College Park Seniors Committee

College Park Seniors Committee Virtual Meeting February 7, 2023 7:00 p.m. Final Minutes Seniors Committee Members: PRESENT ABSENT 1. Woei-Nan Bair X Arrived at 7:15 pm 2. Adele Ellis X Arrived at 7:30pm 3. Carol Gray X 4. Mary Anne Hakes X 5. Kathy Baer X 6. Betty Colonomos X 7. Gail Lovelace X 8. Bonnie McClellan X 9. Darlene Nowlin X 10. Arelis Perez X 11. Robert Thurston X Guests : Jennifer L. Crawley, Maryland Department of Aging; Chelsea Wheeler, Maryland Department of Aging; Carolyn Bernache, Mary Cook Also present : Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth and Family Services; Joi Woods, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:02 p.m. I. Guest Speaker Jennifer L. Crawley, Maryland Department of Aging A. Arelis Perez introduced the Guest Speaker to the committee B. Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) Initiative Governor Moore has signed an Executive Order establishing the Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative. 1) The initiative is designed to prepare for a rapidly aging population within PG County with a focus on: a. Health b. Financial Security c. Socially Connected d. Purpose 2) Policymakers and community members to work together to acknowledge the value of older citizens 1  3) State agencies working directly with the Department of Aging to establish a 10-year work plan for a sustainable structure that supports residents across the lifespan 4) Primary tenets include equity, inclusion, transparency, and accountability a. The Maryland Department of Aging is partnering with the Maryland Department of Planning to establish sector focused workgroups C. Committee Q&A and Discussion Committee members, attendees, and guest speakers engaged in discussion 1) Similarities and alignment among Longevity Ready Maryland and the Age Friendly College Park domains 2) Limited access to medical testing services in PG County 3) Jennifer Crawley invited committee members to offer feedback about legislative priorities for the Maryland Department of Aging to explore 4) Committee members are encouraged to sign up for the Maryland Department of Aging listserve to stay abreast II. Call to Order Mary Anne Hakes called the meeting to order at 8:07 p.m. III. Approval of Agenda for February 7, 2024 Adele Ellis motioned to approve the agenda for February 7, 2024 as written . Arelis Perez seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. IV. New Member welcome & introduction The committee welcomed a new member, Betty Colonomos V. Approval of December 6, 2023 Minutes Bonnie McClellan motioned to postpone the approval of the December 6, 2023 minutes. Adele Ellis seconded the motion. All were in favor, no ne opposed. The motion passed. VI. Age Friendly College Park Update A. Visibility and Promotion 1) The Age Friendly College Park plan has been distributed to community stakeholders to promote the efforts of the initiative 2) The Age Friendly College Park workgroup has submitted articles about the initiative in the Senior Newsletter the Municipal Scene and Resident Guide 3) An inquiry to publish information on the city’s website is pending 4) Community Health and Emergency Planning & Preparedness 5) Available transportation resources and scheduling options a. The co-chairs met with the city’s Bike and Pedestrian Committee who expressed interest in working with the committee to develop a city bike map B. The Workgroup has submitted an appeal to recruit a Program Lead in FY 2025 to 2  support the work of the initiative C. Eden Binder, a reporter from the Diamondback newspaper will contact the Co- chairs to learn more about the Age Friendly College Park initiative. D. The next meeting is Monday, February 23, 2024 at 1 pm VII. Senior Committee Website Enhancement- I-Connectivity student capstone project A. Explorations on Aging is sponsoring a capstone project initiated by Andrew Fellows and the School of Public Information. The project will explore developing a website arm that would operate alongside the city website with a focus on seniors. 1) David Segal has offered support to work with students B. The committee co-chairs are awaiting more information about project parameters with the hope of including goals aligned with Age Friendly College Park domains including: VIII. Wise Cities LLC A. Wise Cities LLC in partnership with the UMD College of Information Studies is designing a platform connected to age-friendly services supports. 1) The Committee Co-chairs will give a brief presentation during an UMD intergenerational course through the College of Information Studies to share insight into being a Senior Resident in College Park. The Co-chairs are seeking to engage the students to partner in targeted projects that align with the goals of the committee and the Age Friendly College Park initiative. 2) Students will contact committee members to participate in interviews on February 26, 2024 and March 4, 2024. Participants will have the option to conduct the interviews through Zoom or by phone. New Business IX. City Updates- Youth, Family and Seniors Services ( YSF) A. The Council will consider creating a Lead position for Age Friendly College Park recommended by the committee at the budget hearing on March 23, 2023. B. A survey is being drafted to gauge the interest of adult residents for a Senior & Social Sports League. The survey will be discussed at the next Age Friendly College Park. C. Emergency Preparedness Update Kiaisha Barber shared that the final report has been shared with Public Works, Public Safety, the Communications Department and other city departments for review. A draft infographic was shared with the committee for internal review. D. The Mayor and City Council have tasked city staff to identify opportunities for sports leagues for adults 18 & over in varying age categories. $30, 000 has been earmarked toward the opportunities. XIV. Additional Discussion A. Corridor Conversations February 24, 2024- The Long Civil Rights Movement in Prince 3  George’s County B. Communications The committee discussed opportunities to create committee visibility through the city communications “Did You Know?”, Resident Guide Senior Focus submission Mary Anne Hakes will forward copies of the submission for committee review. Future submissions will be shared with committee members for review and comment. XIII. Meeting Schedule and Guest Speaker s A. The next meeting is scheduled March 6, 2024. B. Future Guest Speakers 1) Gloria Aparicio Blackwell - University of Maryland Director of Community Engagement - March 2024 2) Andy Fellows, University of Maryland College of Information Studies- April 2024 3) Marie Brodsky, Wise Cities LLC- April 2024 XI. Adjournment Arelis Perez motioned to adjourn the meeting . Gail Lovelace seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m. 4