The local initiatives section provides access to communities for a lifetime efforts occurring at the neighborhood, city and county level around the state. While not all of these communities would describe their civic work as "building communities for a lifetime," they are included here because they align with the core elements of the communities for a lifetime concept and meet certain criteria.
Local initiatives posted on this website:
- Pursue community improvements in a defined geographical area
- Include aging and disability information and perspectives in community planning
- Collaborate across sectors, interest groups, and segments of the population
- Pursue and achieve improvements to physical, social and/or service infrastructure that benefit residents of all ages and abilities
- Maintain a project website or have a designated project contact person
An assortment of community features and services -- parks and trails, libraries, community centers, grocery stores, aging services providers -- make up communities for a lifetime. However, this section is not an attempt to list local examples of these community features and services, but rather to gather together a list of broader, community-wide initiatives to plan, develop and improve the whole community.
There are many social and community services that help residents live out their lives successfully in the community. To review or access services in your community, visit www.MinnesotaHelp.info
If you are aware of additional local initiatives that you think meet these criteria, please submit suggestions to DHS.lifetime@state.mn.us, including the community sponsor, title and internet location of the initiative.
Please note: The State of Minnesota does not endorse the approach of any specific initiative listed below. Also, coordinators and stakeholders of the local initiatives listed below have not volunteered to serve as mentors or educators to peers. However, courteous contacts by phone or e-mail might yield valuable advice and assistance.
Links to local communities for a lifetime initiatives are organized alphabetically under the following categories:
Neighborhood Level Initiatives
City/Town/Township Level Initiatives
County Level Initiatives
Other