It is an honor to lead Innovations in Aging Collaborative as the new Executive Director, and what an exciting time to step into my role. The Age-Friendly Pikes Peak action plan is the culmination of months of community effort. Together with Rachel Cohen and her team at Aging Dynamics, the Innovations in Aging Collaborative board, our Age-Friendly Committee, and the many dedicated volunteers in our workgroups, I am thrilled for the release of this action plan and the renewal of our engagement with the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. This plan reflects The City of Colorado Springs’s continued commitment to creating a livable environment that supports healthy aging, social inclusion, and civic engagement for everyone who grows up and grows older with us. It also prepares our organization for a broader Age-Friendly initiative across El Paso County, and I look forward to these growing partnerships.
The Age-Friendly Pikes Peak action plan builds on the overwhelming success of Age-Friendly Colorado Springs, which focused on creating a community that is accessible, inclusive, and safe for all ages. Our new plan expands on those previous efforts, both geographically and through a redesigned implementation strategy. We have outlined updated goals and tactics, along with the identification of untapped opportunities to serve our mission. For example, through the new key theme of innovation, we look to lead AgeTech initiatives in the Pikes Peak region. Tech-based solutions will not only benefit our work through data-driven decision-making and opportunities to scale efficiently, but also lay the groundwork for sustainable outcomes by reducing the digital divide for older adults and increasing our ability to reach into underserved rural areas.
I would like to thank all those who contributed to the development of Age-Friendly Pikes Peak, as well as those who are committed to implementing this action plan together throughout our region. This is truly a community effort, and the success of this initiative belongs to all of us. We could not do it without you.
Erin Maruzzella
Executive Director, Innovations in Aging Collaborative
