CONCORD, NH – The New Hampshire Senior Leadership program is now taking applications for the 2016 class. A collaboration among AARP, Center on Aging and Community Living at UNH and Dartmouth Centers for Health and Aging, the program is designed for older adults, caregivers, family members and friends who want to advocate for older adults in New Hampshire. Application deadline is February 25.
Members of the 2016 class should represent diverse backgrounds, ages and geographic regions of the state. Twenty participants will be selected on their motivation to become well informed and active in policymaking and systems change for aging New Hampshire citizens.
“In its sixth year, this program is designed to be educational and provide advocacy and community leadership skills necessary to advance issues of importance to Granite Staters as they age,” said Doug McNutt, AARP New Hampshire Associate State Director for Advocacy. “Caregiving, state and local advocacy, community-based services that allow people to stay in their homes, transportation and housing are topics at the forefront. Our hope is that every graduate will leave the program with the information they need to engage these important issues of our times.”
Participants will meet five times over an eight-month period, April through November, and receive intensive training on a variety of educational and community topics. Educational methods include discussion, web-based learning, small- and large group sessions and independent research. All expenses – including hotel, meals and materials – are covered for participants. The only cost to participation is a $45 contribution at the time of acceptance.
“Attending the program was a life-changing event for me,” said Sherri Harden of Goffstown, a New Hampshire Senior Leadership graduate. “Learning effective strategies to promote and support change is very powerful. The exercises and group projects were the icing on the cake. Oh, and did I mention we had fun?”
Details and an online application packet can be found at www.aarp.org/nh.
