AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE AND RURAL COMMUNITIES: 2023 GRANT PROGRAM

The AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year:

1.       Flagship Grants

This is AARP’s flagship Community Challenge grant program where grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. These grants will support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; diversity, equity and inclusion; digital connections; community resilience; civic engagement; and community health and economic empowerment.

2.       NEW in 2023! Capacity-Building Microgrants

This opportunity combines $2,500 grants with additional resources, such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to two hours of one-on-one coaching from America Walks or 880 Cities, and AARP publications. These new grants will accept applications for projects that support Walkability and Community Gardens.

3.       NEW in 2023! Demonstration Grants

Supporting demonstration efforts that encourage replication of promising local efforts, this new grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that build capacity towards transportation systems change and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design competitions.

A video that explains the grant program and sample social media posts can be found by clinking on this LINK

Please visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge for more information and to see some of the winners in action – helping to revitalize alleyways, create vibrant public spaces, design safer crosswalks and much more.

"A Sweeping Plan to Reinvent Kauai's Oldest Hospital Is 'Getting Close to the Vision'" : Honolulu Civil Beat News

Brittany Lyte/Civil Beat/2023

“Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (SMMH), Kauai’s oldest operating hospital, is on the verge of its third reinvention. By spring, hospital officials aim to finalize a far-reaching plan to close some of the many gaps in the island’s health care system, especially for kupuna and people with mental illness.”

Please click on the link below for the full article:

HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT: A Sweeping Plan To Reinvent Kauai’s Oldest Hospital Is ‘Getting Close To The Vision’

Project Visions Hygiene Center Visit

Visited Project Vision’s hygiene center at All Saints Chuch last week. Mahalo to Allen Huber, Darnell Sugioka for providing showers, food, and clothing for our houseless community once a week at this site. Thanks to All Saints members Ron Morinishi and Wayne Doliente for serving food; and Linda and David Crocker for distributing laundry supplies. Mobile hygiene unit was super clean and users were thankful. Wound care is usually provided…All under the shade of All Saint’s kamani tree, providing peace and calm to all.

240,000 adults on Medicaid will now have preventive dental care in Hawaii.  Mahalo to Representative Sylvia Luke, Representative Yamane, Senator San Buena Ventura, and Senator Donavan Dela Cruz for helping to get this funding passed this session!