More than 150 leaders from the business, education, government and nonprofit sectors will gather April 7 at the Pikes Peak Center for a first-of-its-kind day-long summit focused on making the Colorado Springs region a great place to age.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a number of years since we have come together as a larger community to explore new ideas and new options about aging,\u201d said Toby Gannett, CEO of Palisades at Broadmoor Park and a member of the steering committee for the conference. \u201cWe welcome the opportunity to come together as volunteers with a keen interest in our aging population, their families, our nonprofit agencies and service providers.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
By 2015, almost 12 percent of El Paso County residents will be more than 65 years old. By 2035, that number is expected to grow to more than 18 percent, as life expectancy continues to increase and birth rates in the post-Baby Boom generation lag. In comparison, 8 percent of the county\u2019s population was more than 65 in 1990. By 2035, there will be fewer than three workers for every retired El Paso County resident, compared to seven workers for each retiree in 2000. The reality of the demographic shift led to a 24-member stakeholders group to bring together experts and community leaders for this summit.<\/p>\n
The keynote speaker for the event, Stan Gryskiewicz, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Gryskiewicz is a consultant who specializes in leadership, creativity, innovation and change management as part of the Center for Creative Leadership. Following his speech, participants will break into small groups to discuss innovation opportunities in areas such as arts and culture; urban planning and transportation; economic development; living communities; life-long learning; and wellness and recreation. During the afternoon, Kathryn Lawler, a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission, will address participants and provide counsel about successful community collaborations.<\/p>\n
The event is co-chaired by community leaders BJ Scott, CEO of PeakVista, and Barbara Yalich of Inasmuch Foundation with support from the following individuals and organizations:<\/p>\n