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Page 6 <br />Residents over the age of 60 currently make up 24% of San <br />Leandro’s population. By 2060, that age group will encompass <br />roughly one-third of the city’s population, a monumental shift in <br />demographics. <br />Such a shift means re-thinking how we design our community. <br />What infrastructure will we need to accommodate an aging <br />population? What services? How can we leverage the productivity <br />of this large, experienced and skilled portion of the population that <br />is still active and has time to contribute? This Plan is our <br />community’s intentional attempt to answer those questions. <br />From Ageist to Age-Friendly Design <br />We cannot approach the work of an Age-Friendly Action Plan <br />without addressing the core reason why we need such a plan. <br />Without engaging in the conversation about ageism, we miss out <br />on an opportunity for community growth, change and connection. <br />Ageism refers to a bias against individuals or groups based on <br />their age. We have to look at ageism through the lens of equity, <br />inclusion and belonging. In order to do that, we need to think about <br />bias as both implicit (i.e., unconscious, subconscious and <br />unintentional) and explicit (i.e., conscious and intentional) and how <br />both can potentially lead to discrimination. <br />This framing allows us to be <br />self-reflective and <br />action-oriented around the <br />fact that we are all socialized <br />into ageism to a greater or <br />lesser extent as humans <br />within our society. These <br />beliefs and social norms affect <br />how we relate to one another, <br />how we organize as families, groups, organizations and <br />institutions, and how we codify policy (or our “social contracts”). <br />City of San Leandro | Age-Friendly Action Plan