Older Americans Month was first established in 1963 after President John F. Kennedy met with the National Council of Senior Citizens.  The primary purpose of this month is to acknowledge the contributions of senior citizens, both past and present.  Each year, a theme is designated for the month’s entirety.  2018’s theme is Engage at Every Age, which emphasizes it’s never too late to take part in activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional health.

This cultural heritage month is especially poignant given that more senior citizens are working now than ever before.  Approximately 9 million older Americans have reported working part- or full-time jobs. 

Their contributions span multiple industries.  Actress Betty White’s credits expand back to 1945.  She’s well-known for her successful run on the late 1980s sitcom Golden Girls. However, she has continued to influence popular culture with three additional credits in 2017 and a 5-season run on Hot in Cleveland.

Warren Buffett is one of the world’s wealthiest men.  He’s had an incredible impact on the business world and still serves as Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman and CEO.  At 87 years old, every move he makes is still headline-worthy. He recently bought 31 shares of Apple as he dropped IBM—a strategic move that sent investors flocking to the tech giant. 

In the fields of law and civil rights activism, there’s Randall Robinson.  Throughout his career, he has championed the rights of Haitian immigrants and fought against apartheid.  Perhaps the defining moment of his legacy was the founding of TransAfrica, a D.C.-based advocacy organization that works on foreign policy affecting groups from the African diaspora.  He currently serves as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law.

During Older Americans Month, it’s crucial to celebrate not only the cultural contributions of the past but the many ways in which older Americans continue to shape and influence the country today.