2024 Annual Report
TWENTY YEARS STRONG
JULIE MANWORREN
President and CEO
Volunteers of America - Minnesota and Wisconsin
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR
Welcome,
Our roots as the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging go back to 2004, when leaders from the Minnesota Senior Federation, Trellis (then the Metropolian Area Agency on Aging) and my own organization invited a few trusted leaders in the aging sector to start a unique coalition of non-profit community-based service organizations.
Building on this 20-year commitment to strengthening our state as a great place for us all to age, we contineu to broaden our mission and membership. I'm excited to share that once again, our Delegates just approved a new strategic framework designed to strengthen the aging sector for the future. As you will seee, in these days when diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are shrinking, our shared efforts on this front are strong and growing.
Our new framework includes a refresh of these values that have long served as our foundation - values that are at the heart of who the Leadership Council is, and what we represent:
WE VALUE...
AGING WITH DIGNITY
We value the inherent worth of older people and how their insights and experiences contribute to Minnesota’s social fabric and vitality
EQUITY AT THE CENTER
We value efforts that center equity, ensuring all people have an equal right to be full participants in all spheres of life as we age
STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY
We value collective power, built on authentic relationships, trust, transparency, and a willingness to mobilize together to amplify impact
SPIRIT OF POSSIBILITY
We value the continuous pursuit of wisdom through listening, learning, and broadening our thinking, while embracing possibility as a driving force for change
MISSION
"Uniting leaders to advance equitable opportunities for all Minnesotans as we age."
Grounded in these shared values, you'll also note a revised Mission: Uniting leaders to advance equitable opportunities for all Minnesotans as we age.
Together, we are seeking to harness the incredible strength and ingenuity of Minnesota's aging sector as well as welcome others to this important work. As we embark on this new strategy framework, I thank you - each of you - for being part of our community. We know 2025 will bring both opportunity and challenge, but thank goodness we have each other and the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging. I look forward to having you enegage with us.
Sincerely,
JULIE MANWORREN
Chair
MN Leadership Council on Aging

2024 HIGHLIGHTS
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TRUSTED EVENTS
We continued our tradition of hosting convenings that matter.
POWERFUL PUBLIC POLICY
We advocated for the right public policy. For the right reasons. At the right times.
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MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We championed diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities in which to age.
REFRAMED LANGUAGE
We are working towards a Minnesota free of ageism.
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MINNESOTA'S MULTISECTOR BLUEPRINT FOR AGING
We championed coordinated age-friendly systems.
PARTNERSHIP
We fostered public, private and non-profit collaborations.
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ADAM SUOMALA
Executive Director
MN Leadership Council on Aging
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR
Over our past 20 years, we've broadened our mission and membership, growing our 20-year commitment to strengthening Minnesota as a great place for us all to age. I'm excited to share that once again, our Delegates just approved a new strategic framework designed to strengthen the aging sector.
Our new framework includes a refresh of the values that serve as our foundation. These restated values are at the heart of who the Leadership Council is, and what we represent.
ORGANIZING STRATEGIES...
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
We build trusted connections that bring forward and center the full diversity of voices aging across our state.
POWERFUL CONVENINGS
We cultivate understanding, forge consensus, co-design solutions, and learn together.
SYSTEMS CHANGE
We mobilize collective expertise and networks to develop and advance transformational aging policy and initiatives.
Grounded in these shared values, we also revised our Mission Statement: Uniting leaders to advance equitable opportunities for all Minnesotans as we age.
Together, we seek to harness the incredible strength and ingenuity of Minnesota's aging sector as well as welcome others to this important work. As we launch into this new framework and year, I thank you - each of you - for being part of our efforts.
I look forward to seeing you engage with us in the days ahead. We know 2025 will bring opportunity and challenge, but thank goodness we have each other and the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging.
Sincerely,
ADAM SUOMALA
Executive Director
MN Leadership Council on Aging
AGING WITH DIGNITY
We value the inherent worth of older people and how their insights and experiences contribute to Minnesota’s social fabric and vitality
EQUITY AT THE CENTER
We value efforts that center equity, ensuring all people have an equal right to be full participants in all spheres of life as we age
STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY
We value collective power, built on authentic relationships, trust, transparency, and a willingness to mobilize together to amplify impact
SPIRIT OF POSSIBILITY
We value the continuous pursuit of wisdom through listening, learning, and broadening our thinking, while embracing possibility as a driving force for change
For those of you who may be new to our work, the roots of the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging go back to 2004, when the leadership of the Minnesota Senior Federation, Volunteers of America - Minnesota and Trellis (then the Metropolian Area Agency on Aging) invited a few leaders to the table to form a coalition of non-profit community-based service organizations.
Over the years, we've broadened our mission and membership and continue to build on our 20-year tradition of innovation and commitment to strengthen Minnesota as a great place to age.
I'm excited to share that once again, our Delegates just approved a new strategic framework designed to strengthen the aging sector in the years ahead.
Twenty Years Strong
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AGING WITH DIGNITY
We value the inherent worth of older people and how their insights and experiences contribute to Minnesota’s social fabric and vitality
EQUITY AT THE CENTER
We value efforts that center equity, ensuring all people have an equal right to be full participants in all spheres of life as we age
STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY
We value collective power, built on authentic relationships, trust, transparency, and a willingness to mobilize together to amplify impact
SPIRIT OF POSSIBILITY
We value the continuous pursuit of wisdom through listening, learning, and broadening our thinking, while embracing possibility as a driving force for change
TAGLINE
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Board of Directors
Officers
- Julie Manworren, Chair
- Kristin Rigg, Vice Chair
- James Falvey, Immediate Past Chair
- Amanda Vickstrom, Secretary
- Ann Bailey, Treasurer
- Adam Suomala, President
Directors At Large
- Robert Freeman
- Heidi Holste
- Kimelyn Knight
- Patricia McArdle
- Patrick Rowan
Committee Chairs
- Ruth Hampton Olkon, Nominating Committee
- Deb Taylor, Events Committee
- Katey Zanotelli-Wade DEI Committee
- Dawn Simonson, Age-Friendly Minnesota Committee
- Kari Thurlow, Policy Committee
Members July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
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