Conference to Explore Age-Friendly Communities
Age-Friendly Minnesota, a statewide collaborative focused on making communities more inclusive and accessible to older adults, hosed its inaugural three-day conference on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
![AARP_September-2023_James-Olstein_twin_cities.jpg](https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/65/4b/49b528a04000a7579a26e3ccc2e0/aarp-september-2023-james-olstein-twin-cities.jpg)
The free conference featureed virtual and in-person sessions on topics such as economic development, affordable housing options, transportation, designing public spaces and more.
Virtual sessions ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28. On Friday, Sept. 29, sessions were held in person from 9 a.m. to noon at multiple locations around the state, including St. Paul.
Friday’s sessions was small group discussions during which participants can discuss and offer input on local needs related to Age-Friendly Minnesota’s priorities: health care and long-term care, social connections, emergency preparedness and economic development.
“Our state is aging, and while this can present challenges, there is also a lot of opportunity,” says Cathy McLeer, AARP Minnesota state director. The event will “help shape the future of aging in our state.”
—Michelle Cerulli McAdams