May 23, 2022

Dear Friends,

Eight years ago, MnCAN was borne out of a small group of dedicated volunteers and speech pathologists who were passionate about making a difference in the lives of people with aphasia.  The life participation approach to aphasia and supported conversation models that guide MnCAN’s mission were introduced by Dr. Cindy Busch, who is currently a MnCAN Emeritus Board Member.  We incorporated 6 aphasia conversation groups with 30 participants from Dr. Busch’s collaboration with the MN Stroke Association to form the initial basis of MnCAN as a nonprofit organization in January 2014.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve this organization as its founding Executive Director since its inception and to watch it grow from these simple beginnings to where we stand today with 15 group/program offerings and 3 support groups focusing on divergent needs, serving over 102 people with aphasia and their family members.  In addition, we were able to bring on two part time staff to better serve our programs and focus on expanding our outreach and diversity.

It is with a spirit of gratefulness for the past and looking to the future, that I have informed the MnCAN Board of Directors of my decision to retire by February 2023.  MnCAN’s impact on the aphasia community in Minnesota has been significant and I am in awe of the stories of progress, hope and community that have been the result of this work. I often marvel at the small miracles that have occurred over the past 8 years – dedicated people willing to support this work financially and with their precious time and expertise.  MnCAN has a knack for finding just the right person to help at just the right time and to encourage participants who inspire program development with their leadership and tenacity.

The Board has been hard at work planning for my succession over the past several months and with this announcement we are officially launching our recruitment process for my successor. You can find the position details here:  https://mncan.org/now-hiring-executive-director.   Please pass this far and wide to your networks throughout the aphasia community!

As we move forward in the recruitment process, you’ll be hearing from our Board Chair, Staney Rostad with updates about our Executive Director recruitment.

I am so grateful to the MnCAN community for the impact you all have made on my life, especially all my friends with aphasia whom I have had the privilege to work beside. I look forward to seeing how this wonderful organization grows in the coming years – I know it is destined to do great things!

Sincerely,