On August 10th, 2026, the Southwest Organizing Project’s (SWOP) group of Older Adult Leaders gathered for their most recent meeting, creating another opportunity for community members to come together, share updates, and continue building their collective power. The meeting brought several important conversations to the table, including updates from a recent tour of Churchview Support Living Center and reflections from an event where SWOP Older Adult Leaders joined older adults from the facility.
The group discussed what they learned through their visit to Churchview and the importance of building relationships with older adults beyond SWOP’s existing network. Connecting with residents and learning more about their experiences provided an opportunity for the leaders to better understand some of the challenges older adults face in different settings and consider how those experiences can inform their organizing work moving forward.
Transportation was another key topic of conversation during the meeting. The Older Adult Leaders discussed how access to reliable transportation can directly impact an older adult’s ability to access healthcare and other essential services. For many older adults, transportation is more than simply getting from one place to another—it can determine whether they are able to make medical appointments, pick up prescriptions, or receive the care and resources they need. The group explored the issue as a potential area for continued organizing and advocacy with a potential solution brought forward by SWOP Community Health and Outreach Coordinator, Edy Dominguez.
The leaders also discussed plans for collaborating with CDEL to host an End-of-Life Planning Workshop. The potential workshop would give older adults an opportunity to learn more about planning for the future and making important decisions ahead of time, while creating space for questions and conversations around a topic that can often be difficult to navigate alone. The collaboration is still being explored, but the conversation reflects the group’s commitment to identifying practical resources and opportunities that can benefit older adults in the community.
At the heart of SWOP’s Older Adult organizing is the belief that older adults should have a space to talk openly about their experiences, identify the issues affecting their communities, and develop their own leadership. These meetings are not simply opportunities to receive information—they are spaces where Older Adult Leaders can listen to one another, recognize shared challenges, build confidence, and organize around the issues they believe matter most. By building relationships and developing leadership from within the community, SWOP’s Older Adult Leaders are preparing themselves to tackle whatever issues older adults are facing and to ensure their voices are heard in the decisions that affect their lives.
This meeting was another step in that ongoing work. Through continued relationship-building, conversations about transportation and healthcare access, and exploration of new partnerships and resources, SWOP’s Older Adult Leaders are strengthening their collective ability to advocate for themselves and their fellow community members.
