Leigh Rodenbough

Our Mission

"We enhance the well-being of older people through creative arts programming, education and training."

Located in Greensboro, the Creative Aging Network - NC (CAN-NC) (formerly the Center for Creative Aging North Carolina) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing older adults' access to creative programming throughout the state. Artists work in community with aging service providers to implement creative classes such as painting, dancing, singing, poetry, writing, storytelling and more. But creative self-expression doesn't stop there. It encompasses the full range of human activities and includes all sorts of activities such as quilting, knitting, wood-carving, gardening, cooking and so much more.

Enabling older North Carolinians to create works that honor their life history and creative vision is a powerful step in validating their very existence. CAN-NC strives to increase access to creative opportunities for minority populations, low-income aged, and those with inhibiting medical conditions. When implemented with staff support and participation, creative programs enhance the person-centered care concept and honor the voices of elders as well as those working closest with them.

The role of CAN-NC is to complement, enhance and initiate creative programming in existing aging service organizations by providing education and training to staff as well as artists and by focusing on the creative potential of older adults and the positive health outcomes resulting from active engagement.

CAN-NC offers a variety of services for healthcare providers and arts organizations including personalized consultations, on-site training, educational workshops and creative aging presentations.

CAN-NC also partners with universities to conduct research on originally designed programs. Through this collaborative work we can better meet our goal of improving the quality of life of older people through the creative arts.

The Creative Aging Network - NC is a network organization of the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA). The NCCA is committed to shaping the field of creative aging and each year the organization provides thousands of professionals in health care, social work, and the arts with the theoretical framework and hands-on skills needed to implement sustained, quality creative programs for older people.

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