Campaign Tackles Abuse Of Elders Of Color

The Minnesota Elder Nonviolence Coalition (MENC) initiative kicks off its campaign to address all forms of violence against elders in under-served communities throughout Minnesota. The newly formed initiative has a specific focus on violence against elders who are Black, Indigenous, people-of-color and immigrants.

MINNEAPOLIS - illiNews -- Minnesota Elder Nonviolence Coalition (MENC) is a grass roots cultural community outreach initiative that will capture testimony from elders that will serve to shine a spotlight on elder violence at home, in nursing facilities, at senior daycare centers, on public transportation and in predatory financial exploitation. This initiative seeks to inform and educate communities with the goal of adopting elder nonviolence as a way of living in the spirit of our ancestors.

Supported by The Minneapolis Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Minnesota Elder Justice Center and AARP Minnesota, MENC is asking the elder community and their caregivers to share their stories of elder abuse that will be used to develop a community narrative, as well as to create legislation. Community partners Sabathani Community Center, Hallie Q. Brown and Ujamaa Place did not hesitate to join MENC in supporting the cultural care of our elders in the communities they serve.

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MENC was founded by community activists after beloved 88-year-old civil rights leader Dr. Josie R. Johnson was a victim of elder abuse at the hands of an Uber driver. A statement released by Dr. Johnson urged the community to get involved in this grass roots initiative to bring more resources to our elder population in the State of Minnesota. Dr. Johnson said: "The condition of our elders can sometimes be forgotten because of the many injustices we are fighting against daily. Concern for our elders must not take a back seat. The elder community needs your support. We need your voice."

MN Representative Rena Moran, from District 65A, strongly supports this initiative. Moran, in a recent MENC podcast talks about the process of creating a bill and how important it is to hear the needs from elders. "I am eager to learn from elders about their health and safety needs. Elder testimony will help me write a bill that will champion the need to allocate more resources to address the cultural needs and abuse of elders in underserved communities throughout Minnesota."

"Acknowledging the role that community activism plays in bringing radical change to big problems in our community was important to the MENC initiative," explained co-founder Monique Linder. "Listen to the MENC podcast series to hear hosts Jesse and Carly talk to guests about the fast action of community leaders who gathered at the Minneapolis Urban League after Dr. Johnson was a victim of elder abuse and the discussions that ensued which gave birth to the MENC initiative," said Linder.

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About Minnesota Elder Nonviolence Coalition

The Minnesota Elder Nonviolence Coalition is a grass roots cultural community initiative that seeks to end all forms of violence against elders of color.

To listen to the MENC podcast series with youth hosts Jesse and Carly available wherever you listen to podcasts, go to: https://www.mneldernonviolence.org/media)

To share your story go to: https://www.mneldernonviolence.org/take-action

For more information go to: https://www.mneldernonviolence.org