May, the Mayor’s Commission on Aging (MCOA) wishes to celebrate older adults and their impact during Older Americans Month (OAM), led every year by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Established in 1963, Older Americans Month is a time to recognize the contributions of older Americans, reaffirming our commitment to serving older adults in our communities. This year’s theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” focuses on the importance of combating ageism to transform how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the significant impacts, endless wisdom, and valuable lessons that elders share within their communities and families.
This month, MCOA partnered with the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center School (PJJSCS) to bridge the gap between generations by encouraging participants to explore and share meaningful interactions with older adults through an essay contest. The contest aimed to provide a platform for students to enhance their writing skills and gain recognition for their talents as they celebrate the important older adults in their lives.
The contest prompted students to retell a time an older adult has shaped their life, taught them something valuable, or shared an entertaining story. The students of PJJSCS did not disappoint, submitting many heartfelt stories and honorable life lessons. “I’m a person who thinks that what I want to do may take too long, but her [a teacher at PJJSCS] obtaining her degree at fifty-five opened my eyes,” one student wrote.
The MCOA received many submissions like this one, detailing pieces of advice given by a grandparent, to fleeting interactions with older adults who taught them the importance of making wise choices.
“As a kid, my mom always told me that the good you put out in the world will always come back to you unexpectedly.”
The winning essay, written by a high school senior, was an ode to his veteran great-grandfather, who taught him the importance of manhood, strength, self-reflection, and boundaries. Recalling his words, they wrote, “As long as you have that passion and that desire to achieve greatness, do it.”
The Mayor’s Commission on Aging’s goal is to combat issues regarding the health and well-being of older Philadelphians to enhance their quality of life. “Flip the Script” offers a new narrative to the type of support we hope to offer this year as we continue to challenge stereotypes while highlighting the benefits of healthy aging.
ACL offers the following ways individuals can begin to combat ageism:
- Celebrate the contributions of people of all ages in the workplace and community.
- Avoid ageist statements when talking about growing older.
- Promote fact-based messages about older adults’ abilities and value to communities
Join us on Facebook (Mayor’s Commission on Aging) to start the conversation using the hashtags #OlderAmericansMonth and #FlipTheScriptOnAging
