The July edition of the Welcoming Community newsletter delves into the topic of age equity. In the context of welcoming efforts throughout the Northland, age equity involves efforts to support the full participation of all community members regardless of the stage of life they are in.
An important tenet of age equity is combating age discrimination, also known as ageism. According to the World Health Organization, ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based on age. The effects of ageism impact individuals of all ages and can intersect with or worsen inequities related to other social characteristics such as gender, race, and disability.
Age can also present a barrier to participating in and enjoying community activities, as well as the ability to access resources to the fullest extent. Systemic age-related disparities exist in health care, employment, housing, community engagement, transportation access, and many other aspects of society and our communities.
While initiatives are often focused on elders, addressing age discrimination helps to ensure that all individuals, regardless of age, can take part and thrive in our communities. Even a simple bench in a grocery store can make a difference for an elder, parent, or child who needs a break.
Further welcoming efforts around age equity might include:
- Supporting all-ages community events and activities that bring people of different generations together to foster mutual understanding and connections.
- Implementing inclusive hiring practices, such as a Returnship Program, to provide equitable opportunities in the workforce, regardless of age.
- Advocating for accessible public transportation to ensure that all individuals of all ages can easily participate in community life and access essential services and resources.
- Facilitating intergenerational mentorships where both younger and older community members can benefit by sharing skills, knowledge, and experience.
Considering the relationship between age and inclusion is essential to understanding a more complete picture of equity across the Northland. Visit the Resources to Explore section below to learn more about current initiatives to promote age equity in northeast Minnesota.
“People of all ages benefit from the adoption of policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, feature transportation options, enable access to key services, provide opportunities to participate in community activities, and support housing that’s affordable and adaptable.” —AARP
Continued Learning
The goal of the Welcoming Community program is to provide the community with continued opportunities for learning and connection related to topics relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our region. In our monthly updates, we highlight a specific equity topic and provide resources related to the monthly theme.
The theme for the month of July is age equity. When exploring the learnings in the Resources to Explore section below, we ask you to consider the following question:
“In terms of age equity in northeast Minnesota, where have we come from, where are we now, and what steps do we need to take to reach an equitable future?”
Resources to Explore
MN Leadership Council on Aging: Age-Friendly Minnesota
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA): Homepage
Minnesota Board on Aging: Senior LinkAge Line
NORTHFORCE: Free Returnships Toolkit
AARP: AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
MinnesotaHelp: Focus on Seniors
Northland Foundation: Age to Age: Bringing Generations Together
Minnesota Elder Justice Center: How to Get Help
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Save the Date!
4th Annual Equity Summit
October 1st, 2024
Planning is underway for the fourth annual Equity Summit which will take place October 1, 2024, at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, Minnesota.
The 2023 summit included over 20 presenters and 180 attendees. The day-long event featured keynote speaker Jonathan Thunder and also included interactive workshops with topics related to inclusion and belonging in the Northland. Feedback from past years is being considered and integrated into the plans for 2024. There has been a desire to see even more opportunities for interactive engagement and learning, which has been a focus of the planning for this year.
The annual Equity Summit is an opportunity for residents, newcomers, elected officials, law enforcement, environmental advocates, community leaders, and business owners to gather with workforce and economic development, government, philanthropy, and other sectors. As part of Northspan’s Welcoming Community program, the goal of the Equity Summit is to help forge a more inclusive future in northeast Minnesota.
Interested in sponsoring the Equity Summit in 2024? Use the link HERE or contact Northspan’s Welcoming Community Program Coordinator Amber Lewis at alewis@northspan.org.
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Welcoming: In the News!
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Welcoming Events Across the Northland
Many initiatives are ongoing to support Welcoming across northeast Minnesota. Listed below are some in-person and digital opportunities to explore and participate in!
Do you know about a connection opportunity we could highlight in an upcoming newsletter? Submit proposals to alewis@northspan.org by August 10, 2024.
FinnFest 2024
July 24 – 28, 2024
DECC, Duluth, MN
Learn more here
Spirit Valley Days
August 1 – 3, 2024
Grand Avenue, Duluth, MN
Learn more here
Fond du Lac 46th Annual Sobriety Powwow
August 2 – 4, 2024
Mash-ka-Wisen Powwow Grounds
Sawyer, MN
Learn more here
Rendezvous Days Celebration Powwow
August 9 – 11, 2024
Grand Portage National Monument
Grand Portage, MN
Learn more here
Range Iron Pride
August 10, 2024, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Iron Trail Motors Event Center
Virginia, MN
Learn more here
Embarrass Region Fair
August 23 – 25, 2024
Timber Hall and Fairgrounds, Embarrass, MN
Learn more here
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Invite a Friend
If you know others in your community who are interested in participating with Welcoming Community programming, please share this page so they can learn more & Click Here to join our email list.
Contact Northspan’s Welcoming Community Program Coordinator Amber Lewis at alewis@northspan.org with any questions.