AARP Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LaVerne Gilliam, from Shakopee, MN, has been selected to receive the 2020 AARP Minnesota Andrus Award for Community Service, the association’s most prestigious and visible state volunteer award for community service. AARP Minnesota selected Gilliam for her tireless volunteer work with multiple organizations in the community, including AARP, Second Harvest Heartland, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Maplewood Nature Center, Minnesota Wildlife Refuge, and Bike MN.

The congressional candidates share their plans for protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering drug prices and more

AARP Minnesota released a series of videos featuring former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page as part of “Protect Voters 50+,” a comprehensive voter engagement campaign to support and protect Minnesotans age 50-plus as they vote in the 2020 elections. The videos were being released as Minnesotans began early voting with new rules around absentee balloting; and on the heels of a national release of bipartisan battle ground polls by AARP showing that voters in key states age 65-plus will once again be a deciding factor in this year’s election and, even as there are strong partisan preferences, Social Security and Medicare are unifying issues for voters 50-plus.

Living in the COVID-19 pandemic, we are more reliant on our internet connections – we are working, learning, and even receiving health care from home. All require a strong internet connection. The reality is, though, that thousands of Minnesotans still don’t have access to reliable, high-speed broadband internet.

Project Food Forest has been named a recipient of a 2020 AARP Community Challenge grant, one of four grantees selected in Minnesota. With this grant, Project Food Forest will be making improvements to the Prairie Ally Outdoor Center by adding three commissioned sculptural trellises and two circular picnic tables.

Communities across Minnesota are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages. In support of that work, AARP provides funds to local organizations through Community Challenge grant program. The Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as transportation, public spaces, housing, smart cities, civic engagement, coronavirus response and more.

To help residents stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, AARP Minnesota and state officials are urging older voters to request and complete absentee ballots in plenty of time to be counted on Nov. 3, Election Day.

Earlier this year, AARP Minnesota sent out a survey across the state for input to help create a Minnesota that is a better place to grow up and grow old.

AARP awards community grants to 4 Minnesota organizations as part of record-breaking year for nationwide program