New Nonprofit Aims to Keep Seniors in the Neighborhood

Annie Robinson was afraid of aging. Because of her fear of getting older, she gained weight, becoming obese and depressed. Then, she got involved with Mather Lifeways, an organization that provides aging resources so Chicago residents can stay active.

Since then, Robinson has lost 100 pounds, started line dancing, took piano lessons and returned to her pastime of singing opera.

“I realized I wouldn’t have been able to take care of myself in five years,” she said. “I wanted to enjoy myself and have a better quality of life.”

Robinson joined four other seniors on a panel that discussed aging in the community and staying active throughout that process. The panel was organized by a new senior-driven nonprofit, Forward Chicago. More than 70 people attended the event at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Saturday.

Created by community members and Ward 47 Ald. Ameya Pawar’s office, Forward Chicago wants to help residents remain active and influential as they age in the area. The panel was meant to unite residents with the resources and advice they needed. 

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The benefits of staying connected are two-fold. Pawar said small communities handle natural disasters better if they’re connected before an emergency happens.

"What makes a community resilient is knowing your neighbor and being aware of what's happening,” he said.

Forward Chicago is the first of its kind in the city; many senior resource services are for-profit organizations.

“What they’re doing is not like anything else,” Pawar said. “It’s what we should be doing as a city and community.”

During the panel, Robyn Golden gave four tips to successful aging. Golden is a director in the aging program at the Rush University Medical Center.

She advised seniors to stay connected, do new things, be active and give back to the community.

The panelists echoed her sentiment: “Do something different, something you never thought you could do,” Audrey Kaufman said.

Forward Chicago is looking for volunteers and upcoming events are listed below.

• Senior Holiday Luncheon at St. Bens Church on Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• Celebrate Art: The Roots of Our Community at the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.

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