Our Diversity Matrix

RACIAL IDENTITY

Some of us identify as Black, Bi-Racial, or Latino, while most use variations of “white,” noting nuances such as Scandinavian or European descent.

ORIGIN STORIES

Most of us were born or spent our formative years in the United States, but not all. We include first-generation immigrants who moved to Minnesota from other Territories and Countries as well as Delegates who draw on the stories and experiences of immigrant parents and grandparents.

We are all fluent in English and collectively also speak Spanish, Russian, and French.

GENDER

We use “female” and “male” designations to describe our gender identities. More than two thirds of us use terms like “woman” rooted in femininity. Most of us add modifiers such as “cisgender” to note alignment with our assigned gender at birth and regularly use “he/him” or “she/her” pronouns, affirming preferred gender expressions. 

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Delegates identify with sexual orientations across a spectrum, including 23% as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, and 77% as straight or heterosexual. 

OTHER IDENTITIES

More than half of us identify as spouses, parents, or caregivers to loved ones all across the lifespan. Ten percent of us live with visible and/or invisible physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities.

Other important identities we hold up as part of our collective experience include being siblings, friends, members of faith communities (e.g. Christian, Jewish, Unitarian), mentors, advocates, life-long learners, and children of people living with Alzheimer’s.

EXPERIENCE

Our diverse array of personal and professional journeys includes career milestones that span decades of service in non-profit human services, such as leadership roles in the aging sector, health care, and in many community-based organizations.

We wear titles such as business founder, commissioned minister, grandparent and bring stories of resilience that include surviving sexual assault, military service, returning to higher education while balancing parenthood in mid-life, and a variety of practices across political and socio-economic spectrums.

Virtually all of us hold advanced degrees (Masters, JD, PhD, MD) in a variety of disciplines, such as social work, public health, business, political science, psychology, or healthcare.

SKILLS

You will know us by our creativity, compassion, and innovative spirits. You will find us open-minded, valuing of trusted relationships, and committed to meaningful actions. We come together at this time of disruption, armed with a mix of bold vision and practical experience.

Our areas of expertise include topics like leadership theory, strategic communication, human resources, legal, policy and advocacy, non-profit governance, and business operations. Although we come from a diversity of perspectives, life experiences, and skill sets, we share a common grounding in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a set of shared values.  

Our work together is always centered around a passion for using this limited time we have, and these leadership roles we hold, to amplify our collective agency for lasting and positive changes in how we all age.