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Stay Informed, Learn About Livability — For Free!

Created for community "influencers" — elected officials, planners, municipal staff, placemaking pros, local leaders, policymakers, citizen activists and residents — the weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities Newsletter features livability news, best practices, how-to’s, interviews and more about age-friendly efforts from places near and far. The newsletter, which is delivered to subscribers by email on Wednesdays, is how we announce the release of our newest free publications and the application period for the annual AARP Community Challenge grant program. Links to past issues (titled according to each edition's featured article) appear below.

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NOTE: You will receive a verification email titled "Action Required" from AARP asking that you confirm your subscription. Please click the confirmation button in order to complete your subscription request. (You can unsubscribe at any time.) If you have questions, please contact us at Livable@AARP.org. Thank you!

The AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter made its debut in November 2013.
Links to issues from 2020 to present can be found below.

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Email AARP Livable Communities: Livable@AARP.org

Ask about the AARP Livability Index by completing this online form

Attention AARP Members: If you have questions about your benefits, AARP The Magazine or the AARP Bulletin, please visit the AARP Contact Us page or call toll-free 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277)

2024

  • Looking for Inspiring Livability Projects? Check the Map (Mar. 13)
  • AARP Community Challenge Applications Are Due Today! (Mar. 6)
  • The AARP Community Challenge Deadline is 1 Week from Today! (Feb. 28)
  • Grant Funding and the (Free!) AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit (Feb. 21)
  • Grants for Disaster Resilience and Digital Connections (Feb. 14)
  • AARP Community Challenge Project Videos  (Feb. 7)
  • Join Today's AARP Community Challenge Q&A Webinar (Jan. 31)
  • Grants for Disaster Resilience and Digital Connections (Jan. 24)
  • Register for the 2024 AARP Community Challenge Q&A Webinar (Jan. 17)
  • The 2024 AARP Community Challenge Is On! (Jan. 10)

2023

  • New Livable Lessons Video Series: Winter Placemaking (Nov. 15)
  • Check the Livability Score of Where You Live — or Want to Live (Nov. 1) 
  • AARP Economic Development Workshop Videos Are Now Online (Oct. 18)
  • Free New Publication: AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit (Oct. 11)
  • AARP Livable Communities Economic Development Workshop (Sep. 27)
  • Turning Transit Stops Into Community Spaces (Sep. 20)
  • 2 Weeks Until the AARP Livable Communities Workshop (Sep. 13)
  • Closing the Digital Divide for Older Adults (Aug. 23) 
  • ADUs, Tiny Houses, Downsizing and More (Aug. 16)
  • How the HOME Act Is Opening the Door to More Housing (Aug. 9
  • The Impact of Disasters on Older Adults (Aug. 2)
  • Register Today: (Free!) AARP Economic Development Workshop (Jul. 26)
  • Reader Ideas for Age-Friendly Homes and Communities (Jul. 19)
  • Only About 10 Percent of U.S. Homes Are 'Aging-Ready' (Jul. 12)
  • Announcing the 2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantees! (Jun. 28)
  • Decoding and Improving Zoning Codes (Jun. 14)
  • Coming Soon: A Free Walkability Webinar (Jun. 7)
  • Fare-Free and Low-Cost “Age-Friendly” Transportation Options (May 24)
  • Parks for People and Pups of All Ages (May 17)
  • Local Solutions and Community Resilience (May 10)
  • Repairing and Distributing Free Wheelchairs, Walkers and More (May 3)
  • Lessons from the AARP Rural Lab (Apr. 19)
  • 2 Downloadable Handouts from AARP Livable Communities (Apr. 12)
  • A Reader Sent Us a Housing Idea. (You Can, Too!) (Apr. 5)
  • 2 Free Guides (and a Video) About Missing Middle Housing (Mar. 29)
  • The AARP Community Challenge Deadline is Today! (Mar. 15)
  • The AARP Community Challenge Deadline is Next Week! (Mar. 8)
  • Helping People and Places Become More Resilient (Mar. 1)
  • Pursuing Solutions for Communities Ravaged by Roadways (Feb. 22)
  • AARP Community Challenge Webinar — and Community Gardens guide (Feb. 8)
  • Older Residents Recall Life "Before the Highway" (Feb. 1)
  • New, Free Community Gardening Guide (Jan. 25)
  • The 2023 AARP Community Challenge Is On! (Jan. 18)

2022

  • 700+ Age-Friendly Communities — and Counting! (Dec. 14)
  • See Photos of Walkability Solutions (Dec. 7)
  • ADU Homes for the Holidays (Nov. 30)
  • Age-Friendly Network Training Videos (Nov. 16)
  • Get the Free AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit (Nov. 2)
  • Trick or Treat, Walk Audit Your Street! (Oct. 26)
  • 4 Free, Photo-Filled Publications About Housing Solutions (Oct. 19)
  • Watch (or Rewatch) Our Housing Workshop (Oct. 12)
  • Creating 'Age-Friendly' Businesses (Oct. 5)
  • It's Workshop Day! Plus: Get Our Free Publication About Missing Middle Housing (Sep. 21)
  • One week until the free, online AARP Livable Housing Workshop (Sep. 14)
  • Register for the free, online AARP Livable Housing Workshop (Sep. 7)
  • Register for the free, online AARP Livable Housing Workshop (Aug. 17)
  • Resources for Broadening Broadband (Aug. 10)
  • Free Publications About Parks and Public Spaces (Aug. 3)
  • Join Us Online In September (Jul. 27)
  • Register for the AARP Livable Communities Housing Workshop (Jul. 20)
  • Free! AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit (Jul. 13)
  • Announcing the 2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantees! (Jun. 29)
  • Free Walk Audit Tool Kits in English and Spanish (Jun. 16)
  • Free Aging-Positive Photos (Jun. 8)
  • Age-Friendly Profiles of Louisville, Kentucky, and Salem, Massachusetts (Jun. 1)
  • Making Connections and Finding Places to 'Go' (May 18)
  • Register for a Webinar with AARP, the FCC and NLC (May 11)
  • Using Cookies (Actual Cookies) to Raise Awareness About ADUs (May 4)
  • New, Free Fact Sheets About High-Speed Internet Equity (Apr. 27)
  • Check Out the Updated AARP Livability Index (Apr. 20)
  • Equipping, Training and Connecting Older Adults for Getting Online (Apr.6)
  • Spring Has Sprung — As Has Our "Winter Weather" Walkability Worksheet (Mar. 23)
  • Apply to the AARP Community Challenge by March 22, 5 pm ET (Mar. 16) 
  • Now Online: Video of the AARP Community Challenge Q&A Webinar (Mar. 9)
  • AARP Community Challenge Photo Albums: Murals and Community Gardens (Mar. 2)
  • AARP Community Challenge Photo Albums: Public Seating and Activities for All Ages! (Feb. 23)
  • Webinar Tomorrow: AARP Community Challenge Q&A (Feb. 16)
  • New! AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit (Feb. 9)
  • More About the AARP Community Challenge (Feb. 2)
  • The 2022 AARP Community Challenge Is On! (Jan. 25)

2021

  • Nearly 600 Communities — and Counting! (Dec. 15)
  • Lessons from Livability Leaders (Dec. 8)
  • Free! Get the Updated Edition of 'The ABC of ADUs' (Dec. 1)
  • How to Create a Grandparents Park (Nov. 10) 
  • Parents are Creating Housing for Adult Children With Special Needs (Nov. 3)
  • Free: AARP HomeFit Guide Worksheets (Oct. 27)
  • How Reduced Parking Requirements Can Create More Housing (Oct. 20)
  • Available Now! Videos and more from our ‘Engaging Older Adults’ Workshop (Oct. 13)
  • Free Publication for Local Leaders About Using the ARPA (Oct. 6)
  • 3 Free Guides About Parks and Public Places (Sep. 29)
  • Join Us Online at 1 pm (ET) (Sep.22)
  • The 2021 Livable Communities Workshop Is a Week Away  (Sep. 15)
  • Register for the free AARP Community Engagement Workshop (Sep. 8)
  • Test What You Know About Livability (Aug. 25)
  • Register for the free 2021 AARP Livable Communities Workshop (Aug. 18)
  • New! An American Rescue Plan Guide for Local Leaders (Aug. 11)
  • 2021 AARP Community Challenge Winning Grantees (July 28)
  • Find What You Need From A to Z (July 21)
  • Housing, Universal Design and Visitability (July 14)
  • Livable Lesson Video: Incremental Zoning Code Reform (July 7)
  • Free Download About What Makes a Community Livable (June 23)
  • How Equitable Development Can Create Better Places for All (June 16)
  • What is a Livable Community? (June 9)
  • How a Rural County and Small Town Secured High-Speed Internet (June 2)
  • Get Our Free, Award-Winning Publication — About Zoning! (May 19)
  • Small Homes That Come in Many Shapes and Sizes (May 12) 
  • May Is a Milestone Birthday for Bicycling (May 5)
  • Solutions from 7 Age-Friendly Communities (Apr. 28)
  • How to Use AARP.org/Livable (Apr. 21)
  • Free Publication for Smart Cycling (Apr. 14)
  • Livable Lesson Video with Gil Penalosa (Apr. 7)
  • See the Design Differences Between a Safe and Dangerous Street (Mar. 31)
  • Livable Lesson Videos: Supporting Downtowns During and After COVID-19 (Mar. 24)
  • Why California Created a Master Plan for Aging (Mar. 17)
  • Learn What the AARP Community Challenge Has Achieved (Mar. 10)
  • Free AARP + Project for Public Spaces Webinar: March 9 (Mar. 3)
  • Placemaking During a Pandemic (Feb. 24)
  • AARP is Accepting Grant Applications (Feb. 17)
  • Age-Friendly Communities and Equity (Feb. 10)
  • Now Showing: Age-Friendly Network "Training" Videos (Feb. 3)
  • Free Publication: A Model for Enabling Better Places (Jan. 27)
  • No newsletter on Jan. 20
  • Free Webinar: Bicycling and Older Adults (Jan. 13)  
  • Register for Two Housing Webinars (Jan. 6)

 

2020

  • No newsletter on Dec. 30
  • No newsletter on Dec. 23
  • 492 Age-Friendly Communities — And Counting (Dec. 16)
  • How Local Leaders Can Help People Social Distance Outdoors in Winter (Dec. 9)
  • Free Guides and More About ADUs (Dec. 2)
  • No newsletter on Nov. 25
  • Local Lessons From Livability Leaders (Nov. 18)
  • A Past and Future Vision for Aging in Place (Nov. 11)
  • No newsletter on Nov. 4
  • What Does Safe Transportation for the 50+ Look Like Now? (Oct. 28)
  • Age-Friendly Actions and Impacts (Oct. 21)
  • Meet the Livable Communities 'Corps' Team (Oct. 14)
  • The Livable Library is Open! (Oct. 7)
  • Videos from the AARP Livable Transportation Workshop (Sept. 30)
  • The United States is an Aging Nation (Sept. 23)
  • Join Us Online Today and Tomorrow (Sept. 15)
  • Get the Free, All New AARP HomeFit Guide (Sept. 9)
  • No newsletter on Sept. 2
  • No newsletter on Aug. 26
  • Announcing the 2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantees (Aug. 20)
  • Register for the AARP Livable Communities Transportation Workshop (Aug. 12)
  • 'StrEateries' Are Spreading (Aug. 5)
  • Join the Discussion 7/30: Commercial Districts and COVID-19 (July 29)
  • Speak Up About Cycling (July 22)
  • See the Housing That’s Gone Missing (July 15)
  • New, Free: Walk Audit Worksheets (July 8)
  • No newsletter on July 1
  • 5 Watch-Whenever Webinars (June 24)
  • Livability, Mobility and Equity (June 17)
  • How to Help a Community in Crisis (June 11)
  • No newsletter on June 3
  • How Communities Are Protecting Older Adults From COVID-19 (May 27)
  • No newsletter on May 20
  • The 8 Domains of Livability and COVID-19 (May 13)
  • Hold On to Your 'Why' (May 6)
  • Making Cities and Spaces Work for People (Apr. 29)
  • Why High-Speed Internet is Slow to Connect Rural America (Apr. 22)
  • Walking Provides Self-Care and Connections During the Pandemic (Apr. 15)
  • Getting Counted in the Census and Making Connections (Apr. 8)
  • New (Free!) Publication: AARP Rural Livability Workshop Report (Apr. 1)
  • Extended to May 15: AARP Community Challenge Deadline (Mar. 25)
  • Join a Live Coronavirus Tele-Town Hall: March 19, 1 pm (ET) (Mar. 18)
  • Grants for Good Projects (Apply by April 1) (Mar. 11)
  • See If You'll Be Where We'll Be (Mar. 4)
  • Preorder the AARP Rural Livability Report (Feb. 26)
  • Now Showing: Quick Videos About "Quick-Action" Community Projects (Feb. 19)
  • Get a Free Guide. Apply for a Grant (Feb. 12)
  • The 2020 AARP Community Challenge is On! (Feb. 5)
  • Why People 50+ Are Good for the Economy (Jan. 29)
  • Wanted: Service-Minded "Public Allies" for the Livable Communities Corps (Jan. 22)

 

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