IYOP '99 has come and gone ? We are all in
debt to the United Nations for
having designated this past year leading to the dawn of a new century as the International Year of Older Persons. Older global villagers who haven't had the privilege of knowing or
meeting Ambassador Julia T. Alvarez of the Dominican Republic are in her debt for having
prompted the UN to recognize the importance of older people in this fashion.
Our planet's soon-to-be one billion elders make rich,
unique contributions to our communities, cultures, societies, and the arts and sciences.
Thus, during the last year of a truly remarkable century, various groups of people all
over the world prepared to celebrate global aging. And so did we.
The Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor
College of Medicine worked with the IYOP
'99 Greater Houston Region's Steering Committee. This planning committee was comprised of
colleagues at The University of Texas-Houston Center on Aging, The Houston/Harris County
Area on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Center on Aging, and
The University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work Program on Aging (contact them
from the links found in the gray sidebar). Together, these universities marshaled the
resources of many Houston-area groups to conduct activities in schools, churches,
community centers and articles in newspapers and TV reports. These activities, we believe,
helped promote the interdependence we all have, one to the other, irrespective of age.
One of those activities was this page on our Web site to
which we will continue adding interesting features during 2000. In anticipation of this,
please let us know what you're interested in seeing here. Do you know of an interesting
older person in Houston or elsewhere who's doing something quite remarkable? If so,
let us know.
Also, the HCOA 2000 Arts in Aging Calendar features
older artists from around the globe to once again point out that older artisans still
produce things of beauty that, like Calder's mobiles, have one purpose: to delight us.
This year's group ranges in age from 70-105 years of age, and their works span the
continents and the hemispheres.
To get us started, here's just an example of some
beautiful art by Mr. Jim Seigler, whose
"Doing Lunch" can be enjoyed as February 2000.
