Locals and visitors alike know that there is much to love about Asheville — in fact, many visitors become locals sooner or later! Between the mountains, the craft food and drink industry, historic sites like the Biltmore, and the sense of camaraderie among residents, there is something for everyone.
After falling in love with Asheville, many people naturally begin to want to contribute to what makes the city so wonderful. But it can be hard to know where to start giving back, especially for groups such as seniors in Asheville who might live in senior living communities or lack independent transportation. But regardless of their level of ability or independence, all seniors in Asheville can take advantage of opportunities to get (or stay) involved in the community. One organization working to make this possible is the Leadership Asheville Forum (LAF).
About the LAF
The LAF began as an alumni association for graduates of University of North Carolina (UNC) Asheville’s various community leadership programs. Those programs represent additional opportunities for seniors or any other Asheville residents to get involved in the community! However, the LAF is now open to the public, so those interested in joining the LAF are not required to first complete a formal leadership program.
According to its website, the twofold purpose of the LAF is:
- Providing public forums on issues critical to the well-being of the Asheville-Buncombe County community
- Providing opportunities for members to network with other leaders in the community
To accomplish these purposes, the LAF encourages members to engage in discussion about local issues, and the website further indicates that an important part of the organization’s mission is to promote camaraderie and networking among members. This focus on community makes the LAF a great avenue for seniors and others looking to connect with those who are as passionate about Asheville as they are.
How Seniors in Asheville Can Get Involved
The LAF partners with several other local organizations, including Leadership Asheville Seniors (LAS). LAS is an annual program “committed to the mission of learning and civic engagement within Asheville and Buncombe County.” The 2020 LAS will be offered virtually because of COVID-19 restrictions. Sessions begin in September 2020, so there is still time to register!
Although Leadership Asheville Forum is an open association, the Leadership Asheville Seniors program is currently only open to members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). However, instead of viewing this as a barrier to entry, seniors in Asheville should see OLLI as just another opportunity for local engagement! OLLI describes itself as a “learning community dedicated to promoting lifelong learning, leadership, community service, and research.” OLLI operates out of many universities in the state, but UNC Asheville’s branch boasts an “unusually comprehensive array of programs” across multiple disciplines — so much like Asheville itself, OLLI in Asheville offers something for everyone.
OLLI offers annual memberships to any seniors in Asheville who are interested. Membership costs $25 and runs from August-July, so there is time to sign up for an August 2020-July 2021 membership and register for the 2020 LAS program. In addition to the LAS program, OLLI membership includes many other benefits, such as weekly lectures on a variety of topics during school sessions and a weekly e-newsletter detailing upcoming events and other community engagement opportunities.
LAF, LAS, and OLLI are just a few of the many opportunities for seniors in Asheville to stay actively engaged with their community. At Arbor Terrace of Asheville, we are always happy to share new opportunities with our residents — and to hear from them about opportunities we didn’t know about! If you know of more ways for seniors to get involved in Asheville, please get in touch and let us know!
