We welcome suggestions for programs, as well as volunteers to help create or lead them.
Annual In-Person Conference
Tuesday, October 15 - Silver Spring Civic Center - Silver Spring, Maryland.
The WAVE Conference offers a unique opportunity for village leaders, volunteers, government and nonprofit partners and others to come together, share insights, and learn from each other. Engage with expert speakers, participate in interactive workshops, and connect with peers to strengthen your village and better serve your community.
Plenary Programs offer speakers on critical topics for villages. All are free and open to everyone.
January 31, 2024, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., via Zoom. Plenary Panel: Raising Dementia Awareness Within Villages" followed by Q&A. The program included the election of new board members and the WAVE president, and the announcement of the winner(s) of the 2024 Finishing Strong Award and other important updates.
May 15, 2024, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m., via Zoom. The Spring Plenary Program featured the announcement of the recipients of the 2024 WAVE’s Founders Award, as well as a presentation on Using the Arts to Combat Isolation and Improve Health, which spotlighted two exciting local programs.
Mutual Support Sessions are virtual, one hour, facilitated discussions about key challenges or opportunities for villages. These are free and open to everyone.
February 7, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, via Zoom. Sharing Best Practices for Attracting Volunteers to Virtual Villages. Facilitated, interactive discussion led by Chip Poston, MY Neighbors, Yancy, NC.
March 6, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, via Zoom. Challenges and Best Practices for Multigenerational Villages. Facilitated, interactive discussion led by Abby Simms, North Chevy Chase Connecting, Bethesda, MD.
April 3, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, via Zoom. Sponsorship Revenue for Villages. Presented by Bruce Rosenthal and Donna Mason, North Bethesda Village.
Wednesday, September 18, 11:00 am via Zoom. "Sunday Suppers for Connection & Inclusion"
Cleveland & Woodley Park Village - Washington, D.C.
Frank Finamore, Executive Director of Cleveland & Woodley Park Village in Washington, DC, will describe their partnership with a local church and local restaurants to provide free monthly “Sunday Suppers” open to all older adults in the area, not just members.
Tuesday, October 1, 12:00 pm via Zoom. "Partnering for Transportation Services"
LOWLINC and Rapp at Home villages - Virginia
Jeanne Comeau, LOWLINC, and Victoria Liang, Rapp at Home, directors of villages in rural Virginia, will describe their innovative partnerships with the Regional Transportation Collaborative (RTC—part of the local Area Agency on Aging) to address challenging transportation needs and support people with physical mobility issues.
Wednesday, October 30, 12:00 pm via Zoom. "Monthly Memory Cafes to Connect Diverse Communities"
Golden Age Village - Baltimore, MD
Muhammad Tufail Chaudhry, President, Dr. Anwar Khokhar, and Rubina Ansari, Executive Director, of Golden Age Village, describe their monthly memory cafes, tailored for diverse older adults and caregivers, especially first-generation immigrants.
Shared Calendar of Village Events features activities and events sponsored by individual villages that made available to all villages in the WAVE region as well as others who have an interest. Click here for the Shared Calendar.