WWHP produced, and AARP co-sponsored, an event about the fight for financial security, health care, and other services for older Americans.

M.T. Cozzola’s original play celebrates Ethel Percy Andrus, the founder of the National Retired Teachers Association and AARP at the Irish American Heritage Center. The play tells the story of three teachers: Ethel Percy Andrus, Hannah, the retired teacher Ethel found living in a chicken coop, and “Tania,” an out-of-work teacher, plus a grocer who worried about Hannah and asked Ethel to check on her.

Helen Ramirez-Odell moderated a panel following the play with panelists Lily Liu, former AARP archivist, speaking about Ethel’s legacy, Arleen Crandall, executive director of the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago, speaking about Illinois teachers’ pensions today, and Ann Marie Cunningham of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus speaking about the importance of political activism to respond to the poverty and racism that some Chicago elderly face. Greeting the audience from AARP was Rosanna Márquez, Illinois President of AARP.