A Look Back: What We’ve Accomplished Together at AARP

A Look Back: What We’ve Accomplished Together at AARP

On Sept. 5, 2014, I walked onstage at AARP's national member event at the San Diego Convention Center to deliver my first speech as the organization's chief executive officer.

That day I made a promise to AARP's members: "As your CEO, I will be unapologetic in fighting for the wants and needs of people 50-plus."

As AARP's new CEO, I wanted to change the conversation about what it means to grow older. I said we need to "disrupt aging"-to challenge outdated stereotypes and attitudes about getting older and spark new solutions that help people live better as they age. I challenged our staff, our volunteers, and our members to help me do that.?

Now, as I prepare to say farewell to AARP, I look back and ask, "How did we do?"

And I feel we can take pride in what we were able to accomplish together.

We are now better prepared to shape the future so people will be empowered to choose how they live as they age.

We have fought for people 50 and over in the halls of Congress, at the White House, and in state capitals and communities across the country. We brought relief from the high cost of prescription drugs, helped ease the burden of caregiving, opposed age discrimination in the workplace, protected Social Security and Medicare, made it easier for people to save for retirement, made communities more age-friendly, and ensured that older Americans have affordable access to technology.

We elevated the importance of brain health and made a significant contribution to the battle against Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. We promoted AARP's role in global aging. And we tackled the tough is sues related to the emerging five-generation workforce.

We changed not just the conversation about aging but also what it means to grow older.

Today, more people are embracing age as a period of continued growth and finding purpose in their lives. So we're beginning to see a new type of experienced, accomplished workforce. We're witnessing an exploding consumer market that is bolstering our economy. And instead of seeing a growing pool of dependents, we're seeing the growth of intergenerational communities with new and different strengths.

AARP and its members have been at the forefront of these changes. Recognizing the increasingly important role technology plays in our lives, we focused on innovation as a key driver of change. Through our AARP Innovation Labs and the AgeTech Collaborative, we have worked with entrepreneurs and businesses to develop new products and services that make aging easier.

We provided new opportunities for people 50 and over to become more adept at navigating our increasingly digital environment by bringing Older Adults Technology Services into the AARP family to offer a wide array of training programs to AARP members. And we stepped up efforts to help members protect their digital assets from fraud.

We have excelled as a wise friend and fierce defender of people 50 and older and their interests. Never was this more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic. We provided relevant, unbiased information to help people navigate uncharted waters, created solutions to help older people stay connected with their families, and spoke out on issues ranging from stimulus checks to vaccines to nursing home reforms.

We have come a long way in helping to em power people to choose how they live as they age. And much of the credit goes to you, our members.

But AARP's work is not finished.

As I wind up my tenure as the steward of the legacy of our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, I'm proud that we have lived up to the motto she gave us more than 65 years ago: "To serve; not to be served." I leave confident that AARP is well positioned to continue building on that legacy.

Serving as CEO has been a tremendous privilege and extraordinary experience. What I will miss the most are the members and volunteers, and the exceptional staff whose passion for our mission and commitment to service is second to none. And although I am leaving AARP, rest assured that I will continue to be unapologetic in fighting for the wants and needs of people 50-plus.

Pamela R. Bingham

Visionary Higher Ed "Pracademician", Technical Expert - Environmental/Climate/Energy Policy, Community Engagement Expert, Social Impact Engineer, STEM for All Advocate

1 个月

Jo Ann Jenkins - We never met, but I joined AARP at 50 (with pride) while I worked as my parents’ in house caregiver from 2011-2021 and testified for the AARP Care Bill in Virginia. I am an environmental engineer, but no training prepares me for the caregiver journey!!!! Every resource that I ever needed, I got from AARP - the magazine, the flyers and mailings, the website, etc. I can never thank you enough for your leadership and advocacy on behalf of all of us!!! Pamela (Mississippi/Virginia/Maryland)

Richard A. "Rick" Deus Jr., MBA

AARP discriminatorily and illegally fired me because I am gay! I won my lawsuit, but they are still litigating their loss to hide the discrimination proven in court.

2 个月

Under the leadership of CEO Jo Ann Jenkins AARP fired me, threatened me, sent me to collections, sued me, and spent 7 years gaslighting me stating this was all my fault and calling me a liar.?They also ruined my career and with their unrelenting litigation, brought me to the point where I planned my suicide. That's the real Jo Ann Jenkins. www.theREALAARP.co

  • 该图片无替代文字
回复
Juliana Clark

Med Affairs Exec who develops new managers into future leaders.

3 个月

Your Great body of work has helped SO many …Thank you for your vision and the team to make it happen. Sincere Congrats!

Thank you for 10 great years of leadership!

回复

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Jo Ann Jenkins的更多文章

  • Older Americans Will Be the Difference in November

    Older Americans Will Be the Difference in November

    The candidates have spoken. The conventions are over.

    19 条评论
  • America Needs a Plan to Help Its Older Citizens – And Soon

    America Needs a Plan to Help Its Older Citizens – And Soon

    AARP's Vision for a National Plan on Aging Most Americans understand the importance of planning to secure their…

    21 条评论
  • Sounds That Heal: Exploring the Impact of Music on Brain Health

    Sounds That Heal: Exploring the Impact of Music on Brain Health

    Billy Joel said, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity.

    22 条评论
  • AARP Works Hard to Help Communities Meet Older Residents’ Needs

    AARP Works Hard to Help Communities Meet Older Residents’ Needs

    As we emerge from the chill of winter into the bright, warm days of spring, many Americans are getting outside, fixing…

    12 条评论
  • The Best Reason to Keep Voting

    The Best Reason to Keep Voting

    The fast-approaching presidential election will be, among other things, a referendum on our nation’s sacred obligation…

    13 条评论
  • AARP’s Commitment to Help Improve Aging in the New Year

    AARP’s Commitment to Help Improve Aging in the New Year

    In 2024, about 12,000 Americans a day will turn 65 as those born in the peak years of the baby boom continue to hit…

    22 条评论
  • A More Secure Retirement

    A More Secure Retirement

    AARP is backing a new protection for your savings AARP has been fighting to make sure Americans are financially secure…

    20 条评论
  • The Emotional Toll of Being a Caregiver

    The Emotional Toll of Being a Caregiver

    We need to come together to lighten the stress many feel Our nation is waking up to the fact that caregivers are…

    22 条评论
  • Help Social Security Help Older Americans

    Help Social Security Help Older Americans

    Congress can provide funding to solve a customer service crisis In the 88 years since the Social Security Act of 1935…

    20 条评论
  • The Power of Purpose

    The Power of Purpose

    Older Americans show how a mission transforms us It’s been said that the two most important days of your life are the…

    19 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了