Blogs

As a Senior Program Manager at t he National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), @Mara Ivanka Galic looks to improve the health of our communities through the prevention of chronic disease and building infrastructure to further promote healthy outcomes for Americans. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), a national non-profit organization, envisions a world where all people reach their full health potential, free from the burden of ...

@Coleen Samuels serves as the Executive Director at the Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC) in Denver, Colorado where she works to promote accessible transportation to ensure people can access their community and meet their social connection needs. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? Historically, Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC) has primarily served older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, individuals with low income and additional varied populations. We understand that many of these ...

@Arlene de Silva took her passion serving in home and community-based care and founded the Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition, where she serves as CEO. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? In 2009, as a 30-year senior executive in home and community-based care, I founded Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition (CMWC). Prior to founding CMWC, I served as Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer of the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Ohio . Initially, we brought together ...

@Joncia Johnson is looking to make a difference in her community through her work as the Aging Initiatives Director at Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS). Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? Oklahoma Human Services ’ (OKDHS) mission is to p romote the safety, independence , and wellbeing of Oklahomans . Our agency vision, mission , and core values propel us to prioritize the people we serve, value our dedicated workforce who deliver services every day, create impactful programs, forge strategic ...

@Michelle Castile is passionate about addressing social connection in Wisconsin and serves on the Policy Champions Committee with the Wisconsin Coalition for Social Connection . Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? The Wisconsin Coalition for Social Connection Network works to promote social connectedness and address issues related to social isolation. As a Policy Champions Committee Member, my focus involves advocating for policies that enhance social support systems, aiming to reduce isolation and ...

Meet a Commit to Connect Champion: Erica Carroll @Erica Carroll serves as Founder and CEO of StudentsCare , a n organization based out of Philadelphia, PA , that promotes social connection by partnering college students with isolated older adults and hospitalized children . StudentsCare places a strong emphasis on tracking data. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? StudentsCare connects college students nationwide with hospitalized children, isolated older adults, and ...

@Amy Ballinger serves as the Community Engagement Manager at Independence, Inc . , to support the social connection needs of people with disabilities in Lawrence, KS . Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? Independence, Inc. , is a Center for Independent Living (CIL) that serves people with disabilities through five core services (Advocacy, Transition, Information and Referral, Peer Support , and Independent Living Skills Training ) , as well as many other services like Accessible Transportation, ...

Meet a Commit to Connect Champion: Shana Brier ley @Shana Brierley serves as a Nutrition Consultant with the Elderly Nutrition Program at the Connecticut State Unit on Aging ensuring older adults in Connecticut have access to well-balanced meals and social engagement. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? The Connecticut State Unit on Aging , part of the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services, ensures that Connecticut's older adults have access to ...

Meet a Commit to Connect Champion: Lori Murphy @Lori Murphy serves as a Senior Social Worker at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) where she is involved with the VA Compassionate Care Corps. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? The mission of the VA is "To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." Please tell us about the goals of the program you are involved with and how you support social engagement? ...

Meet a Commit to Connect Champion: Jan Amys In this interview, learn more about @Jan Amys and the work of the Northland Foundation , where Jan serves as a Senior Program Officer . Jan participated in Commit to Connect’s Intergenerational Engagement Community of Practice in 2022 and continues to engage through the Nationwide Network of Champions platform. Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is the mission of the organization? What population (s) does your organization serve? The Northland Foundation is a ...

Meet a Commit to Connect Champion: Rebecca Levine In this short interview, learn more about @Rebecca Levine and the work of her organization, USAging . Tell us a little about the work that your organization does. What is the mission of the organization? What population does your organization serve? USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. ...

Meet a Commit to Connect Champion: Beryl Katz In this short interview, learn more about @Beryl Katz and the work of her organization, Senior Adults for Greater Education . Tell us a little about the work that your organization does. What is the mission of the organization? What population does your organization serve? The mission of Senior Adults for Greater Education (S.A.G.E) is to connect senior volunteers with K-12 schools to support teachers, enrich education and support intergenerational relationships. S.A.G.E. matches community members, age 55 and better, with fulfilling volunteer opportunities within their local school district. ...