Did you know that AARP Massachusetts has a vast array of resources for individuals and their families? Most of the resources are available in Spanish.
This coming year, join AARP Massachusetts in reaching out to Hispanic-Latino families across the Commonwealth. If you speak Spanish and have some time to spare, the organization has volunteer opportunities for bilingual presentations virtually and/or in person.
Once AARP Massachusetts returns to in-person events, they have opportunities to do outreach at events, and you can join in distributing many print resources. Language skills are a plus, but not essential. AARP Massachusetts is especially looking for people who are resourceful and like to connect in the community. They also welcome creative ideas for doing outreach and programming to the Hispanic-Latino community here in the Bay State. To explore this opportunity, email AARP Massachusetts at ma@aarp.org by January 31.
“AARP has an appreciation for the need to expand our programming to be more relevant to their needs,” said Mike Festa, State Director of AARP Massachusetts, about serving the booming 887,000 Hispanic-Latino population of the state.
Festa emphasized, “We are intent on connecting, empowering, and supporting the Hispanic-Latino community” on the Latino News Network (LNN) podcast, “3 Questions With…”
An example of this type of outreach to the Hispanic-Latino community was the program, The Power of Your Stories, recorded on October 27, on our YouTube channel.
The Power of Your Stories was moderated by AARP Massachusetts Executive Council Member Jorge Quiroga, a retired award-winning television journalist.
Cindy Campbell, Director of Communications for AARP Massachusetts wrote, “It is a celebration of the value of stories from the Hispanic/Latino/Latinx community, and their contribution to the American tapestry.” The program was part of Vivan Las VocesSM, a partnership with StoryCorps, dedicated to capturing and preserving the diverse stories and experiences of the Hispanic-Latino community.
Panelists included iconic radio host José Massó, firefighter Maria Pelchar, and Hilda Ramirez the Executive Director of the Latino Education Institute of Worcester State University. They told stories about growing up, of community, of family, and more.
The program kicks off with a story shared between AARP volunteer Maria Navedo and her son, Angel Navedo, with a moving telling (all in English) of what it was like to grow up as a Latina whose father was in the military, becoming a lifelong learner and raising bicultural children, with an appreciation for family, education, food, and music.
You can record your own story as part of Vivan Las VocesSM, recording the conversation on the free online platform, StoryCorps Connect. You can choose to have your story sent to the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. You can also opt to record the story and gift it to a family member. When you record your story, AARP Massachusetts asks you to please mark it with #VivanLasVoces. Read more about Vivan las Voces here.
To view our resources in Spanish, click here. Similar to AARP Massachusetts’ website in English you will find resources and online tools having to do with financial planning, caregiving, scams, and fraud, veterans, Medicare, Social Security, and health so much more!
You can also follow AARP en Español on Facebook.
Publisher’s Note: Volunteer with AARP Massachusetts and reach out to Latinos across the Bay State! was first published by AARP Massachusetts.
MALatinoNews amplifies the work of others in its mission to provide greater visibility and voice to the Hispanic-Latino community of Massachusetts.
Cover Photo Credit: AARP Massachusetts
