Talking about VAN
by Leadership Group November 23, 2009
At the November 2009 Leadership Group meeting, members answered the question: How do you describe VAN? Here are three answers:
- VAN is a volunteer-run organization that focuses on building leadership skills of adults 50+ through education and networking, enabling them to be active participants in their communities.
- VAN is a group of individuals and organizations who share an asset-based approach to aging. VAN builds programs and resources to help tap knowledge, abilities, and skills of older adults to meet community needs.
- VAN provides education and other resources to empower adults 50+ to develop capacity to lead and contribute to their communities in a way that is meaningful.
- VAN is an organization that both personally and professionally engages people in their communities around their own passion.
- VAN is a beacon for people as they age, centered on their capacity and ability to make important change in their communities.
- VAN is a community based organization that strives to engage older adults in meaningful ways that relate to, enrich, or build their capacities to impact the common good, and frame new ways of thinking not only about one's own aging, but the challenges and opportunities of an aging America.
- VAN supports people 50+ in igniting their passion and purpose in reigniting themselves and their communities.
- The Vital Aging Network is a grass roots organization that provides older adults the skills and knowledge to be leaders in their community and to find meaning in later life, whatever that means to them.
- The Vital Aging Network supports people 50+ in igniting their passion and purpose to re-vision themselves and their communities. There are benefits from getting involved in any one of VANs' activities; they keep our minds from getting dormant. In my world, most things are connected. As elders we can impart knowledge, experience, and stories to others. At the same time we are also contributing to the common good and civic engagement.
- VAN/ALVA supports people 50+ in igniting their passion and purpose for the common good. We help build strong communities. Do you know anyone (are you) interested in building a strong community?
How do you answer the question, How do you describe VAN?
Comments
Lynne Zimmerman - July 25, 2010
VAN provides structural support for the creative development and future growth of positive, integral community connections.
