Our History - Village at Kentlands and Lakelands

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OUR HISTORY

The Village at Kentlands and Lakelands began with a need that the founding members saw all around them--friends moving away from the homes and communities they loved because of their age. They realized it was a problem that would only get worse as their neighborhood demographics changed. According to the 2014 American Community Survey, 25% of the population of Kentlands and Lakelands were 55 years of age or older. What could be done to help those who wanted to grow old in their homes? Founding members learned how this question was answered by another community with the same needs. Twenty years ago, a group of people from a handful of neighborhoods in Boston, MA. hatched an innovative plan of a community within a community, where neighbors helped neighbors to remain actively engaged and to achieve the goal of aging in their own homes.
From that idea the Beacon Hill Village was born.

In the years since, the Village concept has swept across the nation. Our founders saw the potential of this model and, in 2015, they surveyed our older residents and began to plan. The Village at Kentlands and Lakelands was launched as a pilot program in 2016. Over the last few years our membership rolls have grown and we have recruited a talented pool of volunteers. By harnessing the very values that can make our neighborhoods such special places to live and thrive---community, friendship, inclusiveness, and service---our Village is off to a great start.