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Network News December 2017: Seasons Greetings!

In this month’s issue of Network News we are sharing some exciting campaigns and symposiums you don't want to miss! Scroll down to read more!

When People Connect, They Affect Each Other’s Lives

Connect2Affect is a collaborative effort that helps older adults build the social connections they need to thrive.

Staying connected to the people and things that matter to us is fundamental to physical and mental well-being. We need social connections to thrive — no matter our age. But recent research shows that the negative health effects of chronic isolation and loneliness, while harmful at any age, are especially so for older adults.

U.S. Census data shows that more than a quarter of the U.S. population is living alone, with isolation affecting more than 8 million older adults in the U.S. The negative health consequences of social isolation include impaired mental performance, a compromised immune system, and a heightened risk of chronic disease, as well as depression. The health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Isolation also touches more than the isolated; we all lose without the knowledge, perspective and talents older adults can bring to our communities. That’s one of the many reasons that AARP Foundation spearheaded Connect2Affect, a collaborative effort with the Gerontological Society of America, Give an Hour, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and UnitedHealth Group.

Connect2Affect.org presents the facts about social isolation, features tools and resources to help individuals evaluate their isolation risk, and offers practical ways to reconnect with the community. A self-assessment test asks yes or no questions relating to relationships, mobility and major life changes, with responses that offer encouragement and additional information.

Power to Change is a first-of-its-kind virtual event to be held January 17th, 2018. Village members and older adults across the country are looking for ways to have their voices heard, to create change in their lives, and the lives of others. Senior Center Without Walls, in partnership with Creative Aging SF, believe older adults can continue to transform the world and we want to ignite that belief in each symposium attendee.

Whether potential attendees think of themselves as creative or not, we will give tools to unlock the creative promise we all carry. We will remind each attendee that creativity is beyond art-making - it is about using your imagination to forge new paths. Power to Change will share inspiring stories and creative tools to ignite changes from the very personal level of communicating one's story all the way to speaking with legislators.

Senior Center Without Walls invites you to gather your Village members together and join us as we remind each other that we all possess the Power to Change our world. Learn more or register at CreativeAgingSymposium.org. Power to Change is generously sponsored by Episcopal Senior Communities and Kaiser Permanente.

From The Desk of the Executive Director

Happy Holidays!!

As I reflect back over 2017 as we often do this time of year, I am filled with joy to be part of such powerful movement. Together as a Network and broader Village Movement, we have made some great strides. The number of open (230) and developing (130) Villages continues to increase, as well as the density of Villages in certain areas of the country. This is leading to more formalized regional groups and we saw the formation of the Village Movement CA and the Capital Region Villages Collaborative. We celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Village Movement with a wonderful simulcast event with Beacon Hill Village. We offered more webinars than ever, increased our social media presence and had our largest National Village Gathering ever (both in programming and attendance). What a year it has been!

As we look forward to 2018, we are excited to continue to work with each and every one of you as we continue to Grow the Village Movement and Fill the Gap of where there are limited or no Villages in the United States. My hope for you and your loved is that this is the most joyous time of year for you. Please keep VtV Network in mind as you make your year-end contributions so that together, we can truly continue to "Fill the Gap, Grow the Movement."

Click Here to Donate Today! Happy Holidays from our entire Village to Village Network family!

Village to Village Network Partner Gen2Gen to Launch Movies & Mentors Contest

Join in by hosting fun, meaningful movie parties for all ages

Just in time for Oscar season, Encore.org’s Gen2Gen campaign is rolling out Movies & Mentors, a contest to crowdsource the top 10 mentoring movies of all time, then convert all that enthusiasm into a raft of new mentors in real life.

The contest includes an opportunity for Village members to nominate and vote for movies they love with mentors 50+ -- everything from “The Sound of Music” to “The Karate Kid” to “Rocky” -- and host simple watch parties.

Gen2Gen will make it easy for Villages and members to host gatherings of any size and people of any age to enjoy, discuss and celebrate mentoring relationships in movies. These parties can encourage people to think about becoming mentors themselves and introduce them to effective mentoring programs in their communities (or online) that welcome people 50+.

Gen2Gen Movies & Mentors will launch on Jan. 25, giving people a chance to nominate their favorite films and enter to win hundreds of dollars in movie tickets! Public voting will begin in March and winners will be announced in April. Movie watch parties can be organized at any time; most will be held in March and April.

If your Village is interested in learning more about Gen2Gen Movies & Mentors and about hosting watch parties, sign up here. And remember, as the movie poster for “The Intern” boasts, “Experience never goes out of fashion.”

Village Anniversaries!

A Little Help North Folk Valley- 1 year

Methow at Home- 2 years

Georgetown Village- 6 years

NEXT Village San Francisco- 8 years

4818 Washington Blvd Suite 206 St Louis, MO 63108

For more info email us at vtv@vtvnetwork.org

Credits:

Created with images by BruceEmmerling - "baltimore inner harbor ships boats city urban"

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