For 57 years, Older Americans Month (OAM) has been a special time to recognize older adults’ unique and lasting contributions to their communities by celebrating how they volunteer their time, share their stories, and get involved in their neighborhoods. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) each May, OAM also provides resources to help older Americans stay healthy and independent.
This year’s Older Americans Month theme, Make Your Mark, highlights the marks older adults make every day as volunteers, employees, employers, parents, grandparents, and mentors. They offer their time, talents, and experience to the benefit of our communities. They understand and appreciate that communities that support and include all their members are stronger!
For Community Tech Network, there is one more important role older adults play by making up more than 70 percent of learners we engage through our digital literacy training programs! Each of these learners is then empowered to make their mark by using their new digital skill to improve their lives. They also influence and impact other older adults around them — friends, neighbors, and even family members — by using their digital devices to locate and access needed information and resources.
Although COVID-19 has disrupted everyone’s “normal,” CTN is observing Older Americans Month 2020 by acknowledging the marks made by older adult Americans prior to COVID’s arrival, and the collective impact yet to be made by these same older adults once our stay-safe-at-home restrictions are eased. This of course includes our older American employees and our volunteers. Without you, all of this would not be possible. Thank you for all the marks you have made and those you have yet to make!!
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