Join an Advisory Council to Support our Immigrant and Refugee Workforce

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Kirstan Ketter

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is seeking employers and immigrant caregivers to join our two new advisory councils to support New Americans looking to find meaningful careers in senior care.

If you are an immigrant working in senior care, in any capacity, or an employer with a passion of supporting newcomers, we welcome you to participate.

Contribute Your Valuable Insights

This initiative is part of a transformative $1 million investment to build a stronger pathway for new Americans pursuing meaningful careers in aging services. Thanks to grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Grant, Equity, Access, and Research (GEAR) Division, senior care providers can welcome new Americans into their communities. Our sector is facing critical workforce challenges and supporting Minnesota’s immigrant and refugee population access meaningful career paths in our field is an essential part of the solution.

As part of this effort, we are forming two new advisory councils—one for new Americans and one for employers. If you are a new American working in long-term care or an employer with experience welcoming, supporting and guiding new Americans in the field, your experience is invaluable—and we want to hear from you!

Immigrant Voices: Advisory Council to Support New Americans in Long-Term Care

We want to elevate the voices of the immigrants and refugees already working in our field and learn from their lived experience. Our Immigrant Voices Advisory Council will help identify the key needs of new Americans, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support to thrive in long-term care.

• Who Should Participate: Immigrants and refugees working in long-term care in any capacity—whether as a caregiver, nurse, support staff, administrator, or other role.
• Why Join: Share your experiences and insight to help shape a more welcoming and inclusive future for refugees and immigrants to find meaningful careers in senior care.
• The Details: Selected participants will be required to join two virtual Zoom meetings and will receive a $100 stipend in appreciation of their time and contributions. Learn more and complete this interest form – applications close March 6^th.

Employer Voices: Advisory Council to Support New Americans in Long-Term Care

To support employers in successfully recruiting, welcoming, and retaining these talented professionals, our Employer Voices Advisory Council will help identify and develop critical resources needed by senior care providers to improve their recruitment and retention strategies and organizational readiness to support newcomers.

• Who Should Participate: Long-term care leaders, HR professionals, and industry experts who have experience recruiting and employing New Americans in senior care and are committed to strengthening our collective workforce.
• Why Join: Your participation will help shape practical resources and actionable strategies that meet employers’ real-world needs, opportunities, and challenges. Plus, network with other leaders focused on fostering diverse and welcoming communities.
• The Details: Selected participants will be required to join two virtual Zoom meetings and will receive a $100 stipend in appreciation of their time and contributions. Learn more and complete this interest form.

Get Involved and Share this Opportunity

We encourage you to share this opportunity with the dedicated professionals in your organization. If you are interested in participating, please complete this questionnaire by Friday, February 28^th. 

To learn more, get in touch with Kirstan Ketter, Project Manager at the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation.