The year 2022 has been an exciting one for Age-Friendly North Jersey! Our alliance networked and learned together through:

• 9 blog posts that highlight local work
• 9 enewsletters for age-friendly leaders
• 9 virtual gatherings and 1 in-person event to learn and share together
• Co-hosting the inaugural New Jersey Age-Friendly Virtual Fair
• Maintaining a listserv representing 21 communities and many statewide organizations
• Member communities hosting myriad programs, advocacy efforts, trainings, and presentations

We are proud to share a selection of the many accomplishments of AFNJ leaders this year:

Community recognition

• Ridgewood, Garfield, and Montclair received the Healthy Towns designation from the Mayors Wellness Campaign. Learn more.
• Bergen County and Livingston joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Of the 20 in NJ designated by AARP, 17 are now from our alliance. Learn more.

Age-friendly programming

• The engAGEd Social Engagement Innovations Hub of the National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults recognized two programs from Westwood for All Ages. Learn more.
• Age-Friendly Communities hosted many programs to celebrate Older Americans Month in May. Learn more.

Leadership recognition

• Elizabeth Davis from Age-Friendly Teaneck received the Carl F. West Award for Everyday Excellence at the New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well conference.
• Professor Emily Greenfield from Rutgers School of Social Work, Janet Sharma from Age-Friendly Englewood, and Cheryl Ricci-Francione from the Alzheimer's Association were appointed to New Jersey's Age-Friendly State Advisory Council. Learn more.
• Multiple members from Age-Friendly North Jersey regularly contribute to the New Jersey Age-Friendly Statewide Collaborative, which includes a Steering Committee, Policy Group, and Local Accelerator Group.

Research advancement

• Rutgers School of Social Work launched its Hub for Aging Collaboration to serve as a nexus for research, training, and engagement to improve social contexts for healthy and equitable aging. Learn more.
• Researchers at the Rutgers School of Social Work published 4 journal articles based on their research with Age-Friendly North Jersey communities. Learn more.

Blog

• The Age-Friendly North Jersey blog highlights community and partner accomplishments that help make New Jersey a better place for aging-in-community. See all blog posts here.

Other notable accomplishments

• Age-Friendly North Jersey and New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well co-hosted the inaugural New Jersey Age-Friendly Virtual Fair. Presenters included Age-Friendly Englewood, Age-Friendly Ridgewood, Age-Friendly Teaneck, Aging Well West Orange, Bergen County Division of Senior Services, Borough of Glen Rock, Fair Lawn for All Ages, Generations for Garfield, Livingston for All Ages, and SOMA: Two Towns for All Ages. Click here for the full list of presentations, and click here for session recordings.
• The Bright Side Family, which leads the Age-Friendly Teaneck initiative, celebrated the groundbreaking for a new 40-unit affordable senior apartment building. Learn more.

We meet to learn, share, and connect with each other. In 2022, our learning sessions included panels of peer experts, research presentations, and networking hours.

• January: New Years Celebration
• February: From Assessment to Planning to Impact. Watch here.
• March: Reflections on Reframing Aging. Watch here.
• April: New Leaders Networking Session.
• May: Building Leadership Structures. Watch here.
• June: Engaging Historically Marginalized Older Adults in Age-Friendly Communities. Watch here.
• August: In-person Networking Session in Garfield.
• September: New Jersey Age-Friendly Virtual Fair. Watch here.
• October: Networking Session.
• November: Age-Friendly Advocacy in Local Government. Watch here.

Let's connect! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or send us an email.

Age-Friendly North Jersey is led by a coordinating team from The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, The Grotta Fund at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey, and the Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration