Blog Move

Dear Followers,

We have recently moved the Creativity and Aging Blog to the National Center for Creative Aging website. You can find this here: www.creativeaging.org/creativity-and-aging-blog/

Also, I regret to inform you that our dear friend and colleague Dr. Gene D. Cohen passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2009. For more information please visit the NCCA website: www.creativeaging.org.

-NCCA

StoryCorps

Today at a conference at the foot of the Capital, StoryCorps announced the launch of StoryCorps Historias, a new initiative recording the lives of Latinos across America. StoryCorps Historias plans to record 1,000 Latino stories which will be archived in the Library of Congress as well as given to the families who participate in order to create a recorded legacy for generations to come.

NCCA worked closely with the StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative last March when they presented at our Health & Wellness Conference in Washington, DC. The Memory Loss Initiative is a wonderful program which allows people with Alzheimer's or other cognitive disabilities to record their stories for their families and again to be archived in the Library of Congress.

Today's speakers included Senator of New Mexico, Tom Udall, who finished his speech supporting the StoryCorps Historias Initiative by saying, "It is conversation that fuels the soul of our country."

Aging with Options

Like New York, Oregon is making sure that their older population is provided with creative options. The Volunteers of America Oregon and the LifeWorks NW and Urban League of Portland produced a report, "It takes a Village to Live a Life - A Community Assessment on Aging," to showcase the results from a two-year needs assessment of older adults and their caregivers. The report was put together in order to start a dialogue about how older adults in the Portland area can remain active members of a community and really participate in civic engagement. The highlights of the report were presented to community leaders on August 27 to raise awareness of foundations, government entities, nonprofit organizations and others to educate their audiences on the importance of community involvement among older adults. Find more Here.

New York Senior Artists Granted Space

Due to the recent efforts made by the New York City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, senior artists have been granted 16 new free studio spaces to create their work. The New York City Council with the New York Academy of Medicine outlined 59 initiatives that will help New York be a more friendly city to older adults. Read more about other programs being implemented here.

New NCCA Fall Webinar Series with Gene Cohen, MD, PhD

The first webinar is on Monday, September 14 from 1 - 2:30 pm EDT.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: What is Aging After All
Creativity and Positive Changes Because of Aging, Not Despite It

Presenter: Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD, Founder and Director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities of the George Washington University. Dr. Cohen was the principle investigator for the landmark study (funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts) The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health and Social Functioning of Older Adults. He is the author of numerous articles and two books: The Creative Age and The Mature Mind.

Dr. Cohen will present five webinar sessions based on his internationally acclaimed lecture series. Each session will be one and one half hours long.

Note: The other four webinars will be announced two weeks in advance of the presentation dates.

Pay by credit card at www.creativeaging.org using PayPal or send a check to NCCA.

Cost: $50 per webinar, all 5 webinars for $200

Organizational Members participate for free! Only $250 per year to join!

Visit www.creativeaging.org , email info@creativeaging.org or call (202) 895-9456 for more details.

Model Elderly Care: Mayor Bloomberg Touts Kinder, Gentler Senior Programs

New York City is rolling out a series of changes to help the aging population in the city. The plan includes making senior centers "model centers of wellness" including new activities and programs, using off duty school buses to take seniors to the grocery store during the day, offering discounts at health clubs and free air conditioners to seniors in poor health. Mayor Bloomber's office, the City of Council and the New York Academy of Medicine studied the challenges facing older adults and developed 59 recommendations to make life easier for the population. "The ideas that are in the 59 goals and initiatives today come directly from what seniors told us about transportation, civic engagement, housing and health care. We're going to make these ideas and suggestions a reality," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Daily News, August 2009
Read more about this article here

Funding Opportunity!

The Creative Aging in Our Communities: The Westchester Libraries Project is currently taking applications for their program. Up to eight grants will be awarded and for between $1,000 and $5,000 to libraries willing to provide a space for a workshop series, coordination and promotion, and hosting an exhibiton or performance at the library. Libraries are required to apply for the programming grants in partnership with professional arts organizatios and/or teaching artists.

Deadline: The applicaiton is due November 2, 2009 for programs taking place from January through May of 2010.

For more information and the application visit www.westchesterlibraries.org and www.lifetimearts.org.