VOK December

The National Village Gathering 2023 was held in October The Village to Village Network (www.vtvnetwork.org) is a national organization dedicated to supporting existing villages and encouraging new ones to get started. Several VoK Board members attended the conference.

The first part of the gathering was a virtual conference on October 3rd and 4th.

Access to these online sessions is available on the VoK website. They cover topics such as Vibrant Villages, Empowering Communities, and Executive Transitions.

An in-person conference, co-hosted with Washington Area Villages Exchange (WAVE) took place at the Silver Spring Civic Center on October 17th. About 250 participants attended, mostly from Villages in the DC area.

Several VoK Board members attended the conference and took part in sessions on a range of topics including technology, volunteering, fundraising, leadership, and community connections.

They shared the following information about what they found most interesting at the event.

In-Per The Opening Session featured a presentation about Blue Zones. Amtul Malik, MD Family Physician, Geriatrician, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellow George Washington University, spoke about these areas that are considered the healthiest in the world. One of the 5 areas is in Loma Linda, California; the other 4 are in other countries. In these communities, people eat well and exercise as a part of daily life. They foster a culture of well-being. As a result of this lifestyle, the areas’ residents live longer, maintain a healthy weight, are happier and more content than is typical for their age group. Learn more about Blue Zones at https://www.bluezones.com/ A session on Business Sponsorships emphasized the importance of establishing two-way connections with businesses. Instead of just asking for a check, these connections benefit Village members and the business.

For example, one Village teamed with a wine store to offer mid-day tastings. These took place at a time when the store was not busy and the members found it easier to attend without having to go out at night, when tastings are usually held.

Another Village worked with a local business that is part of a large makeup chain. The store provided makeup lessons tailored to meet the needs of older ladies.

The VoK Board will follow up to identify Village programming ideas that could be adapted for our community.

News & Updates from the Villages of Kensington 3