The Village Chicago presents these awards to recognize the outstanding work of individuals and organizations that are re-framing how we think and talk about the decades of life after age 50 – a period that can be vital, engaged, productive and healthy, in contrast to the stereotypes of aging. The awards will be presented on September 22, 2020 at The Village’s virtual benefit: Zooming Ahead—No Stopping Us Now!

In a single century, we have gone from one of the most age-integrated nations on Earth to one with widespread institutional, spatial, and cultural age segregation and where, for some, only family survives as an age-integrated institution.

Right now, people of all ages face a future with unknown outcomes. It is vital to leverage the potential of a fully age-integrated, inclusive society where everyone's strengths are appreciated, respected, and utilized to create intergenerational cohesion, a sense of continuity, and hope for the future. The work of these Trailblazers demonstrates that we can do it.

Village Board Chair Karen Terry says, “It is heartening to see the impact these Trailblazers have made by their extraordinary contributions to the well-being of older adults and to inclusion. They inspire, inform and support everything the Village represents.”

This year’s recipients are physician and author Louise Aronson, community leader Ruth Ann Watkins, and Next Avenue, public media’s national journalism service focused on older adults.

Louise Aronson, MD, MFA, is a leading geriatrician, writer, medical humanist, and professor of medicine at UCSF. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Aronson is the author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist book, Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life.

In her book, Dr. Aronson argues for a well-defined, nuanced focus on elderhood, just as we have for childhood and adulthood. She urges that we recognize elderhood as a significant life stage that is often longer than childhood and that we see the decades of elderhood as a very important, opportunity-filled time, both on an individual and on a societal level. Respecting and treating elderhood equally to childhood and adulthood will help improve quality of life and health outcomes and create an elderhood that we are eager to embrace.

While Dr. Aronson has received many awards for her work as a teacher and physician including the Gold Professorship in Humanism in Medicine and California Homecare Physician of the Year, we are thrilled to present her with the Trailblazer award for an outstanding author.

Ruth Ann Watkins is Board Chair of the RRF Foundation for Aging, one of the most important organizations in the United States dedicated to improving the lives of older adults. She has worked tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of others through her work at the RRF where for over 20 years, she has been a part of the team that has funded hundreds of organizations thereby helping tens of thousands of individuals.

Armed with a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago, she previously had a long and distinguished career at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). She is a lifelong advocate for vibrant, age-integrated communities and the well-being of older adults. Her advocacy includes writing, teaching, and service to many organizations.

Ruth Ann Watkins is a founding member of The Village Chicago where over the past 12 years her wisdom and leadership have helped the organization thrive. She is a board member, a past President of the board, and chairs the Village’s Health and Wellness and Brain Health/Memory Loss Committees - two most important and ambitious initiatives. It is with deep pleasure and gratitude that we present the Trailblazer Award for an outstanding individual to Ruth Ann Watkins.

Next Avenue is PBS’s highly successful Internet journalism service for America’s booming older population. Every issue is rich with vital news, ideas, and perspectives on issues that matter most as we age.

Their editorial footprint covers all aspects of life. Among last year's best-read articles were "Laid Off at 60 – What to Do Next," "The Joys of Minimalist Living in Retirement," "How to Find the Right Words for Someone in Hospice," and "What Spouses Should Know About Pension Benefits."

In addition to being completely relevant and useful to its readers, Next Avenue has led the way in transforming the public’s views about aging through their annual recognition of 50 "Influencers in Aging." They highlight the work of important advocates, researchers, thought leaders, and writers - people like Marc Freedman, Ashton Applewhite and Louise Aronson. These are the people who continue to push beyond traditional boundaries and are changing the understanding of what it means to grow older. It is an honor to present The Trailblazer Award for an organization to Next Avenue. The award will be accepted by Next Avenue’s Managing Editor Richard Eisenberg.

In last month's Navigator we reported on why the benefits of technology have not been available to everyone - particularly the low income elderly. Now that so many schools have resorted to remote learning, and the impact of the digital divide is being felt by children and families, the issue of the digital divide is attracting more attention.

Experts report that there is a new sense of urgency around closing the digital divide and that advocates are receiving more phone calls than ever from policymakers. Christopher Mitchell, director for Community Broadband Networks at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is cautiously optimistic that at least the perception of the problem has changed. "I hope to never again have a discussion about whether the goal is to have access in the home for everyone," he says. "As recently as last year, we had elected officials say it’s perfectly fine for kids to go to McDonald’s to do their homework. I think that part of the argument is done."

Digital access is crucial for people of all ages – let us hope it can be achieved sooner rather than later.

Members & guests–free

You may also win an exciting raffle prize, even if you are not present at the virtual benefit. But don't miss out--raffle tickets MUST be purchased before the night of the benefit (click here).

To register for the FREE benefit, to purchase raffle tickets, or to make a donation, please click here, email [email protected], or call 773.248.8700.