ACTION TEAM CONVENINGS
From planning to action, the community is implementing Minnesota's Multisector Blueprint for Aging!
THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES...
I'm pleased to share that we received an overwhelming public response to our call for ideas in how to advance the strategies of Minnesota's Multisector Blueprint for Aging. This fall, under the leadership of our Former Interim Director Kirsten Olson, hundreds of Minnesotans attended the first Action Team convenings where we began the collective mobilization of next steps for our state.
Together, we reviewed and prioritized actions to advance priority topics, as well as began fostering relationships with the subject matter experts and key entities needed to lead initiatives going forward. Learn more about this first round of Action Teams below or sign-up now to be part of our shared efforts in 2025.
Michael Saindon, Interim Director
Age-Friendly Minnesota Council
2025 ACTION TEAMS
The following is a list of the Action Teams designed to advance each of the four Domains in the Multisector Blueprint for Aging.
*Conveners have tentatively been identified for this Action Team, but let us know if you would be interested in co-convening.
1. CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
- Affordable Housing*
- Age-Friendly Parks and Public Spaces*
- Social Engagement through Technology*
- Housing for the Lifespan
- Accessible and Age-Friendly Transportation
- Community Connections and Programming
- Safe and Active Transportation for All Ages
2. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND SAFETY
- Protection from All Forms of Abuse and Exploitation*
- Supported Decision-Making*
- Long-Term Care Rights*
- Community Education
- Enhanced Access to Justice
- Integrated Emergency Response Systems
3. OPTIMIZED HEALTH
AND LONGEVITY
- Ensure Standards of Care for Residents with Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders*
- Person-Centered Practices and Individual Choice within Long-Term Care Communities*
- Promising Public Health Practices and Promotions*
- Equitable Opportunities for Brain Health
- Integrated and Coordinated Care
- Strong Long-Term Care Services; Support Systems
- Education and Awareness of Benefits, Services, and Programs
- Standards of Care for People with Dementia
- Increased Awareness and Adoption of Age-Friendly Frameworks and Policies
- Equitable Opportunities for Physical Health, Mental Health and Well-Being
- Caregiver Financial and Well-Being Support
- Caregiver Training and Education
4. ECONOMIC SECURITY
AND VITALITY
- Meeting Basic Needs and Beyond*
- Vital Contributors to the Workforce*
- Valued Volunteerism for all Ages*
- Essential Caregivers of our Families
- Retirement and Financial Preparedness
ACTION TEAM CONVENERS + COUNCIL SUPPORT
The Age-Friendly Minnesota Council is currently seeking individuals, agencies, or organizations willing to serve as conveners for the Action Teams above. To learn more about what this entails and the supports offered by the staff team, watch this brief overview recorded by the Age-Friendly team on February 6, 2025. Next, identifying yourself as an Action Team convener is as easy as 1-2-3!
- First, review the list of Action Teams above for the area you feel best connects to your area of expertise.
- Second, read through the focus of each Action Team as outlined in the Multisector Blueprint for Aging.
- Third, email Farah Baig with the Action Team(s) you're interested in convening. Once Action Team Conveners are finalized, a follow-up email will be sent with next steps.
"Thank you for taking the initiative to lead an Action Team that will move the Blueprint forward! Please reach out to me with questions or the Action Team(s) you want to convene."
Farah Baig, Legislative Coordinator
Age-Friendly Minnesota Council
BACKGROUND 2024 CONVENINGS
November 20, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
1. CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
October 28, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
2. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND SAFETY
November 6, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
3. OPTIMIZED HEALTH
AND LONGEVITY
October 15, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
4. ECONOMIC SECURITY
AND VITALITY
FOUR SESSIONS
The Multisector Blueprint for Aging is a bold statewide undertaking, organized into four domains. To process the hundreds of ideas proposed by Minnesotans, we held a half-day, in-person convening for each.
WHAT OCCURED
These free convenings offered facilitated conversations designed to explore, vet and prioritize public ideas and capture any missing ideas as well as lay a foundation for shared work to implement in 2025.
WHO ATTENDED
Hundreds of Minnesotans attended from across the state, including subject matter experts, older Minnesotans, and the key decision-makers from state agencies and community organizations leading this work.
SESSION DETAILS
1. CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
GOAL: Our communities will include housing, transportation and public spaces that foster well-being and social connection as we age.
DISCUSSIONS SPANNING...
- Affordable Housing for the Lifespan
- Affordable housing
- Housing for the lifespan
- Multimodal Transportation Options
- Accessible transportation access
- Safe transportation options for all ages
- Public Spaces for All Ages and Seasons
- Parks and recreation spaces
- Public spaces and building design
- Community connections and programming
- Digital Engagement
- Digital inclusion: broadband access for all
- Digital literacy: training and technical support
- Long-Term Care as Home
THIS ACTION TEAM CONVENING WAS HELD
November 20, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Anderson Building
540 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101
2. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, AND SAFETY
GOAL: Our communities will ensure that we are safe, secure and respected as we age.
DISCUSSIONS SPANNING...
- Inclusive Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Community education on emergency preparedness and response
- Integrated emergency response systems
- Elder Justice
- Protections from all forms of abuse and exploitation
- Supported decision-making
- Long-Term Care rights
- Promoting and strengthening legal services
THIS ACTION TEAM CONVENING WAS HELD
October 28, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Anderson Building
540 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101
3. OPTIMIZED HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
GOAL: Our communities will have increased access to the health care, services and caregiver supports needed as we age.
DISCUSSIONS SPANNING...
- Integrated Health Care, Services, and Social Supports
- Integrated and coordinated care
- Strong Long-Term Services and Supports systems
- Education and awareness of services, benefits, and programs
- Health care coverage and navigation
- Promising public health practices and promotion
- Support for Family, Friend and Neighbor Caregiving
- Financial and well-being supports
- Caregiver training and education
- Health Promotion
- Increased awareness and adoption of age-friendly frameworks and practices
- Equitable opportunities for brain health
- A Thriving Direct Care Workforce
- Attracting and retaining direct care workers
- Training and career growth opportunities
THIS ACTION TEAM CONVENING WAS HELD
November 6, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Anderson Building
540 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101
4. ECONOMIC SECURITY AND VITALITY
GOAL: Our communities will empower us to be financially secure and recognize us as valued contributors to the fabric of society as we age.
DISCUSSIONS SPANNING...
- Financial Security as We Age
- Meeting basic needs and beyond
- Retirement and financial preparedness
- Community and Economic Contributors
- Vital contributors to the workforce
- Valued volunteerism for all ages
- Essential caregivers for our families
THIS ACTION TEAM CONVENING WAS HELD
October 15, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Anderson Building
540 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101
LOCATION
All four convenings were held on the second floor of:
Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building
540 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
The building is located on the corner of Cedar and 11th Streets downtown St. Paul. Public and disability access is available in the front entrance on Cedar St.
Parking
Free contract parking permits were made available to the Anderson Parking Ramp. Street parking and low-cost lot suggestions available in the surrounding area were also provided to attendees.
Light Rail
The 10th St. Station is directly across the street from the entrance for those taking the Metro Green Line.
In 2023, the Age-Friendly Minnesota Council asked MN Leadership Council on Aging to create and
maintain this site to promote events, disseminate resources, and showcase age-friendly activities.