Andrea Burns, Director, Age Strong Boston, City of Boston
Anne-Catrin Schultz, Associate Professor, Architecture, Wentworth
In the FutureLab Talk #11 Andrea Burns [City of Boston] joined Anne-Catrin Schultz [Wentworth] to discuss the initiative to build an age – friendly Boston. She shared initiatives such as intergenerational housing where graduate students and recent college graduates are matched to an affordable, multi-generational home. This initiative contributes to both parties having affordable housing and helps address some of the issues around isolation of elder populations. Although COVID-19 has exploited the issues that many communities face, it has challenged the community to accelerate work in making sure the aging adults of Boston are not shut out and left behind. Innovations in technology can still leave some behind which is why projects such as cooking classes and Boston Public School art exchange are critical to helping older adults maintain connections with their community.