skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. imports from Canada, Mexico, and China in play as Trump vows tariffs; Wildfire toolkit helps CA Hispanic families prepare; Activist: Dairy may not be the best way to get your calcium; AARP expands 'Care for Caregivers' course to more WY communities.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The special counsel wants to drop the January 6 charges against President-elect Trump. U.S. officials hint at a ceasefire in Lebanon, and Trump's pick for 'border czar' warns states that are promising to fight strict immigration policies.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The health of rural Americans is getting renewed attention from the CDC, updated data could help protect folks from flash floods like those devastated in Appalachia, and Native American Tribes want to play a key role in the nation's energy future.

AARP grants aim to revitalize CA alleys into vibrant public spaces

play audio
Play

Thursday, June 27, 2024   

Some select alleyways across San Diego are set to get vibrant makeovers thanks to a transformative community initiative.

Sue Peerson, lecturer in urban studies and planning at the University of California-San Diego, has been spearheading a project to transform drab alleys, typically used for parking and trash pickup, into greener, safer public spaces.

The "Alleys in Action" project has received a $20,000 flagship AARP Community Challenge grant, part of a broader initiative including 11 organizations throughout California.

The grants aim to help cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas become great places to live for people of all ages. With the help of her students and the Adams Avenue Business Association, they solicited community feedback through a pop-up event in the Normal Heights neighborhood.

"Our hope is that improving the physical conditions of this alleyway will create it as a public space that's a draw for people that are already in this neighborhood, that also has a connection to the business district and to these public spaces," Peerson explained.

The Normal Heights alley will see the creation of a large mural along with other beautification efforts by November. This grant program is a cornerstone of AARP's nationwide Livable Communities initiative. The grant initiative is part of its largest investment in community projects to date, with a total of $3.8 million awarded to 343 organizations nationwide.

Jennifer Berdugo, senior planning adviser to AARP California, said since 2017, the organization has awarded 57 grants totaling more than $660,000 to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the state.

"The goals are really to inspire change in communities in different areas like housing, transportation, parks, community resilience, which ties into disaster resilience as well," Berdugo noted.

Among this year's 11 grantees are PlacemakingUS, which will receive more than $16,000 for a project to build a community comal, or traditional griddle, and engage older Meso-American women to revive the weekly tradition of tortilla making.

Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates will receive $2,500 to conduct a bike audit of Rancho Cordova's first-ever roundabout project. And the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum will receive $10,000 to transform a parking lot into an outdoor plaza, with accessible benches to accommodate older adults attending planned events in the space.

Disclosure: AARP California contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, and Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The NAACP, Human Rights Watch, the ACLU and other groups are voicing opposition to the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A bill introduced in Congress is facing backlash from nonprofit organizations, warning it could stifle free speech. The Stop Terror-Financing and …


play sound

The latest round of Workforce Ready Grants means $42 million is being divided among 62 projects aiming to foster Oregon's diverse workforce in the fie…

Health and Wellness

play sound

By Kate Ruder for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service…


On the day after the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 1200% increase in scheduled vasectomy appointments and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Health clinics in New England and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election…

Social Issues

play sound

November is National Family Caregivers Month and AARP Wyoming is working to meet rising demand for caregiver resources. About 58,000 Wyomingites …

The USDA is investing more than $3 billion in about 140 pilot projects for "climate smart" farming initiatives. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Alabama News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

Social Issues

play sound

Georgia higher education officials are crediting a program assisting high school students with a wave of new enrollment in the state's colleges and un…

play sound

A new report shows Connecticut's teacher pension financing reinforces inequity. The Equable Institute's report finds Pupil Pension Subsidies are …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021