Creating Livable Communities

The Design for Aging Committee is pleased to have Michael E. Festa, Esq., State Director of AARP Massachusetts, join us this month to speak about the AARP “Livable Communities” initiative, aimed at creating communities that are safe and secure, with affordable and appropriate housing, diverse transportation options, and supportive engaged residents in an area’s civic, economic and social life.

The AARP Livable Communities initiative works to educate and inspire elected officials, local leaders, planners, community features and services. Once in place, these resources enhance personal independence and health, assist citizen activists in identifying their community's specific needs, and then create and implement the programs, policies and projects that will help meet those needs.

The goal is for the communities where we live to be communities for people of all ages and life stages.

AARP's education, outreach and advocacy work has focused on building a long-term sustainable presence in communities while driving the change that will improve the lives of residents age 50-plus.

Mike Festa served as a Massachusetts State House Representative nearly nine years before stepping down to become the state Secretary of Elder Affairs in 2007. He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County and also served as President and CEO of the Carroll Center for the Blind, and as Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University, Sawyer School of Public Management. In this role at AARP, Festa leads the development and delivery of AARP’s community programs, advocacy and information for its more than 800,000 members age 50 and older in the Commonwealth.

To learn more about the Design for Aging Committee, visit architects.org/committees/design-aging-committee

Click Register to attend.