About Duluth Aging Support

Creating an age-friendly Northland together

Creating age-friendly communities begins with reimagining how we see, think, and talk about aging. When we shift our perspective and frame aging as an opportunity, we lay the groundwork for more inclusive, vibrant communities across the Northland. 

As more of us live longer, we want to ensure our communities offer strong social connections, meaningful opportunities to contribute, and a seat at the table where our voices are heard in decisions and plans. That means access to safe, affordable housing, reliable transportation, quality healthcare, and age-friendly policies that support every aspect of our lives.

Outline of Minnesota with icons of people in the northern region, a heart symbol near the center, and a speech bubble that says, “Time to reimagine the communities we’re building.”.

However, many systems and structures we rely on today were built for a different time, when fewer people lived beyond 65. Today, one in five Northlanders is over 65; in some rural areas, it’s nearly one in three. Looking ahead, the number of Minnesotans in this age group is expected to double by 2075.

This shift is more than a demographic trend—it’s a call to rethink how we design, support, and sustain communities where everyone can live and thrive, at every age.

Our History

The mission, vision, and values that guide us

Our Mission

Enhance the quality of life for older adults and caregivers in the Northland by developing, supporting, and funding age-friendly work that strengthens the future of our community.

Our Vision

Create an age-inclusive community free from ageism, where the needs of all ages and abilities are equally valued, allowing everyone to live safely, comfortably, and confidently in all stages of their lives.

Our Values

Foster a thriving culture of inclusion by embracing eight core values: equity, compassion, diversity, collaboration, respect, innovation, positivity, and empowerment.

Our Story

A brief look back at how it all began

When we launched Duluth Aging Support in 2020, our mission was to transform the aging experience into a positive one by enhancing the lives of older adults and caregivers in the Northland through education, outreach, advocacy, resources, collaboration, and innovation. 

Over the years, we refined our mission to enhance the quality of life for older adults and caregivers in the Northland by focusing on developing, supporting, and funding age-friendly initiatives vital to creating a more inclusive and age-friendly community for people to live safely, comfortably, and confidently in all ages and stages of their lives.

Two women wearing masks talk at an outdoor booth under a tent, with supplies and informational materials on the table. Another person sits nearby, and portable toilets are visible in the background.

Key milestones at a glance

2020

A tablet displays the Duluth Aging Support Resource Directory webpage, showing icons and categories like Volunteer Opportunities, Arts & Entertainment, Caregiver Support, Health & Wellbeing, and more for seniors and caregivers.

Launched an Online Resource Directory to connect people to vital resources during COVID-19 pandemic

Two overlapping adhesive bandages are shown with a red circle containing a white checkmark in front, symbolizing approval or readiness.

Committed to supporting vaccine education and distribution in underserved communities in the Northland

2021

A flyer titled “Connect! for Caregivers” with an icon of a person, a heart, and documents. Text mentions caregiver support resources and lists Duluth Aging Support and Essentia Health Foundation logos.

Launched an outreach program to connect older community members and caregivers to resources through local events 

Circular blue and white logo with the words "Duluth Age-Friendly Minnesota" surrounding an illustration of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge over water.

Partnered with Ecolibrium3 to establish the Duluth Age-Friendly initiative through the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities 

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Created the Northland Diversity in Aging Series with several partners to elevate issues we face as we age from diverse perspectives

2023

Cover of the "Duluth Age-Friendly 2023–2025 Community Action Plan" featuring a cityscape of Duluth, Minnesota with a view of the Aerial Lift Bridge and waterfront on a clear day.

Developed DAF Community Action Plan in collaboration with Ecolibrium3 to guide our  age-friendly community work

Circular logo with "Arrowhead Changemakers" around the edge, "ESTD 2023" on either side, and a blue center featuring white cursive letters "AC.

Co-founded Arrowhead Changemakers, a Regional Age-Friendly Collaborative representing seven counties in Northeastern Minnesota

2024

A yard sign in the snow reads: "Join us in taking the pledge to Be MinneSNOWtaNice" with a snow shovel and snowflake graphic, and the website "beminnesnowtanice.com" at the bottom.

Co-led the Be MinneSNOWta NICE campaign to improve sidewalk accessibility for all ages

A simple, dark blue magnifying glass icon on a white background.

Refocused our efforts to prioritize community-wide age-friendly initiatives, championing inclusivity and accessibility for everyone

A minimalist logo with the word "Alcon" in bold black letters. The letter "A" features a stylized, curved blue accent on its left side.

Partnered with the Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community to expand our outreach and support an age-friendly role

Behind THe Mission

Meet our team

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Mimi Stender

Founder & Quality of Life Through Longevity Advocate

As a quality-of-life through longevity advocate, Mimi is dedicated to bringing together organizations and individuals with a shared mission to ensure that people of all ages, abilities, and incomes have the support and opportunities to thrive as they grow older in their communities.

With a strong community engagement, coalition-building, and nonprofit leadership background, Mimi works to expand age-inclusive and age-friendly approaches across sectors in her community while reshaping the narrative around aging. 

In addition to her work with DAS, Mimi co-leads the Duluth Age-Friendly initiative, serves on the Governor’s Council for an Age-Friendly Minnesota, and co-founded the Arrowhead Changemakers, a regional age-friendly collaborative.

A smiling older woman with long gray hair in a side braid, wearing a blue collared shirt, stands in front of a wood-paneled background.

Cyndy Klinksiek

Age-Friendly Outreach Specialist

Cyndy brings extensive knowledge and compassion to strengthen the community through a wide range of collaborative outreach efforts. Having been an integral part of the DAS team since 2020, we’re proud to support Cyndy’s current position at the Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community as a dedicated Age-Friendly Outreach Specialist.

In her role, Cyndy connects community members with vital resources—from food access and health insurance guidance to caregiver support, transportation options, and inclusive opportunities for social connection and community engagement.

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Lisa Pease

Brand & Graphic Design Partner

Lisa has been instrumental in helping Duluth Aging Support tell its visual story and deepen its community impact. With a keen eye for branding and a passion for building meaningful connections, Lisa’s work encompasses a diverse range of projects, including website design, social media support, and print marketing materials for local outreach initiatives. 

At the heart of it, Lisa understands that design is more than just aesthetics—it’s a powerful tool for building trust, strengthening engagement, and making resources accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Through her impact-driven approach, she ensures that every visual touchpoint not only resonates with the community but also aligns with DAS’s strong mission, vision, and values.

A smiling woman with long blonde hair, wearing a white shirt, sits on a couch and writes in an open notebook with a pen. She looks up at the camera, appearing happy and relaxed.

Leeza Ochsner

Strategic Communications Partner

With over a decade of experience in copywriting and strategic marketing, Leeza brings a passion for using words to create a meaningful and lasting impact. She specializes in value-driven messaging that informs, inspires, and ignites connections within the community. 

From thoughtful brand storytelling and website copy to social media campaigns and strategic activation efforts, Leeza ensures every message reflects Duluth Aging Support’s unwavering commitment to advancing age-friendly work and initiatives that strengthen support for older adults across the region. Beyond her technical skills, she approaches every project with a commitment to clarity, a heart for service, and an eye for detail.

A smiling bald man with a beard wearing a denim jacket over a green t-shirt stands outdoors on a blurred path with trees in the background.

Brad Bartlett

Copywriter + Content Marketing Partner

Brad is passionate about the power of using real stories to drive real change. As a seasoned copywriter and content strategist with over a decade of experience, he has helped nonprofits, small businesses, and community organizations amplify their voices in ways that inspire empathy, foster connection, and drive meaningful action. 

At Duluth Aging Support, Brad plays a key role in crafting messaging that highlights the organization’s impact, expands its reach, and strengthens its mission of fostering age-friendly communities. With his purpose-centered approach, he helps shape how DAS’s age-friendly work is seen, understood, and supported throughout the Northland community—advancing a future where everyone can thrive at every age and every stage of life.

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Eric Mistry

Technology Support Partner

As a trusted Technology Support Partner, Eric brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic problem-solving to DAS’s digital initiatives. In addition to providing critical support across various projects and platforms, Eric is a skilled videographer and photographer who helps capture the essence of DAS’s mission through thoughtful multimedia storytelling.

Whether he’s managing technology infrastructure, troubleshooting systems, or documenting community gatherings, Eric’s work plays a vital role in ensuring that DAS remains accessible, engaging, and deeply connected to the larger community network across the Northland—helping to bridge meaningful connections across generations.

Get Involved

Join us in making a meaningful impact

Ready to make a positive difference in your community? Whether you’re advocating for accessibility, supporting older adults and caregivers, or bringing new age-friendly ideas to life, we’d love to hear about the work you’re doing to make a meaningful impact.