St. Scholastica to co-host Northland Diversity in Aging Series

The Northland Diversity in Aging Series will host its first event on Nov. 18 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. via Zoom webinar. This series is a collaboration between the College’s gerontology program and Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Duluth Aging Support, Northland Foundation and the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging.

November’s event will focus on caregivers to align with the month’s designation as National Caregiver Appreciation Month. Three panelists will speak to the strengths, challenges and diversity of caregivers in the Northland. Angela Hauger, psychology professor and gerontology program director at the College explained the importance of this topic.

“If we’re going to support caregivers, we need to have an awareness of the diverse caregiving experiences and needs of our neighbors,” Hauger said.

Dr. Amy Bergstrom, chief diversity officer at the College, will serve as one of the event’s moderators.

The purpose of the Northland Diversity in Aging Series is to foster conversations and promote learning across generations and cultures about the aging and caregiving experience. Upcoming event topics will include rural aging, dementia caregiving, intergenerational collaborations, and aging and the workforce.

Mimi Stender is the founder of Duluth Aging Support and also serves on the College’s Board of Trustees. She shares that, while the series is intended to appeal to a broad audience, “it is important to note that [it] is an excellent learning opportunity for students studying in fields that serve, interact with, or engage with older adults and caregivers.”

Registration is free and open to the public. Once registered, participants will also receive information about upcoming events in the series.