2026 TSLCA SUMMIT

April 14th 9-12pm & April 16th 12-4pm on Zoom

What will it take for us to all live healthy, engaged and secure lives in our homes and in the communities we love? It won’t be enough for us to be personally informed and activated to make necessary changes. We must also be served by strong community organizations, live in communities that are intentionally designed to meet the needs of people at every age, and be supported by public policies and social norms that value health and well-being in later life.

Join the TSLCA for a two half-day virtual summit exploring what it means for us, and our organizations, communities and systems to be “longevity-ready.” We’ll use this new report from the Milken Institute as a framework to explore the components of “longevity ready” and learn about the ecosystem we need to build, promising practices, and actions we can all individually take to make progress.

We are very grateful for attendees who purchase Summit tickets, as it goes towards helping us to continue the work of TSLCA. Please, though, do not allow the ticket price be a barrier to you joining us for this enriching event. Reach out to Willow Dansbury at wdansbury@mainecouncilonaging.org for information on group discounts, to discuss a smaller ticket price, or to get a free ticket. We want everyone there who would like to join, and that means you!

Our Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Rossano is a researcher, writer, and thought leader working at the intersection of aging and health. As a project director at the Milken Institute Future of Aging, she conducts research, produces content, and develops insights to promote healthy longevity. Rossano is also affiliated with the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where she has contributed to research and writing on the impact of the arts and humanities on well-being. Bringing a multidisciplinary approach to her work, she draws on expertise in marketing, communications, psychology, and public health. She is currently pursuing a master of public health at Johns Hopkins University and holds a master of applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she served as a marketing director in the children’s toy and licensing industry and worked in the culinary field as an educator and food writer. Rossano is dedicated to advancing initiatives that enable older adults to thrive, with a focus on disease prevention, health promotion, and positive aging.

April 14th Agenda Highlights

Keynote Presentation featuring Jennifer Rossano

Jennifer Rossano Co-Authored the report “Longevity Ready: A Systems Approach to Aging Well at Home” with her colleage at the Milken Institute, Lauren Dunning. Together, they laid out a roadmap to addressing the lack of infrastructure for our longer lives. We are so delighted to have Jennifer open our Summit and set the tone for the framework over our two half days together.

Community Planners Panel

Our first panel will look at the ‘foundations’ of our region—the physical roads, homes, and town centers designed by our planners, and the vital social heartbeat maintained by our Age-Friendly leaders. We’ve seen that in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the greater New England region, staying at home as we age isn’t just about the four walls of a house; it’s about the strength of the ecosystem surrounding it.

April 16th Agenda Highlights

Dismantling Ageism Panel

The “Longevity Ready” report reveals that deficit-focused narratives – equating aging only with frailty and decline – actively discourage proactive planning. This session moves from theory to action, featuring alumni from MCOA’s Leadership Exchange on Ageism who will share how they are successfully disrupting ageism and reframing aging within their own sectors.

Age-Friendly Community Panel

While city planners build the physical roads and houses, it is community leaders who build the social ‘heart’ that makes staying at home possible. This session explores how local Age-Friendly initiatives are transforming rural communities into supportive ecosystems. We will discuss the ‘invisible infrastructure’ of aging – the social connections, volunteer networks, and local resource hubs that ensure no one has to navigate the complexities of growing older alone. Our panelists will share how they are creating a “front door” for support, making it easier for everyone to find exactly what they need, right where they live.

Breakout Sessions