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Great Neighbors

By Christian Alexander, 2018 Bezos Scholar • Estimated reading time:2 mins

2018 Bezos Scholar Christian Alexander and educator Victoria Kratz created the Great Neighbors project to help the elderly in their community of Hawthorne, CA form caring, lasting connections and relationships to reduce community isolation. 

Great Neighbors

After surveying the senior citizens in his community, Scholar Christian Alexander and educator Victoria Katz found that seniors in their area were in need of mental support and upliftment to help them fight against feelings of loneliness and potential depression. They also found that some seniors were in need of an advocate to help them through various matters, such as assistance in health and monetary concerns, and to aid with light housework, gardening, or maintenance. Keeping in mind the needs of their community, the duo created the Great Neighbors event to inform seniors of resources and services available to them as well as to create bonds within the community so that seniors can continue to take advantage of the events and resources at their senior center.

Christian has continued his Community Change Project, Great Neighbors, to support senior citizens in his community of Hawthorne, CA. He recently had an interview with his local news outlet sharing how he is planning on keeping Great Neighbors sustainable while considering the additional impacts the global pandemic has had on seniors. Watch it on YouTube and specifically jump to 17:59 for the interview which goes to 23.55 mark. Nice work Christian, we are proud of you!