This year’s Creating Change conference will be held from January 24th through 28th in Washington, D.C. and Diverse Elders Coalition member SAGE will be there to ensure that the stories of LGBT elders are represented and honored. As in previous years, SAGE will present a number of elder-focused sessions throughout the conference, and they will also be tabling — so be sure to pick up their new Age-Friendly Pride Guide and any other information you might need about culturally competent care, housing, and advocacy for LGBT elders.

Here is a complete list of SAGE panels and presentations at Creating Change 2018:

Intergenerational Institute: Creating an Age Inclusive Activist Movement
Thursday, January 25th 9:00am to 12:30pm

LGBTQ people of all ages are engaged in local and state advocacy struggles and serve as powerful spokespeople to educate the broader public about pervasive discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, education, medical care, and other aspects of their lives. Hear from LGBTQ activists and providers about how they work to build an age-inclusive activist movement, raise awareness, and advocate for change in their communities. Through interactive group workshops, storytelling and panels—audience members and presenters will share how they tackle issues of primary importance to LGBTQ elders and elders of color.

Building Age Inclusive LGBT Centers and Services
Date & Time: Friday, January 26, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Format: Workshop, 90 minute

Using Data in Support of LGBT Age-Friendly Communities
Date & Time: Friday, January 26, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Format: Workshop, 90 minute

Improving LGBT Older Adult Health Access through Care Planning
Date & Time: Saturday, January 27, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Format: Workshop, 90 minute

In addition to this conference programming, SAGE will also present Dr. Imani Woody with the SAGE Advocacy Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging Issues during the closing plenary of the conference (Sunday, January 28th at 11:30am).

Dr. Imani Woody is the founding director and CEO of Mary’s House for Older Adults, Inc. and she has been an advocate of women, people of color and LGBT/SGL issues for more than 20 years. She is currently working as a diversity and inclusion consultant in the field of health, aging and issues affecting the LGBTQ/SGL and people color communities. She has presented on LGBT aging issues at the White House National LGBT Elder Summit and at the 2017 National Equality March for Unity and Pride. Dr. Woody is a member of the National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative, a mayoral appointee to the DC LGBTQ Advisory Council, and is the Program Officer for the Older Adults Advisory Council for Metropolitan Community Churches. She a Board member of the LGBT Technology Partnership and has served on many boards, including the Mautner Project, and the Women in the Life Association.

SAGE is deeply grateful to Dr. Woody for her leadership and many years of advocacy on behalf of women, people of color and LGBT older adults.

We hope to see you at Creating Change and look forward to creating positive change for LGBT elders in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Diverse Elders Coalition.