Village Movement Coming to Gresham! Supporting Positive Aging at Home

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By Jane Foreman
Chair, Steering Council
UpRiver Village

A new Village is forming in the Gresham-Troutdale area to provide older adults with a way to comfortably age-in-place. UpRiver Village isn't a real estate development or a retirement community. Instead, members live in their own homes; they can be homeowners, renters, in shared housing, or living with relatives. UpRIver Village will join Villages NW, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with 13 existing and developing Villages in NW Oregon and SW Washington. The Village Movement embraces the strategy of bringing services to people rather than moving people to services. UpRiver Village will serve seniors within the city limits of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village.

Steering Council Chair Jane Foreman was a volunteer with and member of Eastside Village for two years before moving to Gresham in December where there is no Village. So she set about creating one with support from Villages NW mentors. A core group of committed volunteers meets monthly to work on organizational development. When the development phase is complete, UpRiver Village will open for membership and start scheduling services.

UpRiver Village is building the foundation to provide practical services to members as well as opportunities for socializing. Volunteers will provide services such as transportation to appointments and shopping, occasional assistance with housekeeping and yard work, and help with technology. Social and recreational activities will include opportunities to meet like-minded seniors for coffees, book groups, potlucks, group walks, and more. Please see information on upcoming events at www.uprivervillage.org. Most events are open to the public at this time.

UpRiver Village currently needs volunteers to help with organizational development, infrastructure creation, communication, outreach and marketing. After UpRiver Village opens, volunteers will be needed for direct services to senior members.

The first Village in the United States - Beacon Hill Village - started in Boston 25 years ago. UpRiver Village will also be a member of the national Village to Village Network that includes more than 500 existing and developing Villages nationwide.

For more information about UpRiver Village visit www.uprivervillage.org, email contact@uprivervillage.org, or call (503)-489-8813.