November 12, 2025
VMC Takes the Village Model National and Statewide
This fall, Village Movement California brought our mission to two important convenings, demonstrating the growing recognition of the village model as a vital community solution.
By Carolyn Ross, VMC Executive Director.
In early November, I joined village leaders from across the country at the Village to Village Network mini conference, held in conjunction with LeadingAge’s Annual Meeting in Boston. LeadingAge brings together nonprofit aging services providers and mission-driven organizations, making it an ideal venue to showcase how villages fit within the broader aging services landscape. I had the opportunity to present a breakout session on today’s village movement, sharing how VMC is working to scale the model through our Village Incubator and Accelerator programs and strategic partnerships with government and healthcare sectors. A key theme of my presentation focused on the importance of consistency—ensuring all villages speak the language of social care and communicate a unified value proposition to larger stakeholders. It was energizing to connect with Barbara Sullivan and the Village to Village Network board of directors, along with village leaders committed to this work nationwide.
Later in that same week, I attended the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) Annual Conference, which centered on the power of strategic partnerships in strengthening services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers. The opening session, presented by David Lindeman, Chair of the California Commission on Aging, highlighted findings from the Rebuilding Lives: Disaster Response and Recovery for Older Adults and People with Disabilities in California report. Notably, he specifically called out villages—including Pasadena Village—as examples of community organizations creating critical support networks for disaster recovery. This recognition underscores what we already know: villages are not just about social connection; they are essential infrastructure for community resilience.
VMC Board Member Luke Barnesmoore, Managing Director of Strategy for Front Porch’s Home Match program, also attended both conferences, furthering collaborative conversations about housing and aging in place.
These conferences reinforced that the village model is gaining momentum as a recognized solution in both policy and practice circles. The work continues!
