AARP Foundation President Visits a NH ROC

AARP Foundation President Lisa Marsh Ryerson visited Medvil Cooperative in Goffstown, N.H., last Friday. She met for an hour with three Medvil Directors, Kim Capen, president; Barbara Giordani, vice president; and Susan Soule, secretary, in one of the co-op’s two community centers. Medvil is a 301-home community that was purchased by the homeowners in 2006 with the help of the NH Community Loan Fund, a ROC USA affiliate. The Community Loan Fund was represented in the meeting by Juliana Eades, its president.

Paul Bradley, president of ROC USA arranged the visit, capitalizing on a commencement address Ryerson was making the next morning at Southern New Hampshire University.

The Directors shared the Medvil story. After hearing about the community, Ryerson said, “You are hitting on all of the important elements of what it takes for people to live healthy lives. It starts with stable and affordable housing and from there goes to creating multiple ways people can remain engaged and active in a safe and secure community like this. I just love what you’re doing here!”

The AARP Foundation is both a lender to ROC USA Capital and a donor to ROC USA. The foundation is also funding the development of a guide for ROC members that will include information about securing community infrastructure and home improvement resources.