Our Mission

Our mission is simple: to celebrate 80 people 80 and older in San Francisco.

During the month of May 2022, Older Americans Month, we shared 80 profiles of San Franciscans in their 80s and older on this website.

Why?

Because our city, our community, is the people who live here.

There are more people than at any other point in history living in this part of elderhood in our city. Our population is reaching new chronological heights: nearly 30% will be 60 or older by 2030.

We want to get to know our older residents and celebrate those who have passed the remarkable milestone of reaching 80. We think that even the ordinary is extraordinary after 80. While we are used to celebrating the young achievers, we are a society rich in age diversity and that adds to everyone’s experience.

There is also a reason to see more faces and hear more voices from people in their 80s and up. Ageism is pervasive and we lack representation and visibility for people in older age groups. That hurts everyone.

Ageism against older people is problematic. It leads to worse health and health care for older people. Structural ageism leads to worse health as we age. For those of us who are not yet in elderhood, if we can envision ourselves older and resilient, adaptable, wise, and socially connected, then we are more likely to be that way.

This project isn’t about profiling superagers. The participants we have talked to are remarkable people, regardless of whether are not they are “successful” in aging. They have lived longer than most people, so they have faced challenges, have gained wisdom, and have practiced resiliency. Many are managing disabilities that have developed as they have gotten older. We sought to represent the remarkable diversity of SF’s older adults across gender, language, culture, race, disability, economic status, and sexual orientation. After talking to 80 people, we can say that SF’s older adults are growing, struggling, connecting, working, relaxing, traveling, parenting, organizing, sheltering in place, looking to the future, and living.

This campaign honors the richness of experience and diversity that our older residents bring to San Francisco. It's time to showcase our residents who are 80 and older and show how together we are a city.

We want people from all ages, abilities, neighborhoods, and backgrounds to engage with this project. Let us know your thoughts and your hopes for this project by connecting with us.