Page 24 - The Indian EYE 021425

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 14, 2025 | The Indian Eye 24

NYC Aging, NYC Public Schools,

and NYAM Receive Nearly $400,000

to Expand Anti-Ageism Classes

Grant from Next50 expands classes from high schools to K-12, aiming to

raise awareness and reduce discriminatory attitudes.

OUR BUREAU

New York, NY
he New York City Department
for the Aging (NYC Aging),
TDepartment of Education
(NYC Public Schools), and New York
City Academy of Medicine (NYAM)
have been awarded nearly $400,000
from Next50 to expand NYC Aging’s
Anti-Ageism Resource Guide. This
initiative will teach more students
about ageism, its societal impact, and
ways to combat it, ultimately reducing
this form of discrimination. The grant
will also support expanding the use of
the resource guide to more schools
and grade levels.
The three-year grant, totaling
$389,761, will broaden the program
to reach more schools and grade “Educating young people about the ter Kaldes, President and CEO of In February 2023, NYC Aging
levels. Its goal is to help students harmful effects this type of discrimi- Next50. “That is why we’re honored and NYC Public Schools launched
and school administrators recognize nation has in the workplace and their to partner with the New York City the Intergenerational Connections
ageism and understand its impact, communities will help reduce it in Department of Aging in this three- to Fight Ageism Pilot, introducing
empowering them to be agents of our society. Most importantly, these year project. They are exemplars of the resource guide to 13 Brooklyn
change who inspire others to rethink classes will help combat the ageist thoughtful innovation, real collabo- high schools. The pilot has since
aging. stereotypes that they are bombard- ration, and commitment to equitably expanded to include four addition-
“Teaching more students about ed with in the media on a daily basis. changing aging.” al high schools. The resource guide
ageism reduces its harmful effects When we eliminate ageism, we cre- “NYAM is excited to serve as equips teachers, principals, and other
in our communities, and that’s why ate a society where everyone — no the evaluation partner for NYC staff with tools to integrate anti-age-
education is the first step in creating matter how old they are privileged to Aging’s ‘NYC’s Partnerships for ism content into classroom lessons
the society we envision,” said New become — is valued for who they are Anti-Ageism Guided Education and after-school programs.
York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Ex- and the contributions they make.” (PAGE)’ program, generously fund- The Next50 grant will expand
panding our educational efforts is “In our public schools, we’re ed by the Next50 Foundation. This the program to at least 40 elementa-
key to building the age-inclusive city teaching our kids how to be leaders grant will enable the City to expand ry, middle, and high schools across all
we all deserve to live in. This initia- in their communities. In order to be the scope and scale of the Anti-Age- boroughs. NYAM will assess the pro-
tive complements other measures effective and equitable changemak- ism Resource Guide to include K-12 gram’s impact, measuring its success
we’ve implemented, such as creating ers, our students need to know how schools, and NYAM will measure in changing attitudes and behaviors.
the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, to support New Yorkers of every age and evaluate the effectiveness of this The NYC Department for the
improving public safety with Older and every walk of life,” said Schools program in order to create a more Aging’s (NYC Aging) mission is to
Adult Liaisons in every police pre- Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. evidence-informed approach to com- eliminate ageism and empower older
cinct and service areas, and break- “I am proud to be partnering with bating ageism” said Ann Kurth, PhD, adults to live independently in their
ing down silos between city agencies NYC Aging to bring this import- CNM, MPH President, NYAM. communities. Through a network
to deliver better services for older ant programming into our schools “This partnership is one of multiple of over 300 older adult centers and
adults.” and to help our children tackle bias, ways that NYAM and NYC Aging naturally occurring retirement com-
“Ageism impacts everyone, no challenge preconceived notions, and have worked together over many munities, NYC Aging provides vital
matter their gender, nationality, or grow into responsible New Yorkers.” years to advance the health and programs and resources to nearly 1.8
religion,” said NYC Aging Commis- “It is our mission to help end well-being of older — and therefore million older New Yorkers, fostering
sioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. ageism in this country,” said Pe- all — New Yorkers.” their physical and mental well-being.

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