In 2019, Mayor Tom Henry created Mayor’s Age-Friendly Community Advisory Council as a way for residents 50 years of age and older to have a proactive role in the momentum and excitement taking place in Fort Wayne.
The council works to align local resources, promote policies and seek additional opportunities to empower older adults to enjoy an excellent quality of life and personal independence. In addition, the council conducts a baseline assessment of the age-friendliness of Fort Wayne, draft an action plan based on those findings, identify indicators with the eight domains of livability to monitor progress, oversee implementation of the action plan, and conduct ongoing evaluations and submit progress reports to AARP.
Members of the Mayor’s Age-Friendly Community Advisory Council:
Tim Brown, Chair/Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
Becky Weimerskirch, Vice-Chair/Transportation
Denise Porter, Housing
Ana Etter, Social Participation
John Gardner, Respect & Social Inclusion
Sue Ehinger, Community and Health Services
Betsy Kachmar, Secretary/AARP Fort Wayne
Maureen Widner, Communication & Information
Peggy Hayes, Community & Health Services
Staff:
Addison Pollock, AARP Staff to Council
April Rivas, City of Fort Wayne Staff to Council
Linda Dunno, AARP Indiana
Resources:
Fort Wayne Mayor's Age-Friendly Community Advisory Council
AARP Fort Wayne Community Network
Articles:
"Want to get ‘more involved’ in Fort Wayne? Longtime resident offers tips to volunteer" - Input Fort Wayne
"How is Fort Wayne becoming more livable for all ages? Meet the Mayor’s Age-Friendly Council" - Input Fort Wayne
"The urban expressway not taken: Exploring the history and future of Fort Wayne’s roadway system" - Input Fort Wayne
"How can Fort Wayne improve its public transit? These two systems might provide a model" - Input Fort Wayne
"What is the state of public transit in Fort Wayne?" - Input Fort Wayne
"What’s the future of housing in Allen County? ADUs and tiny homes might offer solutions" - Input Fort Wayne
"Bridging the digital divide: Indiana’s rural communities seek solutions to improve internet access" - Input Fort Wayne
"Equal access: How Fort Wayne is expanding and connecting services for people with disabilities" - Input Fort Wayne
"How all-abilities friendly is Fort Wayne, and what’s being done to advance universal design?" - Input Fort Wayne
"Construction season is here: How do new developments affect traffic in Fort Wayne, and what’s next?" - Input Fort Wayne