photo by steed media service

Since its inception in 1975, Elderhostel has firmly established itself as the undisputed leader among education and travel organizations for adults 55 and over. As the nonprofit organization continues to expand the horizons of adults seeking to see the world in an impactful way, there has been a concerted internal effort by the company to engage an under-served segment of the population. With over 8,000 programs currently running in more than 90 countries, there was still a noticeable lack of involvement in the African American community. Enter Kathy Taylor. As the associate vice president of community development for Elderhostel, Taylor has been intently focused on educating the African American community about the endless possibilities at their disposal through Elderhostel. “Since day one, I’ve been dedicated to spreading the word throughout our community about this company, and the tremendous services that it provides,” Taylor explains. “The challenge that we face comes because we don’t advertise — we never have. It’s strictly been a word-of-mouth experience, and unfortunately, we normally only talk to people that are like us. But with this new push that we are making, our connection to the black community should increase exponentially.” One such initiative to increase awareness within the black community is the creation of the “Asa Grant Hilliard III Road Scholar Award for Lifelong Learning,” which was named after the late iconic educator and historian. Awarded to an African American educator who is on the faculty of a historically black college or university, this award is another example of Elderhostel’s commitment to offering a whole new world to those in our community who desire it. -dewayne rogers

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