NJAAW’s 23^rd Annual Conference

In addition, she noted, “Coming out of COVID, as we rebuild and rebound, we need to keep the lessons we learned and use them for long-term planning to shape policy and make improvements. No problem that any of us were working on before COVID was solved — most were accentuated. Many new, or rather, unrecognized challenges, were brought to the forefront. And we saw some very creative solutions.” Read the rest of Dr. Rowe’s speech here.

Conference attendees can now access session recordings using the login information they received to attend the virtual event. If you didn’t receive a recent reminder of your login information, email us at [email protected].

Also, if you haven’t yet responded to our post-conference survey, please take a few minutes to provide your feedback by clicking here.

Missed the conference? You can still register to obtain access to recordings of the presentations by emailing us at [email protected]. Please put conference registration in the subject line.

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“Juneteenth (short for ‘June Nineteenth’) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.” (Source: history.com)

In September 2020, NJ passed legislation to make Juneteenth a state holiday, to be celebrated annually on the third Friday in June — this year, on June 18.

If you were not familiar with Juneteenth, you are not alone. Until recently, Juneteenth and its implications were not taught in history classes. The events of the past year that led us to examine the history of race in our country helped highlight this important date and expand its recognition.

NJAAW salutes and embraces our older LGBTQ+ New Jerseyans in celebrating Pride Month. We have come a long way in recognizing the rights, needs and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.

Many of us remember when discrimination against gay and trans people was allowed and ignored.

While we recognize there is still much work to be done, we applaud those who have fought for equality, recognition and support of LGBTQ+ issues and who have made NJ a better, more inclusive place to live. Please watch our Aging Insights Encore presentation, Episode 117, “Living Out and Older.”

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Please join us for our first “Coffee & Conversation” on June 23, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Topic: Older adults and recreation.

Log on with NJAAW and your colleagues for an opportunity to network, ask questions and share ideas as we talk about motivating older adults to engage in recreational and other activities as they emerge from COVID. Grab your coffee and join us — be ready to share concerns about your programs and suggestions for others. Advanced registration is required for this gathering. Register here.

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On June 23, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET, Kansas City Communities for All Ages and the First Suburbs Coalition will present a virtual workshop exploring accessible home design and how it supports successful aging-in-place. It will also cover the roles different sectors of the housing industry play to promote accessible home design and livability. Advanced registration by June 22 is required. For more information and to register, click here.