Village to Village Network Moves Headquarters to St. Louis

Local Executive to Lead International Senior Resource Organization

ST. LOUIS, MO, (January 6, 2015) – The Village to Village Network (VtV Network), an international nonprofit organization promoting the aging-in-community movement, has moved its headquarters to St. Louis, Mo. to better serve its members on both coasts and new villages in the middle of the country. To provide additional support, St. Louis area native Natalie Galucia has been named Director of the VtV Network. The office recently opened in the TechArtista building at 4818 Washington Ave. in the Central West End neighborhood.

The Village to Village Network provides guidance to Villages, non-for-profit membership organizations offering comprehensive support and social engagement to seniors wanting to maintain independence. Villages use trained volunteers and vetted businesses to provide a broad range of services, and members choose which services and activities they desire. This cost-effective model for addressing the needs of an aging population has experienced dramatic growth recently, especially in the Midwest, as more seniors opt to stay home as long as possible. Though each Village operates independently, the groups share best practices through the VtV Network.

“After assisting with the successful launch of STL Village last year, I’m excited about coordinating this national movement from St. Louis,” said Galucia. “Villages empower seniors to remain in their homes comfortably and safely; and we look forward to building stronger, multi-generational communities around the globe as this concept continues to grow,” she added.

The VtV Network currently has 251 member organizations located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and four countries (U.S., Netherlands, Canada and Australia); nationwide, there are approximately 25,000 members receiving services through Villages. STL Village, the first Village in the St. Louis region, opened in June 2014 and has 73 members.

“The choice of St. Louis as the headquarters and Galucia as director was a great combination. Natalie has developed strong relationships with our member organizations in her previous role as member services coordinator,” said Arthur J. Culbert, Ph.D., who serves on the boards of both VtV Network and STL Village. . “As a resident of St. Louis, she already has connections to many local and national organizations that can work with VtV to strengthen the Village movement.

Galucia holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Concordia University in Wisconsin and earned a master’s in social work from Washington University in St. Louis in 2012. She will manage all aspects of the VtV Network, with support from the organization’s board of directors.

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Contact: Natalie Galucia, natalie@vtvnetwork.org, (617) 299-9638

The Village to Village Network is a 501c3 organization created by Villages for Villages. The Village to Village Network helps communities establish and manage their own “Villages.”  For more information, visit www.vtvnetwork.org.