Age-Friendly Regional Exchanges

Registration now open for the 2026 Age-Friendly Regional Exchanges!

The Age-Friendly Minnesota Council and our regional partners are pleased to host this year's Regional Exchanges in October 2026. Join us to connect with communities, learn about the growing impact of Minnesota’s age-friendly ecosystem and collaborate to create a more age-inclusive future!

This year’s events will feature a statewide virtual conference, followed the next day by five in-person gatherings across Minnesota.

Regional Exchanges are free to attend. Attendees should register separately for each day.

Our regional and statewide partners include AARP Minnesota, Age-Friendly Freeborn County, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, Central Minnesota Council on Aging, Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging, Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Minnesota Board on Aging, Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, University of St. Thomas, and VINE Faith in Action.

All are welcome!

Day 1: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 - Virtual Statewide Exchange

Start Statewide. Go local. Join a statewide virtual conversation featuring national experts, innovative ideas, and perspectives from across Minnesota.

Connect with national experts on the growing impact of the age-friendly ecosystem
- Megan Wolf, JD, Senior Policy Development Manager, and Dr. Karon Phillips, Policy Development Manager, at Trust for America’s Health
- Mildred Warner, Professor, City and Regional Planning, Cornell University
Engage with cross-sector MN leaders about how age-friendly healthcare, businesses, universities and more are reshaping aging
Discover what’s next for the Multisector Blueprint for Aging—and how you can get involved

View the event flyer here | Register for the virtual Statewide Exchange.

Day 2: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 - In-Person Regional Exchanges

Connect. Learn. Shape what's next. Take the conversation closer to home by attending one of five in-person events across the state.

Connect with national experts on the growing impact of the age-friendly ecosystem
- Megan Wolf, JD, Senior Policy Development Manager, and Dr. Karon Phillips, Policy Development Manager, at Trust for America’s Health
- Mildred Warner, Professor, City and Regional Planning, Cornell University
Engage with cross-sector MN leaders about how age-friendly healthcare, businesses, universities and more are reshaping aging
Discover what’s next for the Multisector Blueprint for Aging—and how you can get involved

See below to learn more about each Regional Exchange, and follow the links to register!

Arrowhead Age-Friendly Exchange
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm, MN

Attendees at the Arrowhead Exchange will:
- Move from strategic planning to "strategic doing" in an interactive session with the University of Minnesota Extension. Explore how to move promising ideas and initiatives beyond the “aha” stage and into meaningful action.
- Attend a breakout session to learn more about age-friendly businesses, partnering with public libraries to advance age-friendly work, how to be a changemaker, and more!
View the event flyer here. | Register here!
Central Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sartell Community Center, Sartell, MN

Attendees at the Central Minnesota Exchange will:
- Learn how demographic trends influence workforce, services, and community planning.
- Explore opportunities to advance age-friendly communities through cross-sector collaboration.
- Leave with actionable next steps for your organization, business, or community.
View the event flyer here. | Register here!
Metro Age-Friendly Exchange
9:00am-3:00pm
Plymouth Community Center, Plymouth, MN

Attendees at the Metro Exchange will:
- Discover how cross-sector partnerships are shifting systems through the Multisector Blueprint for Aging
- Connect your work to opportunities and action – from housing and transportation to employment, social connection, emergency preparedness and more
- Explore how working differently—together—can create lasting change for how we age in Minnesota
View the event flyer here. | Register here!
Northwest Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Northwest Technical College, Bemidji, MN

Attendees at the Northwest Minnesota Exchange will:
- Explore emergency preparedness as a vital component of age-friendly communities through an interactive scenario exercise
- Learn from age-friendly communities in the northwest region as they share experiences, ideas, and lessons learned
- Hear what Age-Friendly Minnesota has been working on and network with others
The event will also include an interactive discussion on emergency preparedness and community resilience.

View the event flyer here. | Register here!
Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
VINE Faith in Action, Mankato, MN

Attendees at the Southern Minnesota Exchange will:
- Gain practical tools for building successful community coalitions and marketing your efforts, with presenters and expertise from:
  - University of Minnesota Extension
  - Minnesota State University, Mankato
  - National Academy for State Health Policy
- Discover innovative models for transportation, aging in community, service navigation, and snow removal
  - Transportation Rideshare Support Program in Kandiyohi County
  - City of Winona’s Senior Advocate Program
  - Connected Communities of Freeborn County
  - City of Tyler’s Safe Walkable Tyler Task Force and Be MinneSNOWta Nice (Duluth)
- Build connections and spark collaboration with organizations and sectors with other organizations and sectors
View the event flyer here. | Register here!