The American Society on Aging Joins Allies Across the Globe in Celebration of Ageism Awareness Day
Pagosa Springs – Archuleta Seniors Inc. and the American Society on Aging (www.asaging.org) encourage everyone to celebrate Ageism Awareness Day on Oct. 7, 2023. Modeled after the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (Oct. 1), Ageism Awareness Day provides an opportunity to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in our society.
“We live in an aging society, which is a wonderful, remarkable thing,” says ASA’s Interim President & CEO Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD. “But too many of us view aging with fear, denial and even hostility. We are all growing older. We can’t afford to limit ourselves and other people with such negative and harmful views, and why would we want to? Let’s lean into the opportunities, diversity and full range of experiences that come with aging.”
The most widespread and socially accepted form of prejudice, ageism is defined by the World Health Organization as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudices (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.”
Evidence shows ageism is widespread in society and can be found everywhere, from our workplaces and health systems to stereotypes we see on TV, advertising and in the media.
In a recent webinar from Changing the Narrative – Ending Ageism Together (www.changingthenarrativeco.org) on “Ageism in Healthcare,” speaker Kirs Geerken, Program Manager, said that ageism can shorten the lifespan by 7.5 years, hinder recovery, increase cognitive decline, social isolation and loneliness, and increase anxiety and depression.

During the 21st Annual Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta that took place this past July 29, 2023, community members of all ages joined together with Archuleta Seniors Inc. to celebrate the rich Hispanic, Native and Anglo heritage of Archuleta County with music, libations, dancing, vendors, color and more. Along with all the wonderful memories made over $20,000 was fundraised to benefit the older adults of Archuleta County along with 15% of net proceeds, or just over $3000, going into the newly established Intergenerational Fiesta Hispanic and BIPOC Scholarship Fund.
Scholarships specifically for BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) or Hispanic youth going on to education beyond high school were part of fundraising historically by the Hispanic community. There have not been scholarships dedicated exclusively to BIPOC or Hispanic youth in Archuleta County since at least 2006. Those under 18 who come from underserved families are approximately 17% or 663 youth, who could compete for the scholarships. Reestablishing the scholarship program helps support the educational aspirations of these youth.
Archuleta Seniors Inc. proposed to collaborate with the community; the path forward is intergenerational; the essence is our elderly community members working with our younger community members i.e., students, to create the future by investing in education for the underserved from our county.
In the past, Spanish Fiestas were one of the ways funds were raised for the scholarships. Per se, the Spanish Fiesta is not new, but was re-established after a 20-year hiatus this year, 2023. The Spanish Fiestas educate the public on the history and diversity of indigenous/native and early settlers in this region, most of which exists in oral history, songs and sayings. Most important has been the inclusion of school age residents to participate in the fiesta and to be awarded scholarships for their efforts.
Several Archuleta County entities and individuals had interest in re-establishing this annual event but the explosive growth in the county in the last 20 years had diverted resources and attention. Archuleta Seniors Inc was successful in bringing all those individuals and entities together to form the Spanish Fiesta Committee in January of 2023. Archuleta Seniors Inc has agreed to cover the upfront costs of the 2023 and future fiestas and will share the proceeds with the scholarship program.
In addition to the funds raised during the 21st Annual Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta, Executive Director, Rose Chavez, applied on behalf of Archuleta Seniors Inc. to the La Plata Electric Association Roundup Foundation board for an additional $2000 dollars. On Monday August 28, 2023, the LPEA Roundup Foundation board announced that they would fully fund Archuleta Seniors Inc. Spanish Fiesta committee Intergenerational Fiesta Hispanic & BIPOC Scholarship Fund. With these additional funds the committee is now set to award 5 $1000 scholarships for the 2024 school year.
The Archuleta Seniors Inc. Spanish Fiesta committee is inviting community members to help form the Intergenerational Fiesta Hispanic & BIPOC Scholarship Fund committee this fall and winter. This committee will be instrumental in determining the criteria for the scholarships and promoting the scholarship fund to the community to generate applicants from amongst individuals seeking higher education opportunities. If you are interested please contact executive director, Rose Chavez, at [email protected] for more information and additional details.