Age-Friendly Health & Tech Showcase
June 29, 2023

On May 31, the Live Well Springfield Age-friendly Coalition, in collaboration with the Aging Unbound Department of Alder Affairs Outreach Division, hosted an Age-friendly Health and Tech Showcase for over 125 older adult residents and community participants at the Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center. 

 

In the morning attendees participated in two workshops for older adults and caregivers. Tech Spring and Live Well Springfield hosted a workshop with 30 - 40 older adults and caregivers to understand their motivation and hesitation about health solutions at home. The Alliance for Digital Equity hosted the second workshop introducing a cyber senior peer-to-peer model. Participants had the opportunity to visit vendors specializing in health, tech, wellness, and the digital divide throughout the duration of the event.  

 

Attendees heard remarks from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Commissioner of Health and Human Services Helen Caulton-Harris, State Representative Bud L. Williams, Public Health Institute's Executive Director Jessica Collins, and Eliana Gutierrez of the Department of Elder Affairs.  

 

Press Coverage : 

 

Highlights from our event can be seen below in our recap video. 

By Samantha Hamilton February 26, 2026
This month, Live Well Springfield (LWS) and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) partnered with the City of Springfield to host a listening session on inland flooding. Inland flooding happens when rain overwhelms local drainage systems, for example, when basements flood or when streets and sidewalks turn into rivers and ponds during heavy rain. Participants heard directly from Chris Cignoli, Director of the Springfield Department of Public Works (DPW), about the city's history and infrastructure related to waterways, piping, and flood prevention. Residents gained a deeper understanding of how city systems respond to flooding, what the DPW is responsible for, and the budget constraints the department faces. Chris encouraged residents to contact the city using the local 311 line to report potential flood risks or flooding-related issues, which creates a formal service request that must be investigated. The workshop centered resident voices and explored how flooding from heavy rainfall and the Connecticut River is impacting daily life across Springfield. Residents shared firsthand accounts of flooded basements, eroding yards, blocked storm drains, and chronic street flooding, revealing how widespread and interconnected these challenges are across neighborhoods. Working in small groups, participants mapped the areas in their neighborhoods most affected by flooding, connecting personal experiences with broader patterns of risk across the city. The information shared by residents will help inform Springfield's upcoming 10-year infrastructure plan, as well as regional flood risk reports being developed by PVPC and FRCOG.
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