Blog

Meet Jessica, a beacon of hope and inspiration, whose presence ignites a spark within us to live more joyfully. With a heart that overflows with empathy, kindness, and compassion, she masterfully weaves together moments of joy, connection, and understanding.As the driving force behind MnCAN’s outreach and communications, Jessica is on

    Day 29 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Angie!  Angie is an integral part of MnCAN, and her influence is felt in every corner of the organization. As Executive Director, she carries a wide range of behind‑the‑scenes responsibilities that keep programs running smoothly, support

Day 28 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Amanda! At just 40 years old, Amanda’s life changed in an instant when she suffered a stroke. As a busy mom of two boys, she suddenly found herself facing a long road of recovery. In 2022, Amanda found MnCAN, and

Day 27 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Terry! Terry is a valued member of one of our Roseville Conversation Groups, where he has found friendship, camaraderie, and connection with others who truly understand life with aphasia. One of the things Terry feels most passionate about is helping

Day 26 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet the Glencoe Aphasia Conversation Group! In January of 2026, MnCAN launched its newest aphasia conversation group at Glencoe Regional Health, just a short drive west of the Twin Cities. Led by Alexis Fronk, an SLP (and former MnCAN

Day 25 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Kathy!  Kathy is a newer member of one of our conversation groups, and from the moment she joined, she has brought smiles, warmth, and unwavering perseverance. She was a little nervous at first, as so many people are

Day 24 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Nicole! Nicole joined MnCAN in early 2025 as a conversation group facilitator, bringing with her incredible enthusiasm for our mission, a natural ability to connect with participants, and a passion for helping people living with aphasia thrive. From the very

Day 23 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Rodney!  Rodney is one of those people whose smile can brighten an entire room. He has been part of the MnCAN community for several years and has been a dedicated friend and supporter to his fellow participants from

Day 22 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Jim! Today, we’re honored to introduce Jim. June 22nd is a significant day for Jim and his family, as it marks the anniversary of his stroke. Since that life-changing event, Jim has continued to move forward with determination,

Day 21 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Sara! Sara joined MnCAN in 2024 as a co-facilitator for our Care Partner Support Group and has quickly become an invaluable part of our community. As a licensed social worker with extensive experience supporting individuals and families affected by

Day 20 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet David ! David joined a St. Paul In-Person Conversation Group a few years ago and has been a dedicated participant ever since. He brings a little extra fun and energy to every gathering, often welcoming participants with music from

Day 19 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Amber!    Amber has been with MnCAN as a group facilitator since 2020 and facilitates the Rochester Area (South West) Virtual Aphasia Conversation Group.     She works full-time as a speech-language pathologist at Olmsted Medical Center. Amber has

Day 18 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Ken!  Ken is known throughout the MnCAN community for his kind, calm, and welcoming presence. Whether he is participating in a conversation group, attending an event, or connecting with a new member, Ken has a special way of

Day 17 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Rochelle!  Rochelle, who lives in Minnetonka, has been part of the MnCAN story from the very beginning. Reflecting on those early days, Rochelle fondly shares, “Cindy Busch and Sheen were the stars!” Their vision helped create a community

Day 16 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia – Meet Rebecca – One of MnCAN’s Amazing Facilitators!  For the past several years, Rebecca has been making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals living with aphasia through her work as a MnCAN facilitator.Rebecca first joined our facilitator

Day 15 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Chris!  At just 45 years old, Chris, a native of Eden Prairie, MN, experienced a massive, life-changing stroke. A veteran of the Air National Guard, graduate of St. Cloud State University, and talented IT engineer, Chris had recently

Day 13 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Michaela!  Michaela is one of the newest members of our MnCAN family. She and her brother, Mario, found MnCAN at the end of 2025 and joined us for our Holiday Coffee, Cocoa & Cookie event, where they quickly

Day 14 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Jeff!  Jeff is a perfect example of how many people first come to MnCAN. Often, a speech-language pathologist recommends MnCAN as a next step after therapy—or as a complement to ongoing therapy—but many people are understandably hesitant to

Day 14 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Kevin! Today, we’re excited to introduce Kevin, a longtime MnCAN participant whose dedication, positivity, and friendships have made a lasting impact on our community. Kevin has been part of MnCAN for many years and has built strong friendships

Day 12 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Ed!    Ed joined MnCAN a few years ago and has become such a valued part of our community. One of the first things you’ll notice about Ed is the way he welcomes others. He greets participants as

Day 11 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Leah!    Leah joined the MnCAN team as a group facilitator in 2020. She has facilitated a virtual group for 6 years.  Leah brings a kind, warm, and calming presence to her Maple Grove Virtual MnCAN group. Her

  Day 10 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Marilyn!  Marilyn has been part of MnCAN for many years and is involved in several of our groups. She’s truly one of a kind, always demonstrating warmth, thoughtfulness, and a deep commitment to supporting others living with

It is Day 9 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Russ!  Russ joined MnCAN a few years ago, and he is such a welcomed addition to any group. He greets everyone with a handshake as they arrive and makes a point to include everyone in the

It’s Day 8 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — today we’re celebrating John!   John has been with MnCAN for a long time, and his advocacy, and energy are felt everywhere he goes.  He’s also someone who is always looking for ways to share the value of MnCAN

Welcome to Day 7 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — today we recognize the importance of our MnCAN volunteers!  Meet Ella!  Ella is a speech-language pathology (SLP) student who just graduated from the University of Minnesota with her undergraduate degree and will be pursuing her Master’s degree

Welcome to Day 6 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — today we’re celebrating Mary!   Mary came to MnCAN after her neurologist recommended she connect with other people with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). What began as a referral has grown into a powerful presence in our community. A

It’s Day 5 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia-Meet Janine!  Janine is a long-time MnCAN participant whose presence lights up every room. She is involved in multiple MnCAN groups, always bringing smiles, joy, encouragement, and support to everyone around her. Janine is always welcoming to newcomers of MnCAN,

It’s Day 4 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia-Meet Marcus!    Marcus is one of our resilient and dedicated participants, and one of the younger members of our MnCAN community. Over the past year, we have had the privilege of getting to know Marcus and witnessing firsthand the

Day 3 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia — Meet Jill! Today, we are proud to introduce Jill, one of the incredible faces behind the MnCAN community. MnCAN Group Facilitators are the day-to-day heart of our nonprofit. They are patient, compassionate, communication-trained professionals who uplift, support, encourage, and guide

It’s Day 2 of MnCAN’s 30 Days of Life with Aphasia! Rob and Lynette have been part of the MnCAN community for 11 years. As both a participant and a care partner — and with Lynette also serving on the MnCAN Board of Directors — they have experienced firsthand the meaningful