College Park Seniors Committee

College Park Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) Virtual Meeting February 5, 2025 7:00 p.m. Draft Minutes Seniors Committee Members: PRESENT ABSENT 1. Kathy Baer X 2. Woei-Nan Bair X 3. Betty Colonomos X 4. Adele Ellis X 5. Carol Gray X 6. Mary Anne Hakes X 7. Gail Lovelace X 8. Bonnie McClellan X 9. Darlene Nowlin X 10. Robert Thurston X 11. Heidi Weber X Also present : Tania Mitchell, UMD Center for Community Engagement; Janeen Miller, Age- Friendly College Park Program Lead; Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services; Ruth Murphy, Resident; Joi Woods, Contract Secretary I. Call to Order Mary Anne Hakes called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. Tania D. Mitchell, UMD Center for Community Engagement A. Tania Mitchell provided an overview of the current initiatives from the UMD Center for Community Engagement. 1. Organize events and opportunities to make connections of community partnership 2. Facilitate Faculty Engagement efforts supporting staff and students engaged in community-based initiatives and research 3. Data collection and storytelling that creates community awareness around collaborations with community partners to address community concerns 4. Oversee the Do Good Campus initiative, maximizing existing campus- wide volunteer opportunities B. Focused efforts offered by the Center for Community Engagement to 1  engage Senior community members with the university 1. Golden Identification Card Program (Golden ID) 2. Science on Tap 3. University Libraries Community Borrowers Programming 4. Volunteer Opportunities through CCE and Services 24/7 5. Good Neighbor Day 6. Colington Artist in Residence Program 7. UMD Retired Faculty Association 8. Center on Aging 9. Gerontology Post Baccalaureate Certification 10. Aging, Diversity and Professional Development Program (ADAPT) 11. Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy C. Age-Friendly University 1. An Age-friendly University work group has been established to broaden the understanding of the Age-Friendly University concept. a. The group includes UMD faculty members from the College of Information, School of Public Health, and Senior Administrators. Mrs. Mitchell shared plans to include graduate students in programming efforts. b. Current efforts include exploring the Age-Friendly Global Network’s principles and programs to identify participation requirements, associated costs, and reporting expectations. Mrs. Mitchell will share findings and recommendations from the work group with the Senior Advisory Committee Age-Friendly work group. 2. Committee members and Mrs. Mitchell discussed potential partnership opportunities a. PG County Senior Advisory Group to share information about support efforts and available resources b. Clarice PAC and local storytellers to share information about the Do Good Campus. c. Exploring the Retired Faculty Association d. Developing opportunities for senior residents to partner with the university’s Athletic Department. III. Approval of the Agenda 2  Robert Thurston motioned to approve the February 5, 2025 agenda as written. Betty Colonomos seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. IV. Approval of December 4, 2024 Minutes Betty Colonomos motioned to approve the December 4, 2024 minutes as written. Bonnie McClellan seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. V. City Updates-Youth, Family and Seniors Services (YSSF) A. The committee discussed the number of residents who used transportation services provided by YSSF during early voting. 1. 11 residents from Spellman House, 15 residents from Attick Towers, and 7 residents from private homes. a. Committee members discussed opportunities to broaden awareness about the service for future elections. Transportation services will be provided where possible based on driver availability. The Committee also discussed tracking data about the number of residents served and the potential impact on voter turnout. B. City Budget updates 1. Mrs. Barber has proposed funding for a Senior Event sponsored by the city and a funding increase for Seniors and Age-Friendly Activities from $4,000 to $10,000. 2. A request to secure additional funding for overtime pay for drivers who are available to support program outings and transportation needs on evenings and weekends. 3. Mrs. Barber also noted that the Communications Department is considering funding to advertise senior efforts and activities in city publications. 4. The committee discussed proposed funding for Habitat for Humanity. Mrs. Barber will follow up with additional information during the March meeting. C. City Website 1. Committee members will explore the city website and provide feedback to the Communications Department. VI. Neighbors Helping Neighbors College Park (NHN-CP) A. Mr. Thurston acknowledged the efforts of Ms. Perez for her support of senior residents during the recent winter snow storms. Mrs. McClellan acknowledged the city for supporting the efforts of NHN-CP through budget funding. VII. Age Friendly College Park (AFCP) Update A. Ms. Miller met with city staff members to discuss the AFCP mission. Ms. Miller will be meeting with the Age-Friendly Lead from Hyattsville in March. 3  B. Ms. Miller presented information about the priorities and progress of the AFCP initiative during the February City Council Meeting. C. Mr. Thurston acknowledged the efforts of Mrs. Barber and Ms. Miller to advance the Age Friendly agenda. D. Age-friendly content for the Spring Resident Guide has been submitted. Committee members discussed highlighting volunteer opportunities available to residents in Did You Know Communications. E. Age-Friendly partnership updates with the University of Maryland (UMD) 1. University of Maryland School of Architecture Capstone. Project: School of Architecture students are developing a project centered around 15-minute communities designed so that residents can reach local amenities within 15 minutes by walking biking or driving. Age- Friendly workgroup members will participate in an upcoming project to engage with students through classroom participation on February 26th. 2. Mrs. McClellan noted plans to follow up with faculty members who previously contacted the committee to participate in talks with students. 3. Committee members discussed voter participation, age demographics, and voter participation across College Park including students, and candidate restriction to campaign on campus. VIII. Announcements & Other Discussion A. Annual Report 1. Mrs. Hakes invited committee members to review the report. B. Legislation 1. The committee discussed the Maryland Department on Aging Legislation Priorities applicable to senior residents. The committee also discussed requesting a letter from the Mayor and City Council to state legislators to express support for bills that are beneficial to senior residents. a. Supporting Older Adults with Resources (SOAR), will consolidate three state-funded MDOA programs that support older adults where they live and expand the number of people served across the state. b. Social Connection Senior Call Check bill, proposes to expand phone call, virtual and text efforts for senior residents. The revised, expanded programming will also include residents with sight and hearing impairments and residents with limited English proficiency.  Carol Gray will monitor the legislation and report back to the committee during the March meeting  Committee members will revisit sending a letter to the Mayor and City Council to support the bills during the next meeting. 4  C. Past & Upcoming Events 1. Fraud and Scam Prevention January 10, 2025, Branchville Firehouse a. Mrs. Hakes acknowledged Heidi Weber’s success in providing an adaptable presentation for senior residents that offered new insight into fraud prevention. Attendance was impacted by the weather. 2. University Women’s Club, Heritage Project Presentation, Lakeland Community a. Mrs. Hakes acknowledged Courtnie Thurston’s dynamic presentation and encouraged committee members to view the recording. 3. SAC is partnering with Senior Services to sponsor a Hyattsville Library Tour, March 28, 2025. 4. Opportunities with Do Good Institute a. UMD is hosting an upcoming event that will focus on funding and leadership training for students and professors. The event will also include student presentations, highlighting community service. Funding will be awarded to contest winners. Some committee members are scheduled to participate. 5. Corridor Conversations, Black History Month College Park Aviation Museum, February 22, 2025 Featuring a talk on the first African-American airport in PG County which was also the first African-American Civic Air Control. 6. Game Day, Game Kastle February 27, 2025 sponsored by Explorations on Aging Committee members and residents will gather for a game day. 7. Senior Art Show, sponsored by College Park Arts Exchange and Explorations on Aging on March 28, 2025, College Park Aviation Museum Admin Building The event will feature Senior Artists and Sculptures IX. Next Meeting and Adjournment A. The next virtual meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2025. Staff members from The Do Good Institute have been invited to attend. B. Adjournment Betty Colonomos motioned to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. 5