2025 Summit

The MN Leadership Council on Aging’s annual Summit is where changemakers from across the state's aging sector come to lead with purpose, inform policy solutions, and build our collective power. In a time of uncertainty, this convening centers equity and mobilizes collaboration to strengthen our communities. Join hundreds of state leaders for two active days of sharing your perspectives and building stronger relationships. Together, we will mobilize our collective expertise and networks to develop and advance transformational aging policy for Minnesota.

DECEMBER 10

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

AGENDA

11:00 Welcome Conversations + Call to Order

• PAULA WOISCHKE, Director, Whitney Senior Center/Minnesota Association of Senior Services

          and MN Leadership Council on Aging Events Committee Chair

• ADAM SUOMALA, Executive Director, MN Leadership Council on Aging

11:10  Discussion: Ageism and Minnesota's Ecosystem of Aging

11:30  From Purpose to Power

• CHAO YANG, Director of Equity and Engagement, MN Leadership Council on Aging
• KARINA FORREST PERKINS, President and CEO, Volunteers of America – MN and WI
• KATHRYN GREINER, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Minnesota
• MIKE LAVIN, President, DARTS
• MARY NIEDERMEYER, Chief Executive Officer, CAPI
• ANJULI CAMERON, Chief Executive Officer, SEWA-AIFW
• AMY GAVANDA, Associate Vice President of Aging and Disability Services, Catholic Charities Twin Cities

12:20  Break

12:30  Community Spotlight

• TOLULOPE MONISOLA OLA, Founder and Executive Director, Restoration for All, Inc
• BETSY MEYER, Director of Programs & Partnership Development The Remember Project
• DANETTE McCARTHY, Founder and Vision Keeper, The Remember Project
• JENN COLE, Associate Director, Northwoods Caregivers 

1:00  Community-Driven Policy, Planning and Practices in Dementia

• ROXANNE JENKINS, CEO, Senior Community Services
• ROBERT FREEMAN, Vice President, Public Policy, Alzheimer's Association MN-ND and MN Leadership Council on Aging Policy Committee Chair
• GENELLE R.S. LAMONT, Assistant Professor, Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team, University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth
• PATRICIA TAKAWIRA, Supervisor, Aging and Healthy Communities, Minnesota Department of Health 

1:40  From the Heart: Reflections from a Departing Leader

• CHERYL HENNEN, Minnesota State Ombudsman for Long-Term Care

2:00 Closing Comments + Adjourn for the Day

We hope you will also join us for the in-person Summit - see details of December 16 below.

DECEMBER 16

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

AGENDA

8:30 Registration Opens

Enjoy coffee and conversations with thought leaders from across Minnesota's aging sector

9:00 Welcome Conversations + Call to Order

• KRISTIN RIGG, Executive Director, Living at Home Network 

          and MN Leadership Council on Aging Chair

• GEORGE SCHOEPHOERSTER, Past President, MN Association of Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians and MN Leadership Council on Aging Vice Chair

9:25  Opening Reflection: Community-Driven Policy Leadership

• XAVIER VAZQUEZ, Executive Director, Centro Tyrone Guzman

9:40  Pair Share - Small Group Conversations

9:50  Community Voices: Policy Solutions Open Forum

• DAWN SIMONSON, President and CEO, Trellis and Delegate representing Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging  (Moderator)

10:15  Minnesota's Emerging Political Landscape

• MAUREEN SCHNEIDER, Chair, Minnesota Board on Aging
• SHERRY MUNYON, President, Capitol Strategies
• MATT BURDICK, Principal, Burdick Policy and Advocacy
• DOMINIC MCQUERRY, Consultant, Dominic McQuerry Consulting

11:00   Age-Friendly Community Solutions

•  SHERRIE PUGH, Chair, Age-Friendly Minnesota Council
• CASSANDRA ROHLIK, CEO, Reconnect MN 

11:15  Maintaining Momentum: Minnesota's Age-Friendly Movement

• CATHY MCLEER, State Director, AARP Minnesota
• LISA EDSTROM, Director, Age-Friendly Minnesota Council
• ANN ZUKOSKI, Director of Healthy Aging, Minnesota Department of Management and Budget
• KATE MERZ, Director of Planning, Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (invited)
• ANDREW BENTLEY, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (invited)

12:00 Relationship-Building Luncheon + Expo

Join in a round of lively discussions over a delicious meal and visit our exhibitors

1:00 Mobilizing Our Sector - Storytelling for Change

• NOU YANG, Co-Founder, Courageous Change Collective
• SALLY BROWN, Co-Chair, Vital Aging Network

2:00 Adjourn

CEUS

Registered attendees can earn up to seven (7) CEUs by attending the full event, including three (3) hours on December 10 and four (4) hours on December 16. This program is designed to meet CEU approval criteria for the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging has re-applied to be an approved provider of continuing education by the Minnesota Board of Social Work (CEP-885), and application has also been made to the Minnesota Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports (BELTSS).

REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS

Reasonable accommodations for all Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging events are available by contacting adam@mnlcoa.org.

CANCELLATIONS

All cancellations need to be made via email to adam@mnlcoa.org and are subject to a $20 processing fee. No refunds will be available for cancellations made after December 1, 2025 or no-shows. Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging reserves the right to cancel this event.

ATTIRE

Dress in whatever way makes you comfortable. Business casual is our general vibe.

RECORDINGS

Recordings of the 2025 Summit virtual day will not be available.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Stay home if you are sick or are experiencing symptoms. While masking is not required at this event, people who are immunocompromised, at higher risk of illness or those around them are encouraged to mask, and all are welcome to mask regardless of your individual risk.

Note:

At the end of your registration, an optional contribution to Zeffy is selected. You can select "Other" and manually adjust this to $0 and it has NO impact to the MN Leadership Council on Aging.

Note:

At the end of your registration, an optional contribution to Zeffy is selected. You can select "Other" and manually adjust this to $0 and it has NO impact to the MN Leadership Council on Aging.