Visioning & Planning

Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award

A community leader who has fought to preserve and revitalize the rich cultural past of Paterson, New Jersey.

A city that was completely transformed by the strong will of civic leaders and innovative urban planning strategies.

This report documents the San Antonio Aging in Place Workshop which focused on the topic of Community Design and the Built Environment. Click here to download the report.

Partners has championed for more than two decades the idea that when older persons are able to remain in communities that are home to all ages, the whole community is enriched and strengthened. In short, prepare your communities for the aging population and they will become more livable for all.

Overview

Launched in 2012, the City Leaders Institute on Aging in Place (CLI) is a one-year, pilot program focused on making local-level changes to facilitate aging in place.

This program is funded by the MetLife Foundation and implemented by Partners for Livable Communities (Partners).

Five Civic Teams were invited to participate as part of the 2012-2013 class. Each team has identified a specific goal for the year-long program.

• Arlington County, Virginia, aims to create a walkable, livable, urban environment that enhances welcoming connections and eliminates barriers between and among places, and enables all people to work, live, play, and visit in Arlington.

• Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, Florida, aims to identify and develop a platform to educate older people, public officials, and the community-at-large about issues related to elderly pedestrians, drivers, mass transit users, and travelers. 

• Montgomery County, Maryland, aims to develop and implement a nonprofit and faith-based summit to clarify the needs of affordable, alternative housing options for older adults.

• Phoenix, Arizona, aims to develop new and enhanced service delivery mechanisms to connect older adults with their peers and with the community, to provide relevant activities and services, and to leverage their talents.

• San Diego, California, aims to increase community health and wellness among youngsters and older adults in the City of La Mesa and the La Mesa Spring Valley School District by implementing an intergenerational Safe Routes to School program and other strategic plans focused on health and wellbeing in this community.

A Collaborative Approach

Before beginning the CLI program, each participating community assembled a team of four civic leaders. During this process, Partners worked with team leaders to assure a well-rounded group reflective of local issues and settings.

Participating teams were required to include one member representing elected or appointed city officials (mayor, county executive, council chair, city or county manager), and one representing the older adult population (AARP, Area Agency on Aging, or similar organization). The final two participants on each team vary from place to place depending on local issues and assets. The remaining participants represent a variety of categories, including local philanthropy, non-profit organizations, business and corporate interests, faith, media, health and wellness, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.

Kick Off Workshop and Resources

Two Kick Off workshops were held to assemble the full Civic Teams and mark the beginning of the program. The primary goal of each two-day workshops is to actively assist Civic Teams in creating a Road Map for Action, a working plan for keeping the momentum going throughout the year. To accomplish this goal, CLI provides each team with issue experts and a facilitator to assist them with brainstorming and planning.

Participants benefited from the lessons learned by Partners during its series of 12 workshops and JumpStart grants previously funded by MetLife Foundation from 2007 to 2009. Outside speakers and experts presented their own experiences to illustrate the importance of Aging in Place.

• Washington, D.C. Kickoff Workshop, March 22-23, 2012, Participating teams: Arlington County and Montgomery County
• Phoenix Kickoff Workshop, May 7-8, 2012, Participating teams: Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego

Following each workshop, Civic Teams have access to free resources to move their issue forward and build a constituency around their goals. Resources include:

• A dedicated CLI program officer staffed by Partners for Livable Communities
• $6,000 in Opportunity Funds made available from MetLife Foundation
• A network of technical assistance experts
• Best practices and publications
• Continued networking opportunities

Community Report Card

As part of the City Leaders Institute, Partners developed a Community Report Card to help civic leaders and citizens think about their community’s strengths and weaknesses in Aging in Place. The report card assesses 11 components and grades the community on how well it is doing in each component of agelessness.

1. Community Design and Planning
2. Arts, Culture and Lifelong Learning
3. Housing
4. Workforce Development
5. Transportation and Mobility
6. Local Leadership
7. Health and Wellness
8. Civic Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities
9. Sustainability
10. Public Safety and Services
11. Equity of Opportunity

Download the Community Report Card here.

For more information on the City Leaders Instiate on Aging in Place, please contact Olivia Boyce at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-887-5990 x 112.

This report documents the Miami-Dade County Aging in Place Workshop and highlights the kinds of problems and possible solutions that are relevant to transportation planning for seniors everywhere. Click here to download the report.

This report documents the Centralina Aging in Place Workshop and features the central role of transportation and housing in the work of land use planners and designers. Click here to download the report.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

For taking a proactive stance in forming local and regional collaborations to address balanced growth and preservation.

Founders Award for Civic Leadership

Senior Fellow of the World Wildlife Fund, for his continued dedication and passion in support of conservation of our country’s natural resources and in promoting access to clean water in the developing world.

Investors in America Award

For over thirty years of development that revitalizes and redefines the urban experience.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

For its strategic planning and budgeting process that links funds in the budget directly to eight major goals to create more effective budgets.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

For the City of Atlanta's collaborative efforts and creativity in developing the Beltline Project.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

For its innovative use of public/private partnerships in its economic revitalization plan centered on high-end residential development.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

For its successful affordable housing programs.