Context
The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution proposed by The City of New York (NYC) to establish a national Age-Inclusive workgroup and vision. NYC Aging partnered with 1digit to design and lead the implementation of the resolution.
Consulting Engagement
Within two weeks of the project kick off, an invitation list was compiled based on national demographic and research data. Twenty cities across the country were convened ranging from Los Angeles, California to Des Moines, Iowa to Miami, Florida. Member representatives were executives in mayors’ offices, area aging associations, and city agencies, all linked by a high population of older adult residents (~20%). 1digit established a four meeting schedule, designed agendas, facilitated conversations, cultivated consensus and provided one-on-one support to workgroup members tasked with identifying age-inclusive best practices and operational insights from their respective cities. In four months, the workgroup produced an Age-Inclusive definition, logo, priorities, and operational guidance, all contained within a visually dynamic guidebook, Age-Inclusive American Cities, available digitally and in hard copy. The effective and supportive network of aging professionals that was nurtured through the workgroup meetings was an unexpected byproduct of the engagement. Today, NYC Aging continues to convene the member cities as a national aging “think tank” and advocacy coalition. The Age-Inclusive American Cities Guidebook is nationally distributed and will be featured in a workshop at NYC Aging’s national conference: BOOM! A Silver Dawning in American Cities.
