A newspaper article started the Living Well Network. When Agassiz Baldwin Community board members saw a piece about Beacon Hill Village, an organization that provides services and activities for Beacon Hill seniors, they held a community forum to see if such a neighborhood organization would interest Cambridge residents. Over 200 people attended. Today the Living Well Network is a vital resource for Cantabrigians over 55, offering a computer lounge, neighborhood walks, yoga and tai chi, art workshops, and other vitality-focused activities. The Living Well Network’s Annual Social brings members and those curious about membership together for a casual evening of hors d’oeuvres, drinks, jazz and conversation.

According to Colin Barr, the Living Well Network Coordinator, a big issue for seniors is isolation: “The Living Well Network provides activities so that people are not stuck in the house wondering what to do all day…it provides opportunities to break that isolation.” The Living Well Network is one of many grassroots organizations throughout the U.S. that are embracing the idea of aging in place, a concept that emphasizes bringing services and programs to older adults so they can stay in their homes, rather than forcing older adults to leave familiar houses and neighborhoods as they age.

“We’re helping seniors to better understand what it means to grow old in their communities in healthy, positive, social ways,” says Barr. The Living Well Network Social is all about making friends and creating community. Says Barr, “The more people who show up, the more community we can build.”

The Living Well Network Social will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 5 to 7pm at the ABC Community Space in North Hall at 1651 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge.