Our Mission and Purpose
The mission of the OutstandingLife is to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ+ older adults in Massachusetts by creating a virtual community of LGBTQ+ older adults. We seek new creative ways to connect older adults: engaging hearts, transforming lives and breaking down boundaries. We know people can still be creative and vital, at any age.
We provide a platform and a safe environment that fosters joy and independence. We are a diverse community committed to uplifting our members most impacted not only by homophobia and sexism but through systemic racism, transphobia, and income inequality. As life expectancy grows, we are living well into our 70s, 80s, and beyond. Longevity requires new ways of connecting and thinking about our wants and desires in what we need and want to do during our entire lives. We want to treat each person with dignity and respect and help people achieve their best life.
Despite increased physical longevity, social isolation and loneliness are leading causes of increased risk for emotional, cognitive, and physical health among older adults. According to psychologist Louise Hawkley, PhD, a senior research scientist at the research organization NORC at the University of Chicago, loneliness can wreak havoc on an individual's physical, mental and cognitive health. Hawkley points to evidence linking perceived social isolation with adverse health consequences including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and impaired immunity at every stage of life. Older LGBTQ+ adults have been at an increased risk for deteriorating health. Many do not have children or family members who, traditionally, are the companions and caretakers of older adults.
THE NEED
In Sean Cahill, PhD's report for the Fenway Institute's "LGBT Aging 2025: Strategies for Achieving a Healthy and Thriving LGBT Older Adult Community in Massachusetts", he identifies key themes of social isolation and lack of connection from numerous listening sessions across Massachusetts that include social isolation and lack of connection, the need for:
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- social activities that create a sense of community and belonging
- targeted support groups and services
- hardware (computers, tablets), internet access, and technical assistance to isolated, low-income LGBTQ elders so that they can access virtual support groups and other services
Older LGBTQ adults have been at an increased risk for deteriorating health. Many do not have children or family members who, traditionally, are the companions and caretakers of older adults.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Welcome to OutstandingLife, an online community designed for and by LGBTQ+ older adults and their allies. As the new Executive Director, I believe that creating intentional spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to connect, experience joy, and thrive contributes to a healthy (Queer? I know this word is contentious) life. My goal is to continue to build this platform side-by-side with the community I love most. You are an important part of helping OutstandingLife reach often-isolated LGBTQ+ older adults.
MEET OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David Conner
David Conner, when not working to build the OutstandingLife community, is project manager of LGBTQ+ Worcester FOR THE RECORD, a multi-year research initiative spearheaded by Worcester Historical Museum. Fluent in Spanish, David has been involved in community organizing through historical documentation for the last 9 years and is an executive board member for Pride Worcester.
David Aronstein
David Aronstein has been an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and leader of a number of LGBTQ+-focused organizations. After receiving his Master's in Social Work degree, he founded the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Program in Salem, MA in 1982. He became part of the senior management team at the AIDS Action Committee of MA helping to grow AIDS Action from a small team of mostly volunteers to a large organization with 100 employees and an annual budget of $7 million. He founded Stonewall Communities whose primary mission was to build a residential community for LGBTQ+ older adults. He co-founded the LGBT Aging Project and the Stonewall Life-long Learning Institute which is now at UMass-Boston. Before retiring in 2019, he led the Boston Alliance for Community Health for eight years. David lives in Jamaica Plain, MA with his husband, Steven.
David Aronstein
Craig Bailey
Craig Bailey is a longtime LGBTQ+ and arts activist. A veteran photographer based in Boston, he works with a diverse group of non-profit organizations, commercial clients and individuals.
Craig Bailey
Alice Fisher
Alice Fisher is a lifelong advocate and activist in the LGBTQ and disability communities. She earned her PHD in 1980 and wrote a dissertation about lesbian mothers. When not fighting for some cause she can be found hanging in her garden at Montgomery Park entertaining neighbors and friends. She has been on the board of Women and Disability, Stonewall Communities, The Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, The Equality Fund, The Advisory of Age Friendly Boston, City School, and the City of Boston Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board and a number of political campaigns.
Alice Fisher
Mark Hatch
Mark works in tech and has been a part of many successful start-ups for over 20 years, and has also helped to found non-profit organizations along the way. He designed and built software applications for multi-lingual Machine Translation systems, on-line banking, large-scale data applications, and Social Media Analytics and Marketing. Mark holds an MBA from Northeastern University and also attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He has taught Computer Science and Mathematics in the Massachusetts State College System for the past 30 years.
Mark Hatch
Stephenie Hsu
Stephenie has over five years of experience with managing in-person and virtual intergenerational programs, connecting high school/college-aged youth and older adults at Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly Boston. She earned her BS in Social Work at Bridgewater State University. After graduating college, Stephenie served two years as an AmeriCorps Massachusetts Promise Fellow and helped youth grades 8-12 on college and career readiness as well as volunteer and community engagement. She then went on to work as a bilingual SCO Case Manager at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services and was later given the opportunity to have her dream job working with intergenerational programs at LBFE. Stephenie is looking forward to serving on the Program Committee at OutstandingLife and planning social programs for LGBTQ+ older adults to build friendships and community. Originally from Fall River, MA but now calling Leominster home with her fiancé Courtney, Stephenie also enjoys painting handmade watercolor cards, doing arts and crafts, playing tennis, volleyball, hiking and kayaking.
Stephanie Hsu
Dale Mitchell
Before his retirement in 2019, Dale enjoyed a long career in social welfare policy, advocacy and program delivery. He was a policy analyst for Low Income Planning Aid, a community action back-up center; a public-interest lobbyist for Meredith & Associates; an assistant administrator for the Boston Housing Authority; and CEO for Ethos, a Boston-based non-profit specializing in community-based services for the elderly and disabled. He authored the Poor People's Budget, an advocacy tool for better understanding the state budget; oversaw the development of award-winning programs for BHA youth; developed groundbreaking transitional housing programs for people with AIDs; created first-in-the-nation programs for LGBTQ elders; and was co-founder of the LGBT Aging Project and the Mass. LGBT Aging Commission. In recognition of his work on LGBT aging, Dale was named Boston Pride's 2019 Grand Marshal. He lives in Jamaica Plain with his husband of forty-plus years, David Imming.
Dale Mitchell
Julie Nowak
Julie Nowak (she/they/xe) is the LGBTQIA+ Initiative Coordinator for Springwell, leading their outreach to older adults in the rainbow community and hosting talks, events, and cultural competency trainings that help build understanding and create affirming spaces where everyone is welcome! She is a facilitator for the Concord, MA chapter of Greater Boston PFLAG, a community of grassroots support groups embracing families with LGBTQIA+ loved ones; the Concord chapter includes several "late bloomers" and is very good for people who are questioning or coming out as mature/older adults.
Julie Nowak
Susan Ramsey
Susan is the Senior Center and Community Services Director for the Town of Natick, MA. During her professional career Susan has held senior management positions in human services and government most notably with the Boston Commission on Affairs of the Elderly and the Age Center of Worcester. A tireless advocate and innovator she has launched programs to meet emerging needs of elders and those who care for them. As a member of Natick's Community Services leadership team, she lends her perspective to discussions and advises departments on aging matters, community engagement and outreach to underserved constituents. Susan is the 2018 recipient of the Kate Thomas Spirit Award presented by the LGBT Aging Project at Fenway Health.
Susan Ramsey
Eric Roldan
Eric Roldan LICSW is currently Executive Director of Outpatient Services at Arbour Counseling Services, Eric is a independent clinical social worker with a demonstrated commitment to leadership and direct service to underserved populations. Prior to his current role, he has held leadership and clinical roles in opiate treatment, therapeutic foster care, care coordination and homelessness support. He is a member of the Leadership Worcester Class of 2023 and was named to the Worcester Business Journal 40 Under 40 in 2014. He holds a master's degree in social work from Springfield College, in addition to a Trauma Informed Care certificate.
Eric Roldan
Susan Trotz
Susan Trotz is a long time social justice & community feminist activist. Early on, she was inspired by anti-war protests and the Black Panther trials. After graduating college, Susan moved to the Boston area and organized to end violence against women at Transition House and Take 
Back the Night events. She later joined R2N2 -Reproductive Rights National Network- seeking abortion access for all. Susan participated in Act-Up and Act-Out, and was a founding member of the Boston Dyke March. Before retiring in 2016, Susan was a school counselor in Boston Public Schools for over 3 decades and organized for equal quality schools. In retirement she has been dedicated to organizing in the LGBTQ+ older adults community, as well as local and national political campaigns. Susan lives in Jamaica Plain with her longtime beautiful partner, Eileen. She loves gardening, walking, yoga, meditation, and cooking.
Susan Trotz
Cynthia Wilkerson
Cynthia has over 15 years of program development and management experience. She has a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University's Questrom School of Business. Cynthia is a member of several advisory boards and committees, including the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative's Executive Committee, Northeastern University Office of City and Community Engagement's Community Advisory Board, and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School's Health Assistant Program Advisory Committee. In her free time, Cynthia is an avid movie and museum goer.
Cynthia Wilkerson
Albert Whitaker
Albert Whitaker currently serves as Community Impact Director, Rhode Island, and Northern New England with the American Heart Association. His work focuses on convening and engaging various stakeholders around issues of health inequity, access to quality health care for underserved and marginalized communities, and spiritual support to people living with HIV. Moreover, his research focus is on the intersection of spirituality and health. A native of Boston, Albert is fluent in Spanish and served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Paraguay in South America. Albert holds a bachelor's degree in Adult Education, and a master's in urban ministry from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Center for Urban Ministry. He will receive his second master's degree in public health in May 2022. Rev. Whitaker also serves as pastor of St. Mark Congregational UCC church in Dorchester. Rev. Whitaker serves on the board of directors for Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI) a private, no-profit human service organization providing services to adults and children with developmental disabilities, mental health, behavioral and public health needs, and the board of National Peace Corp Association. Additionally, Albert actively serves on a variety of coalitions, ad hoc committees, and advisory boards throughout New England.
Albert Whitaker
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