Joining a dream team

By Steve Gurney
Posted on March 31, 2026

My name is Steve Gurney, founder of Positive Aging, and I am honored to now serve as associate publisher of the Beacon Newspapers following the recent merger of our organizations.

Over the years, I have deeply admired the Beacon, especially for its powerful, real-life stories that highlight the experiences, wisdom and voices of older adults. The Beacon has long been an invaluable and trusted source of news and information for our community, and I am truly thrilled to join the team.

I am especially excited about the potential of our combined platforms. Together, we can expand how we connect with Beacon readers and engage more deeply with professionals, families and older adults throughout our region.

Like many in the senior housing field, my journey began with a personal family experience. In the late 1980s, I watched my family help my grandfather make the difficult transition from his longtime home to a nursing center.

That experience inspired me to create a comprehensive guidebook to help other families navigate similar challenges. What started as a small project grew into a fulfilling career in aging services spanning more than three decades.

When the pandemic hit, I began exploring new ways to help people connect online. This led to the creation of the Positive Aging Community — an interactive platform where older adults, families and professionals come together to talk with authors, thought leaders and each other about everything from aging to longevity to living with purpose.

Last month, I joined Margaret Foster, editor of the Beacon, for a live conversation with renowned broadcaster Kojo Nnamdi. He shared insights from his brand-new podcast, Young at Heart, on WAMU. I hope you could tune in! If you missed the live event, you can catch the recording on the Beacon’s website, thebeaconnewspapers.com, or at ProAging.com.

At the heart of it all, I am passionate about helping people live their lives with purpose, no matter their age or ability. Like the Beacon, I’ve found that sharing authentic, personal stories is one of the most powerful ways to connect people with resources, remind them that they have choices, and show that they don’t have to walk their journey alone.

If you’re looking for a resource or solution, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally at gurney@thebeaconnewspapers.com. And if you have a story that you believe could inspire others, we would love to hear from you.

Stay tuned for many exciting things to come. I encourage you to pick up your copy of the Beacon every month and become part of our growing combined community.

Thank you for reading the Beacon. I look forward to connecting with you as we continue celebrating Positive Aging together.