VITAL AGING NETWORK
2365 NORTH MCKNIGHT ROAD, NORTH ST PAUL, MN 55109 www.vital-aging-network.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE VITAL AGING NETWORK'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SELF-DETERMINATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND PERSONAL GROWTH FOR PEOPLE AS THEY AGE, THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION. OUR VISION IS THATPEOPLE 50+ INVOLVED WITH THE VITAL AGING NETWORK WILL BE ENGAGED ANDCONTRIBUTING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

EVOLVE: RE-IGNITING SELF & COMMUNITY -THIS EIGHT-MONTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE HELPS OLDER PEOPLE CONNECT THEIR PASSIONS AND TALENTS WITH NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CLASS HELPS THEM HONE THEIR SKILLS AND BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT HELPS THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. VAN HAS OFFERED THE EVOLVE PROGRAM (FORMERLY NAMED ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP FOR VITAL AGING) SINCE 2003, AND 278 PARTICIPANTS HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE. EACH PARTICIPANT HAS DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED A PROJECT THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, NUTRITION, THE ARTS AND IMPROVED USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.THE EVOLVE PROGRAM PROVIDES PERSONAL GROWTH, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ANDOPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THEPROGRAM. COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM THE OUTCOMES PRODUCED BY THE EVOLVEPROJECTS. IN THE LONG RUN, COMMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM A GROWING CADRE OFOLDER ADULTS.

OASIS CATCH HEALTHY HABITS -IN 2014, THE VITAL AGING NETWORK IMPLEMENTED OASIS CATCH HEALTHY HABITS IN TWO COMMUNITIES IN WILLMAR AND ALEXANDRIA IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. CATCH HEALTHY HABITS IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT MATCHES TRAINED, OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS WITH CHILDREN IN GRADES K THROUGH 5. CATCH SESSIONS OFFER AGE-APPROPRIATE, HANDS-ON NUTRITION AND WELLNESS LESSONS; PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION OF NUTRITIOUS SNACKS; AND AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. EACH CLASS ALSO INCLUDES MATERIALS SUCH AS HEALTHY RECIPES AND TIPS FOR ADOPTING AND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AT HOME THAT CHILDREN TAKE HOME WITH THEM. THE PROGRAM COMBATS THE SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM OF OBESITY FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS-AND IT PRODUCES REAL RESULTS. VAN IS PARTNERING WITH OASIS, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN ST. LOUIS, MO, TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO MINNESOTA. CATCH IS OFFERED THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE PRIMARILY AT-RISK AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. DURING THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR, NINETY-SEVEN CHILDREN (65 IN ALEXANDRIA, 32 IN WILLMAR) AND 13 ADULT VOLUNTEERS, AGE 50-PLUS (9 IN ALEXANDRIA, 4 IN WILLMAR) PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM AT 2 LOCATIONS (WOODLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALEXANDRIA AND ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WILLMAR) BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND MAY 2015. SIX CLASSES WERE FACILITATED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD: 4 IN ALEXANDRIA AND 2 IN WILLMAR. VOLUNTEERS FROM BOTH CITIES CONTRIBUTED OVER 150 HOURS (150.5) VALUED AT OVER $3,300 ($3,332).

WELLNESS 50+ -THE VITAL AGING NETWORK, WITH SUPPORT FROM HEALTHPARTNERS AND A BUSH FOUNDATION COMMUNITY INNOVATION GRANT, LAUNCHED COMMUNITY-BASED WELLNESS INITIATIVES IN FOUR MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES IN 2013 AND 2014. SELF-DIRECTED TEAMS OF OLDER ADULTS, TRAINED THROUGH THE VITAL AGING NETWORK'S EVOLVE PROGRAM, LEAD THE INITIATIVES. THE TEAMS ENGAGE A CROSS-SECTION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SETTING THE DIRECTION AND TAKING ACTION TO INCREASE WELLNESS IN OLDER ADULTS. PILOTS ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING IN FOUR COMMUNITIES: HAMLINE MIDWAY NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAINT PAUL, ALEXANDRIA, OAKDALE, AND THE PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MINNEAPOLIS.

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