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Serving Arlington · Belmont · Cambridge · Somerville · Watertown

About Cambridge Neighbors

Learn more about our mission, vision, and values.

Our Mission

Cambridge Neighbors is a nonprofit, membership-driven organization dedicated to promoting healthy aging and aging in place, serving adults aged 60 and older in Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Somerville and Watertown by providing access to centralized resources, services, and opportunities to connect with one another.

Our Vision

As part of the national village movement, Cambridge Neighbors’ vision is to help create a society that promotes aging in place so that older adults can thrive as they age – defining and enjoying life on their own terms. Cambridge Neighbors will continue and expand its work to foster a supportive community by providing opportunities for active learning, social engagement, and access to a variety of practical resources and services.

Our Values

  • Inclusiveness – (Welcoming members of diverse cultures, faiths, genders, orientations, and abilities).
  • Compassion – (Supporting and caring for one another)
  • Collaboration – (Member-driven mindset of working together).
  • Community – (Strong relationships within and outside the village).
  • Individuality – (Respecting and celebrating the uniqueness of each member).
  • Sustainability – (Managing our organization with fiscal discipline and responsibility).
  • Accountability/Transparency – (Communicating with integrity and respect for all)
  • Life-long learning – (Openness to change and evolving and growing)
  • Enjoyment of Life – (Enhancing life’s enjoyment by promoting physical and mental health)
  • Belonging – (Building strong relationships of mutual respect)

We Prefer to Age in Place

According to an AARP study, 90% of Americans aged 65 and older want to live in their own homes and communities as they grow older. Along with the comfort, familiarity and privacy of one’s own home, people develop connections and relationships where they work, shop, bank, and vote. This sense of familiarity and community cannot be easily replicated, which is why aging in place plays a significant role in successful and healthy aging.

Our History

Cambridge Neighbors is a leading membership-based grassroots organization that is part of a larger network of national and international “Villages”, an innovative movement that fosters a “neighbors helping neighbors” culture as we age. The first village, Beacon Hill Village, was established in 2002. Today, there are over 300 village organizations nationwide with many in development.

Cambridge Neighbors was founded in 2007 by a group of forward-thinking Cambridge residents who took inspiration from Beacon Hill Village in believing that older adults should have the opportunities and supports necessary to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

Village to Village Network

Village to Village Network (VTVN) is a national peer-to-peer network to help establish and continuously improve management of villages whether in large metropolitan areas, rural towns or suburban settings. The mission of VtV is to enable communities to establish and effectively manage aging-in-community organizations initiated and inspired by their members. Click the link to find Villages that are sprouting up in communities across the country. Together we have the power and means to design our own futures and keep control of our own lives.