We are pleased to present the newest members of our Age-Friendly: Go Local program. These 19 organizations, which make up the program’s third cohort, will focus on projects that advance equitable and age-friendly communities.
Nine of the nonprofits focus on rural communities, and seven of them intentionally serve older adults who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color). Collectively, the organizations operate in nine of the 16 counties that we serve. All but five are first-time foundation grantees, and the majority are new to age-friendly work.
Western New York:
Azeem Family Foundation (Erie County) – The Azeem Family Foundation strives to engage and unite the community through unique programming. This program will pair African American and Latino grandfathers living on the East and West Side of Buffalo with a child or grandchild for shared reading and storytelling. The goals are to help older adults reclaim a sense of purpose, decrease social isolation, promote intergenerational literacy, and have a positive impact on relationships between older adults and youth.
Buffalo String Works (Erie County) – Buffalo String Works supports community and youth leadership through music education. A new in-house string program will enhance the emotional well-being of older immigrants. Participants will receive structured opportunities for creative expression, collaborative learning, and social interaction in an inclusive setting. The goal is to create a sense of belonging, strengthen confidence and respect, and promote social inclusion and new friendships.
Center for Elder Law & Justice (Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Wyoming counties) – The Center for Elder Law & Justice provides free legal services to improve the quality of life for older, disabled, and low-income adults. This project will provide accessible, peer-supported education on budgeting to help older adults living in rural communities manage their budgets, understand benefits, and avoid scams. The project directly supports economic security, mental well-being, and independence, key determinants of healthy aging. Also, by engaging older adults as peer educators, advisors, and workshop co-facilitators, they can take better part in civic participation and employment.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County (Niagara County) – Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) uses local experience and research-based solutions to advance economic vitality, ecological sustainability, and social well-being. This project will build on CCE’s Vegi Van program to meet older adults in community spaces. The goal is to improve physical health, educate older residents on meal creation, and provide free food supplies so they can make the meals at home. By using an evidence-based curriculum, CCE will help improve the health and wellness of older adults in Lockport.
D’Youville University’s School of Pharmacy (Erie and Niagara counties) D’Youville University gives pharmacy students hands-on experience to help them prepare for their future practitioner role. This project will launch an age-friendly home-based model that provides pharmacist-led monthly medication reviews, porch visits, fall risk screenings, digital health coaching, and navigation support to older adults in the community. Receiving these personalized services at home will help older adults who have transportation or mobility challenges.
Every Bottom Covered, Inc. (Wyoming and Cattaraugus counties) – Every Bottom Covered provides essential hygiene products such as diapers to underserved families. Through this project, the organization will expand its hygiene supply program to older adults in rural communities to reduce financial strain. By providing essential supplies to older adults and connecting them to additional resources, this program will strengthen the ability of older residents to age in place and increase their independence and confidence.
GObike (Niagara County) – GObike promotes active mobility culture within connected and sustainable communities. This project will pilot diverse ways to meet older adults’ transportation needs in the north-end neighborhood of Niagara Falls. Both community-identified and community-led, it will serve a local population that is over 25 percent older adults, many of whom have low incomes and reside in public housing.
Harvest House Buffalo (Erie County) – Harvest House partners with the community to advance person-centered solutions that can have a positive impact on health, well-being, and quality of life. This project will improve the lives of older residents of the East Side of Buffalo through the development of interactive health classes, arts and crafts, and educational seminars. Participants will take the lead in developing discussion topics, fostering connections, and reducing loneliness. The program will also include access to healthy food and nutrition education to increase food security. Transportation will be provided for participants with mobility or income barriers to maximize accessibility and inclusion.
Karen Society of Buffalo (Erie County) – This community-based organization is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and cultivating the self-sufficiency of immigrants from Burma, while preserving and sharing their cultural heritage. Through this project, older adults from Burma who live in Buffalo will participate in a culturally tailored social enrichment day program. Navigation services for health care appointments and programs, as well as transportation to and from their community center, will eliminate barriers to access. Participants will be connected to vital health and wellness resources and benefit from long-term stability, independence, and well-being.
Literacy Buffalo Niagara (Niagara County) – Literacy Buffalo Niagara advances literacy for all families and adults, including older residents of marginalized and low-income communities. These residents have low levels of health literacy and lack the digital skills and knowledge necessary to participate in their own health care. This age-friendly program will address and promote both health access and communications for older adults by building upon community support and health services.
Oak Orchard Health (Wyoming County) – Oak Orchard Health is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center that uses a patient-centered approach. This project will connect aging adults with the resources they need to lead healthier lives. A part-time Behavioral Health Care Manager will join older adults during their primary care visits and screen for social determinants of health. The older patients will then be connected with essential resources, including behavioral health services.
Veterans One-stop Center (Erie County) – The Veterans One-stop Center collaborates with resource providers to support veterans and their families. This project is focused on improving the lives of older veterans by helping them get involved, stay active, and find purpose in meaningful activities. When encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, engage in physical activities, and connect with others who share similar experiences, older veterans can build new skills and feel less isolated. They can also overcome anxiety by relying on community support and social participation.
YMCA Buffalo Niagara (Niagara County) – The YMCA is a community-based organization committed to providing programs designed to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. This project will create an intergenerational garden and older adult advisory committee in the city of Lockport. The goal is to promote respect and social inclusion for older adults who attend the YMCA and for others who visit or reside in the community.
Central New York:
Access To Independence of Cortland County, Inc. (Cortland County) – Access To Independence (ATI) empowers people with disabilities to lead independent lives in their communities. This project will implement the Ride Together Program, which will allow older adults to become comfortable with other types of transportation. The goal is to increase social connection and overcome transportation barriers. To reduce the fear of volunteer and public transportation, ATI will host events during which staff will ride with older adults to and from a social activity. Older riders will build their confidence by using a variety of transportation methods.
Friends of Recovery Oswego County (Oswego County) – Friends of Recovery Oswego County works collaboratively to create and promote strategies and solutions for long-term recovery for those affected by substance use disorders. This program will engage older adults with mental health and substance use issues in rural communities. To eliminate transportation barriers and stigma, the Friends of Recovery team will visit the homes of older adults to talk with them about how substances affect people differently as they age. In addition, Friends of Recovery will enlist older peer advocates with relevant lived experience to co-design the program.
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (Cayuga County) – Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) is dedicated to expanding lending and housing opportunities for low and moderate-income residents. INHS fosters communities that embrace diversity, equity, and sustainability in ways that produce lasting outcomes. This project will expand INHS’s home modification program outside of Tompkins County and use these funds to complement the funding it receives from the Medicaid 1115 Waiver. The goal is to allow older adults to age in place and replicate INHS’s current model to form a partnership with the Cayuga County Area Agency on Aging.
Lime Hollow Nature Center (Cortland County) – Lime Hollow provides year-round environmental education and recreation opportunities by using and protecting the natural and cultural attributes of the Lime Hollow area. This project will implement a planning grant to identify better ways to engage older adults and organizations to use the nature center for continued education. Another goal is to intentionally design accessible programming and create more age-friendly outdoor spaces in Cortland’s rural community.
Love Living at Home (Tompkins County) – Love Living at Home is a member-driven organization that enables older adults to live vibrantly while aging in place. Members, volunteers, and staff work together to provide engaging educational and social programs and responsive support services. This project will create an older adult garden for members in one of the City of Ithaca’s community gardens. This will combat the growing food insecurity older adults are facing and demonstrate how communal gardening can meet that need.
YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County YMCA (Cortland County) – The YMCA is focused on programming for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This project will expand Matter of Balance programming to rural communities in Cortland County. The goal is to increase access to health and community services for socially isolated older adults through an evidence-based program.
Age-Friendly: Go Local first launched in 2023 and is a collaborative partnership with the New York Academy of Medicine. Go here to learn more about the program.
