Celebrating Diversity: Promoting community inclusion and access to community supports and health services
Hear some of the ways that organizations in northern New England are welcoming our diverse older residents.

Creating Welcoming Communities for New Americans
Understanding the unique challenges of older New Americans is incredibly important as we work to build welcoming age-friendly communities. On June 01, 2016, we heard from programs around our region that have developed and promoted culturally competent services for older newcomers.

LGBTQ Inclusion Training
Part of the Ideas & Experience Exchange: Wisdom Inquiry. This training provided tools and ideas for ensuring that LGBTQ folks are comfortable (1) approaching your age-friendly organization for services or to volunteer, and (2) engaging with your lifelong community work. James Moorhead, Aging Services Manager for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services will lead the training and facilitate a conversation about LGBT aging.

Lifting the Voices of BIPoC Older Adults
This webinar focuses on strategies for including and lifting up the voices of older adults who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPoC).  We explore how understanding needs and lived experiences can help us make meaningful change in the accessibility and inclusiveness of communities, services, and programs.

Lifting the Voices of LGBT Older Adults
Part One of a two-part Equity Series, this panel discussion explores strategies for including and lifting up the voices of LGBTQ+ older adults.  In this webinar we discuss how understanding needs and lived experiences can help us make meaningful change in the accessibility and inclusiveness of communities, services, and programs.

Older Veterans: Connecting through Food and Community (CHEF)
How are we intentionally engaging with older veterans in meaningful ways to help them feel valued and welcomed? In this webinar explore how organizations work to welcome and support older veterans through food and social connection activities. What tactics are we successfully utilizing to combat social isolation and build community amongst our veterans? Let’s discover replicable ways and share best practices as we highlight the great work being done in this region.

Serving Everyone: Building Diversity, Equity & Inclusion into Aging Services
From volunteer community groups, to formal aging services and healthcare providers, we all want to make sure everyone who needs help can get it.  However, sometimes the systems we build unintentionally exclude the very people we want to help.  Join us for the start of a conversation about strategies we can use to make sure our aging services systems are inclusive and equitable.

CHEF: Supporting Older BIPOC Adults & Elders
Discover how food-based programs can be a powerful tool for promoting equity and well-being among older BIPoC adults and elders. Learn about successful programs that foster social connection, improve health outcomes, and enhance food security. Gain insights, share experiences, and explore opportunities to implement effective food-based programs in your community.

Supporting Older LGBTQ Adults Webinar
Many older LGBTQ adults face unique barriers as they age. In addition to the same aging challenges we all experience, fear of bias and actual bias and discrimination can make it difficult for older LGBTQ adults to access the supports and services they need to remain healthy and active in their communities.

Supporting Older LGBTQ Adults In Our Communities (CHEF)
As a community, LGBTQ+ older adults experience high rates of poverty and hunger, and are at an increased risk of social isolation. These challenges are directly associated with decades of discrimination and marginalization and the negative impact is further exacerbated for those LGBTQ+ older adults who are also members of the BIPOC community. In this webinar we highlight programs in the Northern New England Region and NY who are focused on addressing these harms by increasing access to social connection and food security to the LGBTQ+ older adult community.