VAN e-Bulletin April 2026

APRIL 2026

Veda Kanitz:
A Role Model for Grassroots Activism

By Rose Lindquist, VAN Contributor

I’d like to introduce you to an extraordinary human, and someone I have worked with in various capacities since last June: Veda Kanitz. With over 42 years as a high school science teacher in Minnesota public schools, Veda has dedicated her life to education and community activism.

Veda hails from Wisconsin. She followed her college sweetheart to Minnesota in 1982. She is a lover of nature, a self-professed workaholic, and someone who must speak up when she sees injustice.

Veda's drive in activism and politics was shaped by her mother, Ann, who demonstrated her beliefs through her actions. Ann had a degree in English from Hunter College, and during the war worked as an executive secretary for the Atomic Energy Commission. “She was a New Yorker,” said Veda. “You always knew where she stood on any issue. She taught us the ‘golden rule:’ do unto others as you would have them do onto you.”

VAN FORUM

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

with David Schultz

Many hand raised and bullhorn with caption "The power is in your hands."

Tuesday, May 19 | 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ramsey County Library - Roseville

Democracy is not something that happens to you. It is something you do. At its core, democracy is about people; individuals using their voices, organizing power, and shaping the decisions that affect their lives.

David Schultz is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University. This session is about how you can move from observer to actor and have real influence where you live.

April Is National Volunteer Month

To mark National Volunteer Month, Judy Woodruff, PBS News Hour, explores why volunteering is a part of our national identity.

Before the United States was founded, the idea of volunteering was well underway in the colonies. Now, Americans consistently donate more of their time than citizens of any other country.

Watch the video

Upcoming VAN Events

VAN Forums

VAN Forums are free and open to everyone. Join us!

Photo by Sanket Mishra: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-a-person-holding-a-smartphone-displaying-chatgpt-16461434/

Artificial Intelligence, Information, and Trust

How AI Can Help Us, and What to Watch For

Saturday, May 2 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Ramsey County Library - Roseville

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly part of everyday life, from online searches and email to healthcare tools, financial services, and news and social media platforms. Learn more and register.

Wellness 50+ Oakdale

Play Mahjongg

Mondays in May | 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Opportunity to be play Mahjongg will be offered on Mondays in May at the Discovery Center. No sign up needed.

Family Bike Safety Workshop

Sunday, May 17 | 1:00 to 3:00 pm

This fun free educational event will take place at the Oakdale Discovery Center parking lot. Stations will include helmet fitting, bike check, bike safety and e-bike demonstrations. Refreshments will be served and the event will be held indoors in the event of rain. Please register by calling 651-747-3860 or at www.oakdalefun.com.

Find info about our regularly scheduled events on the Vital Aging Network calendar.

A group of people around a conference table watching a presentation on screen

Wellness 50+ members participate in focus group about the Battle Creek - St. Croix River Regional Bike Trail

Wellness 50+ Twin Cities

Beginning Pickleball Instruction and Play
(currently full, register to join the waitlist)

Monday, April 27 | 9:00 – 11:00 am

Alfred and Lynn (Wellness 50+ members) will host a pickleball instruction and beginner play session at the El Rio Vista Rec Center in St. Paul. Cost is $3. Attendence is limited but look for additional events in the future.

Get You and Your Bike Ready for Riding Clinic

Monday, May 4 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

This event will get you and your bike ready for riding this season. This is a great way to kick off the bicycle season and feel more comfortable on your bicycle. Hosted by Wahoo Adventures and Wellness 50+ Twin Cities. Cost is $10. After the clinic we will ride to the nearby Gateway Cycle shop to see what services and products they can provide.

Bird Watching at Lake Elmo Regional Park

Tuesday, May 5 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Shelly Bowman will lead us on a hike listening and looking for birds during the spring migration.

Biking the Hardwood Creek Trail

Monday, May 11 | 9:45 am – 12:30 pm

Our first bike ride of the year will be on Washington County's Hardwood Creek Trail between Forest Lake and Hugo. The route will be out and back on a flat 9.5 mile trail. Shorter rides are available by turning back sooner.

Kayaking Spoon and Keller Lakes

Monday, May 11 | 9:45 am – 12:30 pm

Our first kayak paddle of the year will be on Spoon and Keller Lakes in Maplwood. Beginning kayakers are welcome on this lake paddle. Cost is $30 plus fees for kayak rentals and $10 plus fees for bring your own kayak. Rentals include kayak, paddle and life jackets.

Good to Know

Click the title to learn more.

What does it really mean to ‘age well’?

CNN

Shamita Sharmacharja, curator at London’s Wellcome Collection, talks about her latest exhibition, “The Coming of Age." Sharmacharja wanted the show to strike a balance: challenging ageism without diminishing the real experience of mid-life anxiety, and the complicated reality of illness and caring responsibilities.

12 Products Getting More Expensive in 2026

AARP

Even before the war in Iran set off a wave of rising costs, several products were predicted to get more expensive this year. Now some things will cost even more.

The Future of Aging Policy: Defending What Exists While Preparing for What Comes Next

April 16, 2026, Justice in Aging

The future of aging is not set. It will be shaped by the policy ideas we develop, the priorities we elevate, and the choices policymakers make in the years ahead. At a time when aging programs face real threats, it is more important than ever to define what progress should look like—and to be ready when opportunities for change emerge. Justice in Aging has launched the Future of Aging Policy Project to set out a clear, proactive agenda for policymakers to strengthen older adults’ access to economic security, long-term care, caregiving, and social supports like housing, health care, civil rights, and more.

Brokers Get Paid More to Enroll Seniors in Medicare Advantage. Is That a Problem?

MedPage Today

The system of paying Medicare agents and brokers more money if they enroll someone in a Medicare Advantage plan rather than traditional Medicare with a supplement plan needs to be changed, according to several members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

River Market/MS Market events

River Market Community Coop offers a variety of classes online and in the east metro area. Upcoming class include Raising Monarch Butterflies Responsibly, Planting for Pollinators and Cook Along with Chef Jess.

Facing Alzheimer’s Fear, Patients Say Yes to Blood Tests

Northwestern Now
A new Northwestern Medicine survey found a vast majority of older adults would be willing to take a biomarker blood test to assess their Alzheimer’s risk.

Help Sustain VAN's Work

Since 2001, the Vital Aging Network has been creating opportunities for older adults to gather and engage in the shared purpose of making our lives and our communities stronger and healthier.

Will you help put the Vital Aging Network on a path of strength for 2026?

Donate today!

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