TAYLOR’S TAKE on...
GOOD TROUBLE, NECESSARY TROUBLE
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Greetings,
National media headlines over the past four months have been unparalleled, covering COVID-19, police brutality, racial inequities, our crumbling economy, and most recently the death of U.S. Congressman John Robert Lewis.
With the television coverage of Congressman Lewis’ passing, people of all ages and backgrounds are getting an important American history lesson on a civil rights giant – a lesson they may have missed until recently. Well known is the August 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom that drew approximately 250,000 people and recorded the now revered
I Have a Dream
speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Less known has been the significance of the youngest speaker on that stage, John Lewis. As Chairman of SNCC, Lewis was one of the “Big Six” leaders of groups who organized the march. He was 23 years old.
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It was 19 months later when Lewis was badly beaten by police on March 7, 1965, during the Selma to Montgomery march to protest Black voter suppression -- the date now known as Bloody Sunday. From those tumultuous times to his last days on this earth, Congressman John Lewis – the conscience of the U.S. Congress -- was about the business of ‘good trouble,’ as we now recall in his sage advice:
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year; it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."
When I took over the reins of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging 21 months ago, no one could have foreseen the disruption and despair of COVID-19. Now, Congressman Lewis’ words “good trouble, necessary trouble” resonate with me for many reasons. Later in this newsletter, I will share some of the results from DAAA’s Community Needs Assessment that will fuel our work and our advocacy. We won’t be afraid to make some noise to address those needs. And we will fuel the intergenerational connections to support young leaders who may someday be responsible for public policy initiatives that benefit older adults.
Tomorrow’s civil and human rights leaders, of all backgrounds, are among the young people who are standing up and speaking out during the Black Lives Matter movement today. In years to come, many of them may run for public office. If they do, I hope they will mirror the principles, patience, and perseverance of Congressman John Lewis. And if they are servant leaders, like John Lewis, we will be in good hands.
Congressman Lewis passed on the same day as noted civil rights stalwart, the Rev. C. T. Vivian, another close associate of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Just 39 days before, Lewis made his last public appearance standing in solidarity with supporters of Black Lives Matter. He was a powerful orator who remained stately, even as his health failed. He died at 80 of pancreatic cancer -- a reminder to regularly monitor our own health.
Cancer is trouble. Early diagnosis is necessary.
For all of us, our health, wellness, and emotional well-being are critical to our survival in these still uncertain times.
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Ronald S. Taylor
President & CEO
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The Detroit Area Agency on Aging celebrated
Detroit's 319th Birthday
this month at Stoeple Park with seniors and State Rep. Sherry Day Gay-Dagnogo.
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GOOD TROUBLE:
WORKING TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS
The huge Baby Boom population will spend more years in retirement than the U.S. has ever experienced, and not all of them are retiring with robust savings and good health. Issues like health care, family and financial concerns are common among older adults. To best serve our region’s population of seniors and disabled adults, we collaborated with the Wayne State School of Social Work for our
2020 Community Needs Assessment.
Researchers surveyed over 603 individuals in our service area age 60 and older, and data collected will help prioritize our state and federal funding to meet the changing needs of the people we serve. What follows is a sampling of the findings:
- The survey showed half of the participants had incomes of less than $20,000 annually, with low-income adults most in need of access to programs
- Support to caregivers was rated extremely important, particularly more information and resources, classes for caregivers and respite care
- Additional community supportive services rated extremely or very important include transportation, health and wellness classes and related supportive services; also home care and housekeeping services, and services for LGBT seniors
- Seniors desire more information and assistance, especially related to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits
- Many have strong ties to the Detroit area and have lived here for more than 25 years.
- Although there is a high degree of satisfaction with housing, neighborhood safety concerns need to be addressed.
- A significant percentage of respondents did not know that DAAA is the best first call for all information, assistance and referrals related to senior issues
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Coordinating aging services is the work of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. Based on the
2020 Community Needs Assessment
, the following service priorities will drive our work:
- Make “Aging in Place” Matter; focus on essential ingredients of livable communities
- Increase care management training and education
- Reduce barriers that inhibit service access, including costs, hours, wait-lists and transportation
- Increase access to nutrition services, as well as healthcare information and resources
- Address issues of senior isolation and safety
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