Colorado Springs Nonprofit Receives $2,000 to Share Stories on the Health Benefits of Bridging the Tech Gap for Seniors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— The Innovations in Aging Collaborative was initially created to create resources for the growing senior population in the Colorado Springs area. As part of its work and growing mission, the Collaborative has created the Seniors Engaged project that emphasizes the need to bridge the technological gap especially for seniors 75+ that organizer say will help to “break down agism, increase access to telehealth, and bridge social networks.” As part of this work, the Colorado Equity Compass (CEC) has awarded the Collaborative a $2,000 award to highlight this work with the senior community through five story products that will be shared on the CEC website.

“We are partnering with a college access organization, Peak Education, which provides support, mentorship, and leadership for at-risk students in Colorado Springs. In addition, our student mentors support Myron Stratton residents, a sanctuary for low-income seniors that provides campus housing. This project is fully funded and has been operational since January 2022. We feel that sharing the story project that incorporates intergenerational access through grassroots community engagement will stand testament to bridging an equitable future through access and meaningful participation.”

These products can be found below:

• Innovations in Aging Collaborative: Launching a Technology Equity Pilot Program

• Innovations in Aging Collaborative: Aging in the Pikes Peak Region

• Innovations in Aging Collaborative: COVID-19 and Age Friendly

• Innovations in Aging Collaborative: Peak Education & Myron Stratton

• Innovations in Aging Collaborative: Beginning a Technology Equity Pilot

A main feature of the story products are the social determinants of health (SDOH), which are integral factors in determining a person’s health, wellbeing, and longevity. CEC’s funding will help capture the unique stories of this coalition group and the work being conducted in the Colorado Springs community. To be expected are two blog posts, a podcast and a video blog. “The CEC is pleased to award Innovations in Aging Collaborative $2,000 to further its storytelling efforts for the Colorado Springs senior communities,” says CEC Project Lead Dr. Rachele Espiritu. “Each of the upcoming story products will shed light on the importance of the SDOH in a person’s overall wellness and shed light on their community impact.”

About Innovations in Aging Collaborative (IIAC) The Mission of Innovations in Aging Collaborative is to convene the community to promote creative approaches that address the challenges and opportunities of aging. As the principal aging research and advocacy organization in the Pikes Peak Region, IIAC has focused specifically in the field of aging, and has continued to build capacity over the past 10 years to incubate and launch a variety of successful and creative innovative initiatives in this field.  

IIAC has built critical momentum to make the Pikes Peak Region a remarkable place to age through our catalytic model and network of partners. Most recently, IIAC has brought the Age Friendly initiative to our community, and was honored to be accepted into the Network of Age-Friendly Communities by AARP and the World Health Organization in March of 2016. The Age-Friendly model now serves as the strategic plan for our organization, with our ultimate goal to create a community that is livable, open and welcoming for people of all ages, mobilities and abilities.  

About the Colorado Equity Compass Across Colorado, communities are facing inequities that impact their health and wellbeing. Different factors, including systemic racism, a lack of affordable housing, and environmental concerns, contribute to these inequities.

As a project of The Colorado Trust, CEC helps communities — and the organizations that serve them — better understand these issues and advocate for change using data and stories. This work consolidates diverse resources, connects peers, and both aligns and empowers communities and institutions via an Equity Data Navigator. The model showcases inequities and the social determinants of health (SDOH) across communities. CEC also serves as a hub for community storytelling and information-sharing.

For more information and to view the Equity Data Navigator, visit coequitycompass.org. For media inquiries, contact CEC at [email protected].