Chicago Elder Village Celebrates Fourth Year of Cultural Enrichment
Chicago Elder Village Celebrates Fourth Year of Cultural Enrichment
by Linsey Knerl
Everyone needs a place to belong, and this need doesn’t go away when we age. That’s why Founder Ginger Williams, Board Member Norm Rich, and the rest of the team at Edgewater Village of Chicago work so hard to give older adults a place where they can truly connect - without asking for a penny in return. Created six years ago as part of the Edgewater Satellite Senior Center, the Edgewater Village is a grassroots community organization offering residents in Chicago's 40th, 48th, 49th, and 50th wards an outlet for creativity and learning. It’s now an independent nonprofit organization but maintains ties with the senior center.
While the term “village” is typically associated with a physical place, there are no bricks and mortar connected with elder villages such as the Edgewater Village. This type of village may be defined as a network of volunteers who come together to coordinate programs and services that help people in their community successfully age in place.
“If you’ve seen one elder village, you’ve seen one elder village,” shares Ginger. “They tend to be very different.”
So, what makes this village truly unique? For one, its accessibility: membership to the village is free. In lieu of membership dues, Edgewater Village relies on donations and other funds. Every activity it offers, from the writing classes to the holiday dinners, is of no cost to attendees. This egalitarian approach ensures a diverse and thriving community that excludes no one based on privilege or means.
Another defining aspect of the Edgewater Village is its focus on intellectual and cultural enrichment. Events include writing classes, a gardening seed exchange, movie chats, and technology courses, among other presentations and skill-based learning opportunities. Edgewater does its best to connect older adults to experts in their fields of art, literature, history, travel, social issues, and more.
Recently, the village put on a public safety event with the help of the Chicago Police Department, the state’s community justice center, and the public library to help older adults avoid becoming victims of crime. Another popular and ongoing offering is “Coffee and Conversation,” which meets every other Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at a local coffee shop.
Norm Rich proudly discussed the diverse and storied lives of Village members. “We have active members who are well into their nineties. Several of our members were born in Europe, and share their childhood memories of the war years.”
There is no formal enrollment or membership, so Edgewater estimates their village size at around 1,000 – the number of people subscribed to email updates. Activities aren’t limited to just those over 50, however, and younger generations are encouraged to attend events and become engaged with the older members of the group.
A Place for Purpose
It takes a lot of work and volunteer hours to keep a community like this running well, and Ginger shares that she has often wondered why she is doing this. “Why can't I just curl up with a good book and, you know, just amuse myself?”
The answer, in a word: purpose.
She reflects on something one of Edgewater’s community members revealed after retiring from a long writing and editing career. “He gave his testimonial about how much finding out about Edgewater Village meant to him and how it kind of saved him in his retirement. When I think about things like that, about how much it has meant to people, I'm glad I'm doing it.”
As close as you feel comfortable
While the volunteers of Edgewater welcome face-to-face interaction with their community, they also understand that mobility may be difficult for some, while others may still not be comfortable socializing indoors. Around half of the events take place through Zoom, so participants can hop on and have a discussion about their favorite books without having to catch a bus or arrange for a ride.
There’s no place quite like it
If you live in Chicago’s far north side or know someone who does, the Edgewater community is ready to welcome new members like you with open arms. No one will be turned away, and money will never be a condition for joining.
For more information about the Edgewater Village, to sign up for their newsletter, or attend an upcoming event, please visit their website: https://www.evchicago.org/