From founding mission to lasting impact: Reflections from CEO Amy Schectman
Anniversaries are a chance to celebrate, reflect, and look ahead. 2Life’s 60th anniversary is no exception!
Our founders were determined to ensure everyone would have access to safe housing, even as housing prices escalated across the city. We take that imperative to heart and, over the years, have expanded both the number of apartments for older adults in financial need and the support services and opportunities to connect within our communities.
Our approach blends loving-kindness with intentionality. As an organization committed to reflective practice, we constantly study our own experiences, conditions for optimal aging, and the housing market, implementing best practices and sharing them with the field.
Here is what we have learned:
- On average, 2Life residents live more than 8 years longer than the national average—proof that stable housing and a loving community impact longevity and vitality.
- There is a huge gap for older adults who earn too much for subsidized housing but cannot afford market-rate options. This inspired Opus, our first middle-income retirement community, staying true to our founders’ imperative to leave no one out.
- 2Life’s success lies in attracting and retaining extraordinary staff deeply committed to our mission. We create a supportive environment where employees celebrate each other’s achievements and grow professionally.
- Being prepared is crucial. 2Life had built enormous trust and flexible financial resources, enabling us to protect the lives of our 1,600 vulnerable residents during the COVID pandemic. Harvard University even wrote a case study documenting our response.
We will continue to serve and advocate relentlessly for every older adult to have the opportunity to live fully and joyously. As a Jewish organization, we are values-driven and hold ourselves to very high standards. We cast a wide net to serve everyone in need and do so to honor the life experiences, wisdom, and dignity of all of society’s elders. In this way, we pass along the meaning of community from generation to generation, and go from strength to strength.
Onward!
