Recognizing the important role older adults play in building and maintaining a thriving community, as well as their unique needs and perspectives, the City established the "Age-Friendly Evanston!" task force to develop an Age-Friendly Initiative and formulate a three-year city-wide action plan for implementation.

The Mayor requested that the nine-member task force be comprised of appointees from the Commission on Aging (4), the Mental Health Board (1), Human Relations Commission (1), and the Evanston community at large (3). Each member served without compensation for one five-year term.

The "Age Friendly Evanston!" Task Force included the following members:

1. Chairperson: Susan Cherco
2. Transportation: Helen Gagel
3. Respect & Social Inclusion: Dorothy Strong
4. Outdoor Spaces & Buildings: Susan Canter
5. Community & Health Services: Irene Pierce

The "Age Friendly Evanston!" task force made recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council regarding the creation and implementation of an action plan based on the objectives of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Age Friendly Communities Program. This program is an international effort to help prepare for a global demographic trend:  the rapid aging of populations.

Age-Friendly Action Plan 

• City Council Approved Age-Friendly Action Plan
• Action Plan PowerPoint Presentation to City Council
• Age Friendly Implementation Plan (3.26.19)

Additional Age-Friendly Action Plan Appendices

• Appendix 2 - Survey Results.pdf
• Appendix 3 - Focus Group Results.pdf
• Appendix 4 - Building and Outdoor Spaces Review of Parks Summary.pdf

Agendas & Minutes

Public Comment Guidelines

Please contact Audrey Thompson, Community Services Manager, at athompson@cityofevanston.org, for more information.

For more information about the Age-Friendly movement, visit the website for the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.