History
How AFL began
In Spring of 2018, a group of community members led by the Wyoming Center on Aging, the Eppson Center for Seniors, and the Foster Grandparents of the Wyoming Rockies convened to develop a grassroots initiative called “Age-Friendly Laramie” or AFL. This group’s stated mission is to “...Build a community that is safe and highly livable for people of all ages and abilities...”
In early sessions, stakeholders developed a vision of what an age-friendly Laramie should look like and began to mobilize support and resources to consider how issues related to population aging may be addressed by our local community now and in the future.
In Fall 2018, AFL applied and was accepted to AARP’s supportive Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The goal of that network is to support and promote communities committed to developing opportunities for older residents to live rewarding, productive, healthful, and safe lives. Membership in AARP’s age-friendly network is intended to foster partnerships among community groups and local stakeholders. Additionally, AARP provides support and best practice materials, as well as access to resources for identifying and assessing community needs.
As part of the process for moving toward greater livability in Albany County/Laramie, founding stakeholders of AFL commissioned Age-Friendly Wyoming to conduct an assessment to establish a baseline of the community’s “age-friendliness” within the first two years of becoming a member in the AARP network.
Additional requirements for securing an age-friendly designation include creating an action plan, implementing that plan, and developing indicators for monitoring and evaluating progress throughout the five-year cycle.
In Spring 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, AFL has planned a virtual summit of stakeholders to begin developing a realistic, evidence-based action plan for the future. Stay tuned.