On August 10, over 130 people gathered for the Duluth Age-Friendly Summer Picnic at the West Duluth American Legion. The Duluth Age-Friendly initiative (DAF), co-led by Duluth Aging Support and Ecolibrium3, seeks to make Duluth a place where all ages and abilities can thrive. Research consistently shows that staying socially connected is one of the biggest factors in older adults’ health and well-being—and the picnic was Age-Friendly work in action!
This year’s picnic focused on two things: gathering feedback on the most effective ways to communicate with older adults and strengthening social connection. Attendees weighed in directly on how DAF can better reach and share information and resources with older community members. The communications survey was led by UMD Labovitz School of Business’ Toni Pearson and Wenqing Zhang, who are helping weave academic rigor into how DAF learns and grows as an Age-Friendly community.
In addition to great food, engaging conversation, and live music from local Duluth folk band, Climes, the picnic featured community resource tables and hands-on activities that allowed guests to explore different aspects of age-friendly work firsthand. Resource tables were hosted by steering committee partners including the Duluth Public Library, Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community, St. Louis County Public Health, the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, and the City of Duluth’s Office of Human Rights. Participants could explore an intergenerational reading list and books on aging well, see how age-friendly work intersects with the City’s equity and inclusion priorities, and much more.
The picnic couldn’t have happened without the planning and support of Duluth Age-Friendly Voices, a stakeholder group of community members 55 and older that keeps the voices of older adults at the forefront of this work. Truly, the picnic was a community-wide effort and a great way to spend a summer afternoon in Duluth!
To follow along with more Duluth Age-Friendly work, visit duluthagefriendly.com or follow @DuluthAgeFriendly on Facebook and Instagram.
