What is the Village Movement ?
The Village Movement is an innovative organization, Village to Village Network, that has emerged over the last 20 years in the organizational field of support services for community-dwelling older adults (spearheaded by Prof. A. Scharlach, UC Berkeley). The Village Movement originated in Boston with Beacon Hill Village leading the way for a more economically efficient model for aging. The Village Model helps seniors to age in a place of their choosing, connected to their communities with the supports and tools they need to create successful aging of their own design.
Beacon Hill proved that seniors wanted to get together around local villages, help each other and be part of an active community of seniors. A model so promising that over 250 Villages have been established since 2002 when Beacon Hill first welcomed members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Village?
A: Villages are nonprofit, grassroots, membership organizations that are redefining aging by being a key resource to community members wishing to age in place. Villages are a social support network for their members that provide necessary services, (such as transportation, technology assistance, running errands to the pharmacy and grocery store), community engagement activities and other important resources crucial to aging interdependently.
Q: How can I look up a Village?
A: You can do this by going to the V2V Village Map and search by city, state, or Village name.
Q: How does a Village benefit the broader community that it serves?
A: Villages form key partnerships, provide services and are an important resource to strengthening its community. Villages are a community based model that provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach to engaging and meeting the needs of their members. Village members are a valuable resource that engage in projects to improve their communities through volunteering, advocating and creating solutions to community issues. Visit the Village to Village Network site for a better understanding of the organization & the services it has to offer to communities looking to establish a Village.