A DAY TO REMEMBER: SEPT. 26, 2025

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

SEPT. 26: ELDER VOICES EXPERIENCES AN UNEXPECTED MILESTONE
I have been showing up for Elder Voices (Telling Our Stories/Sharing Our Journeys) at Turtle Bread for several years going back to 2016. As such it is not about doing as much as it is about being. People exploring elderhood with one another. Sometimes I am the only one, which is fine. It gives me an opportunity to write in my journal. Today I looked around to do a head count. I counted 10 of us. This seemed to merit a photo in addition to Anita sketching us. I submitted a photo of us minus Silvia and myself. We were taking photos. We now have an email list. Silvia is in charge of it. We seem to be developing a core group of regulars. People are choosing to show up – hopefully without an agenda other than telling our stories and sharing our journeys.
I did not fulfill my promise to let people share their sense of identity, if any, as activists. Although Tom R. sent me an email via tesha@tmcpub.com in which he laid out his journey and sense of identity as an activist. As I read the energy in the room, I changed course. I did share my sense of loss at discovering that I can no longer do in person grocery shopping without help. Outside of my house I now need a walker to walk. When I get to the store I need an electric cart to get around, but then what do I do with my walker?
The next meet up of Elder Voices is the last Friday of October, 10 to 11 a.m. officially at Turtle Bread 4205 E.34th Street. I have been informed that this is Halloween. At Elder Voices you can take off your mask and just be you. Look for the table with the new Elder Voices sign designed by Anita. And if you have read this far you have taken the plunge into the river (flow) of life experiences which is Stories and Journeys.

SEPT. 26: I FIND OUT THAT I AM QUALIFIED FOR METRO MOBILITY
In my elder world I find that it is good to know I have options for getting around. When I arrived home from Elder Voices at Turtle Bread, I found mail from Metro Mobility informing me that I qualified for their service. It’s like I went from a sense of loss-related grief at Elder Voices to elation at finding out I am qualified for Metro Mobility.
And so, dear reader in this car-centric world, other than the automobile what are your transportation options? Tell yourself, tell others or tell me via tesha@tmcpub.com.

SEPT. 26: RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE STATE CONVENTION OF SEIU HEALTHCARE FOR MINNESOTA AND IOWA
The theme of this year's convention was "Rise up, Fight Back."One resolution in particular has stayed with me given that I am a member of the Care Giving Committee of All Elders United for Justice. The focus of this committee is care-giving in nursing home and home care settings. In a recent newsletter from Elder Voice Advocates, Executive Director Kris Sundberg in an article entitled, “Out $pent NOT Outnumbered” wrote the following, “Let’s be clear: the long-term care industry is well-funded, well-connected, and determined to silence advocates and silence oversight.” Elsewhere in the article she states they have the money, we have the people.
Now back to that resolution that has stayed with me. Today workers at 128 out of 365 nursing homes in Minnesota are represented by a union. This resolution will create Minnesota Nursing Home Workers United, a partnership between SEIU Healthcare for Minnesota and Iowa and Faith in Minnesota. It will housed at Faith in Minnesota. Nursing home members of SEIU Healthcare for MN/IA will be considered full members of this union and Minnesota Nursing Home Workers United and “movement membership” status will be granted to any non-union nursing home workers who contribute a minimum of $5 per month to this community organizing project. There is more but this is the essence of the resolution as I understand it.

NOT ON SEPT. 26
BUT A DAY TO REMEMBER IS OCT. 9
According to the Senior Executive Officer of Senior Community Services writing in their fall 2025 newsletter, Oct. 9 was Ageism Awareness Day. Stay tuned.

MY NO KINGS PROTEST FROM MY FRONT YARD ON 46th AVE.
Also stay tuned.
In gratitude.
Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice Board of Directors.