“I am passionate about lifting the voices of those in the community who haven’t been heard and giving them a seat at the table,” says Jetta Wiedemeier Bower, volunteer and outreach manager at Trellis. “Paul Wellstone used to say, ‘We all do better when we all do better.’ For me, that means being laser-focused on hiring a diverse team to deliver Senior LinkAge Line® community services. If our community members can see themselves embodied in members of our team, they will feel welcomed and safe in asking questions.”
The Outreach Team has added several new team members over the past few months to bring a broader range of voices to our work. Let us introduce the team.
Maby Almiron
Maby recently earned her Master’s Degree in Health and Human Services from St. Mary’s University. She is originally from Argentina and was a registered nurse in Buenos Aires for six years and has provided health education to Spanish-speaking community members in the Houston area. Maby joined the Outreach Team in March. “I learned quickly that there is a great need for services but there is a lack of knowledge about the resources people can access,” notes Maby. “It is rewarding to provide assistance to caregivers, families and seniors so they can keep enjoying life and knowing that they are not alone.” She is grateful for the opportunity to work with organizations that serve the community and is excited to engage the Latinx community. Maby is inspired by her faith and her family, especially her late father who encouraged her to chase her dreams and know that nothing is impossible.
Amanda Bigus
Amanda brings a wealth of experience working with seniors for a home health organization and at a senior care facility. She did community outreach for the March of Dimes in southeast Minnesota and helped develop relationships with a variety of businesses and hospitals in her region. “My experiences,” Amanda explains, “have led to the philosophy that issues related to aging do not have a ‘one size fits all’ solution and because of that, I am dedicated to person-centered care.” Her values strongly align with Trellis’ vision of serving older adults in their community by connecting them to resources that will help them thrive as they age. Amanda credits meeting 104-year-old Amy early in her career for inspiring her to change the way society views aging. Even though Amy no longer had any sight and was confined to a wheelchair, she played the piano every day because it brought joy to herself and to all those who would listen. Amy’s story reminds Amanda that people are capable of having a good quality of life at any age.
Ahmed Mussa
Ahmed joined the Outreach Team in February 2022 after spending four years at the Brian Coyle Center in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis. In his various roles at Brian Coyle, he worked with the East African community providing direct services to his Somali, Oromo and Amharic speaking neighbors. “I want to educate the community to let go of hesitation and stigma toward immigrant and refugee communities. I now have the chance to bring more resources to my community.” Ahmed is an active member of several local mosques, serves as a faith leader and in his free time volunteers to work with youth to turn away from substances and risky behavior. Ahmed is fluent in Oromo, Somali, Amharic and English and is passionate about his family, loves watching soccer and enjoys talking with neighbors and story-telling as a way to foster culture.
Mayla Yang
Prior to coming to Trellis, Mayla worked with Volunteers of America conducting outreach in Hmong, East African and African American communities and providing education on topics related to dementia, Alzheimer’s and removing cultural barriers. Mayla is a Dementia Friends Champion and conducts Information Sessions in English and Hmong. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Metro State. In her role with Trellis, Mayla looks forward to developing relationships with organizations that build community and help people age well. “It is a great honor to continue my work in the Hmong community,” says Mayla. “I am proud to be a Hmong American.” Mayla is inspired by her parents who taught her the values of hard work and serving others.
Linda Vue
Linda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Gerontology from Minnesota State University Moorhead and it has helped to shape her passion for working with older adults and diverse communities. As the operations coordinator for the Outreach Team, Linda is at the center of connecting outreach team members with communities that can benefit from information and access. “I love working with a team of individuals that share my goal—really making a difference in people’s lives,” says Linda. Prior to Trellis, Linda worked with older adults from low-income households living with vision loss. “I’m inspired by my parents. Their steadfast and selfless commitment to caring for others is a constant reminder that there is never a limit to helping others.”
The Senior LinkAge Line Outreach Team is available to provide free community presentations about how the Senior LinkAge Line can help, Medicare I01, Annual Medicare Update, How to Avoid Health Care Fraud and more. Learn more about our presentations.
