting older adults. The N.J. Dept. of Community Affairs recently released Affordable Housing Calculations recommended for nearly every municipality in the state. These calculations will guide development for years to come and may significantly impact affordable senior housing. Regulations regarding Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination are already in place but not always adhered to. These topics are of critical concern to every municipality in New Jersey and, of course, to providers of services to older adults. Find out what they mean and how they impact you and those you serve. Please consider passing this information along to -- and/or bringing with you -- municipal officials who will benefit from this information.

Across the country, organizations and advocates at the local, state, and national level are using the tools of the National Center to Reframe Aging to change the way they communicate about aging. Learn how to embrace these tools and strategies to spread awareness of implicit bias toward older people, and influence policies and programs that benefit all of us as we age with gerontologist Katie Squires, PhD, Associate State Director, Advocacy for AARPNJ and a National Reframing Aging Facilitator. View the recording: https://youtu.be/KIUvNz1Y1ss