Meet Michael: Building Community Through Respect, Engagement, and Empowerment.
At Wholesome Wave Georgia (WWG), our neighbors are at the heart of everything we do. Since 2021, our dedicated Community Developer Michael, has led the way in creating programs that honor, respect, and empower Older Adults age in place and fight ageism. His approach, known as the Make Community Model, is built on three core pillars:
- Breadcrumbs of Engagement: Supporting Aging in Place.
Michael’s first pillar focuses on meaningful engagement with Older Adults. By bringing programming directly to where they live, he ensures they receive support in a way that is patient, transparent, and respectful. This “breadcrumbs of engagement” method fosters a culture where aging is valued and respected, allowing communication to happen with ease, and mutual understanding.
- Power To, Not Power Over: Fighting Ageism from Within
Too often, Older Adults are stereotyped and overlooked despite their lifelong contributions to society. Michael is committed to ending ageism by first addressing internalized biases, helping seniors recognize and reclaim their voices.
Through self discovery and empowerment, Older Adults are encouraged to take agency over their own lives, embracing autonomy and self determination. Supporting in this way requires humility, and Michael learned firsthand how listening to their wisdom transformed our programs for the better.
- Community Determines the Value
True community development happens when Older Adults themselves lead the way. Michael believes that collaboration and community partnership is key to building sustainable support systems.
Instead of pushing our own solutions, WWG relies on their voices, experiences, and insights to guide our work. By using observation, collaboration, and active listening, we ensure that every program is designed with Older Adults, for Older Adults.
Michael’s work is a testament to the power of respectful, community focused, service centered engagement. Through the Make Community Model, WWG continues to build inclusive, empowering spaces where Older Adults can thrive, age in place, and redefine what healthy aging looks like.
