AARP Minnesota and BoomerTown Welcome Seniors into the Shade at Pride
BoomerTown at the 2013 Pride Festival. Photo by Sophia Hantzes
By Chris Nietupski
Anyone who says GLBT seniors are in the autumn of their lives needs to get on down to BoomerTown this summer where the action is heating up in the shade.
Now in its second year of existence, BoomerTown was created as a viable option for older individuals who saw Pride as festivities only catering to young people. Located in the accessible and shady area of Loring Park near MCTC Plaza, Pride will play host to a number of GLBT senior-centric resources.
The area is the brainchild of Harry Hartigan, a PrimeTimers volunteer and activist for diversity and inclusion for seniors.
“It is true that much of the festival caters to young people,” said Dot Belstler, Executive Director of TC Pride. “However, through Harry’s vision, we’ve created BoomerTown which offers a more relaxing space and pace for GLBTQ seniors with resources catered to their needs.”
Those resources include information on volunteer opportunities, healthcare, and more. And AARP Minnesota will again be the official sponsor of this year’s version of BoomerTown.
“We all see the demographics indicating that seniors are the fastest growing segment of our population,” said TC Pride Board Chair Scott Feldman. “So we are thrilled to continue our work with such a logical partner in AARP who has been advocating and advancing the opportunities for seniors for decades.”
The list of participants at BoomerTown will include:
- Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly
- Prime Timers – MSP Chapter
- Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging
- Metro Meals on Wheels
- Ebenezer – Minneapolis Campus
- Volunteers of America
- AARP Minnesota
Like most of the festivities at the 42nd Annual Pride Festival, admission to BoomerTown is free.
Hours run concurrent to the festival:
Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 29, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
