ACE (Action Community Engagement) is currently running a research project, sponsored by Yale School of Public Health and Midwestern University, on raising awareness about and reducing ageism in Oak Park. Ninety Oak Park residents over the age of 60 have been meeting in small groups once-a-week for six weeks, talking about what ageism is, where it comes from, and what can be done about it. This research is based on the book Breaking The Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live, written by Dr. Becca Levy.
It is unlikely that there will ever be a town without any ageism, but raising the level of the ocean causes all the ships to go up.
ACE participants are now implementing and joining several diverse projects around Oak Park, which are open to the public. Here’s a partial list:
- Public art to challenge ageism – Come see this exhibit of 14 panels displayed in the Oak Park Arts District on Harrison Street, starting Friday, Dec. 5, and running through mid-January. This art exhibit has only been shown once before, last year in New York City.
- An evening at the Comedy Plex (1128 Lake St., lower level) – Titled “What Is Non-Ageist Humor, Anyway?” the program takes place on Monday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., $1 admission (2-drink minimum scholarships available). Jokes will be told, opinions expressed, and comedy sketches acted out by ACE participants. If you get the urge, go ahead and tell one of your own jokes and let the audience decide.
- Public photography to celebrate older people – Photos taken by ACE participants show positive images of older people who live in Oak Park. The exhibit will be displayed at the Oak Park Township Senior Building (130 S. Oak Park Ave.) as well as on Lake Street.
- The movie Thelma – A viewing, followed by discussion, will be held at the Oak Park Arms, sometime next month.
- Storytelling to overcome ageism in housing – Gathering stories related to ageism in housing and sharing them with our State Senate will hopefully encourage policies to improve housing opportunities for people of all ages.
- Ageism is a public health issue – Several ACE participants are advocating for our Oak Park Health Department to include ageism as a public health issue on its website and as part of its 5-year plan.
- Intergenerational community gardening project – ACE participants recently joined with middle school and high school students in an ongoing gardening project. On Feb. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the library, there will be a winter sowing of native plants in milk-jug “greenhouses.” On March 8, from 1 to 4 p.m., we will start to sow vegetable seeds for spring planting. For information contact Laura Stamp at lstamp@op97.org.
For more information, contact ACE@oakparktownship.org or 708-445-2711.