FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2024
CONTACT: Meaghan McMahon mmcmahon@foresthillsdc.life
Forest Hills of DC Awarded 2024 AARP Community Challenge Grant for Public Art Initiative
Public Art Installation to Highlight Forest Hills Residents and Caregiving Teams
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On behalf of the Art Against Ageism and Forest Hills of DC (FHDC) partnership, FHDC is pleased to announce today that it has been selected to receive a 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant. FHDC, the longest standing senior living community in D.C, is an inclusive and not for profit provider of assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. FHDC is one of just three D.C.-based organizations selected from more than 3,300 applications nationwide for the public art initiative.
The purpose of the art installation that FHDC will create with the grant is to bring to light the often-invisible communities where older adults live and people of multiple generations work. The installation will be titled “See Me, Hear Me: The Art of Living” Central to the project is the installation of large-scale, biodegradable murals that feature FHDC residents and team members. The murals will be wheat-posted onto the exterior walls of FHDC that face Connecticut Avenue, one of the city’s most prominent streets. FHDC is creating the art installation in partnership with Art Against Ageism, an organization that creates artistic endeavors that tackle ageism.
Leading up to the installation, D.C.-based photographer Marvin Bowser will photograph residents and team members, who will be the subjects of the murals. In addition, the photos will be uploaded to a publicly available landing page on the FHDC website (foresthillsdc.org), accompanied by stories of some of the residents and team members.
“We are incredibly grateful that AARP selected Forest Hills of DC for this unique community engagement initiative,” shared FHDC CEO Tina Sandri. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to older adults, those who care for them and the upper Northwest area of D.C.”
In partnership with Art Against Ageism, the installation will take place in conjunction with Tenleytown Main Street on September 28, 2024, as part of DC Art All Night, a city-wide art festival.
The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements in communities that jump-start long-term change. It is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages. To learn more, visit aarp.org/Livable.
Visuals: To obtain sample imagery of the murals, please contact Meaghan McMahon at mmcmahon@foresthillsdc.life
About Forest Hills of DC
A nonprofit, faith based senior living community, Forest Hills of DC inspires and engages older adults and their caregivers. For more than 130 years, the community has provided the highest quality assisted living, memory care, respite, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing care services to residents.
Media Contact: Meaghan McMahon | MMcMahon@ForestHillsDC.life
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Grant funding provided by AARP
Grant Partners
