It Takes a Village series description:

You might be familiar with the village concept – neighbors helping neighbors age in place. According to the Village to Village network, local villages connect members to a wide array of practical support services and social connections that enable older adults to enjoy a rich, independent, and healthy quality of life when they choose to age in their homes and communities. Villages build a sense of community and offer resources, services, programs, and activities, including social and educational programs, health and wellness activities and volunteer assistance with transportation, light home maintenance, and technology coaching. The mission of the villages may be similar, but villages provide different services and resources, based upon members’ needs. As the adage goes, “If you’ve seen one village, you’ve seen one village.” We are starting a monthly series to enable our members to meet the leaders of the villages in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, and beyond.

Many SSA members may already be members and/or volunteers of their local village. The village movement started in Beacon Hill, MA, about 25 years ago, and Capitol Hill Village was the first village to open in D.C. (established 2007). Sibley Memorial Hospital is located within the service area of Palisades Village – we are right next to the catchment area of Little Falls Village and Northwest Neighbors village. The Cleveland & Woodley Park Village and the Glover Park Village are just a stone’s throw away. There are more than 30 villages within a 10-mile radius around Sibley Hospital. Join us to learn more about the villages in our neck of the woods – what services they offer, how they have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the future looks like. There will be time for questions and answers.

June – Stephanie Chong

Executive Director, Northwest Neighbors Village | Wednesday, June 29 | 2 to 3 p.m.

Stephanie Chong, LICSW, executive director, Northwest Neighbors Village, was attracted to the grassroots village model for its effectiveness in championing positive aging and fostering a community that values older adults. In 2016, she jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the growing village movement. Stephanie found a natural fit between the village’s culture of empowerment and her professional commitment to improving the aging experience. Stephanie has been working in the field of aging for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience that began with work as a certified home health aide. Stephanie has a bachelor’s in Social Work from Stockton University and a master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. Having dedicated her career to aging services in the District of Columbia, Stephanie previously ran a local non-profit care management program and has worked in all areas of senior living.

The Northwest Neighbors Village provides services to people who live in the Barnaby Woods, Chevy Chase, Forest Hills, Friendship Heights, North Cleveland Park, and Tenleytown neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.

Register at https://smh.memberclicks.net/2q---it-takes-a-village or e-mail jsmit470@jhmi.edu or call 202-364-7602 before Friday, June 24.