3 Voices presents "What makes an age-friendly community?"

3 Voices continues its fall programs on "next steps in your life" with Heidi Whear and Patricia Zaido who will explore “What makes an ‘age-friendly’ community?” on Sunday, November 3, 2 p.m., at The Masonic Hall, 62 Pleasant St., in Marblehead.

Whear currently co-chairs Swampscott for All Ages, a recently formed committee designed to guide Swampscott toward becoming an age-friendly community. Whear has worked in the field of elder services for 30 years as director of a home health agency, adult day health programs as well as assisted living programs. She is passionate about finding creative ways to help our aging family members safely remain in the community. She has extensive experience serving as a supervisor for Resident Service Coordinators who assist elderly age in place in affordable housing communities throughout New England with The Caleb Group. Whear has a Master’s of Public Health from Boston University and a BA from American University.

Zaido is the co-chair of the Salem for All Ages Task Force. She is also a member of the North Shore Physicians Group’s Patient/Family Advisory Board. She has also served as a member of the board of directors of North Shore Elder Services and was the executive director of The Salem Partnership.

North Shore residents may also know Zaido as a faculty member and chairperson of the theatre and speech department at Salem State University from 1965 to 2002 where she was also the founding director of the Center for Creative and Performing Arts. She is the recipient of the Salem State Theatre and Speech Communication Department Lifetime Achievement Award, the Marblehead/Salem Joint Arts Award, the North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Leadership Award, the Leap for Education Distinguished Leadership Award and North Shore Elder Services’ Leadership Award. Zaido earned a bachelor of arts degree at Marymount College, a master’s degree from Boston University and received an honorary doctorate from Salem State University.

Marla P. Meyer, licensed independent clinical social worker in private practice, will moderate the program.

3 Voices programs are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The Masonic Hall is handicap accessible and offers plenty of parking.

3 Voices is an organization dedicated to empowering women to tackle issues that confront them every day. For more information about 3 Voices and its programs, contact 3voicesmhd@gmail.com or visit 3Voices.org.