Hello MnCAN Community!
May is Stroke Awareness Month AND National Speech-Language-Hearing Month - both are important to recognize related to the great work YOU do each and every day. We have welcomed over 30 new participants to our programs already this year - this community is for everyone. Our hope is that this newsletter can provide education, resources, updates and social opportunities for people living successfully with aphasia or primary progressive aphasia for any amount of time. We are one community: people living with aphasia, care partners, group facilitators, donors, volunteers, students and board members.
Please reach out with questions or comments - we are here to help and support you. Warmly, Angie Maier and Jessica Wald, MnCAN Executive Directors |
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MnCAN Board of Directors Update |
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We are thrilled to welcome Dave Warburton to the Board of Directors. Dave has been involved in the MnCAN community (St. Paul Neuroscience Center Aphasia Conversation Group) since 2022. After a stroke in 2019, he retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and now focuses on stroke recovery, building communication skills, and contributing his project management experience to MnCAN. He is passionate about supporting others with aphasia
Dave lives with his wife, Holly, on a hobby farm where they enjoy outdoor activities and time with their dog. They are also working on a sustainable home project. Dave's message to others: “Be kind to your mind." We are so grateful to have him join the MnCAN Board of Directors - welcome to the team, Dave! |
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| We want to celebrate our amazing speech-language pathology (SLP) team - they bring so much compassion.
One of the many things that makes MnCAN special is the expertise and dedication of our group facilitators. While many organizations can offer support groups or social opportunities, aphasia brings unique communication challenges that require specialized knowledge, patience, and understanding. Our speech-language pathology facilitators have the training and experience to support each person with aphasia. They help create environments where individuals living with aphasia or Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) feel supported, empowered, and connected in meaningful ways.
We are incredibly grateful for the professionals who help make communication, confidence, and community possible every day. Thank you Krista, Rebecca, Jill, Nicole, Jen, Amber, Angie, Jessica, Sheen, Lexi and Leah! |
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May is Stroke Awareness Month |
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It is important to know the signs of a stroke and get medical help as soon as possible. Time = Brain. Every minute matters. Know the signs. Share them with family and friends. Stroke prevention and FAST action can be life saving.
The American Stroke Association has wonderful resources to read and share. |
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MnCAN Directors, Jessica and Angie, attended the VA Stroke Awareness Fair on May 11, 2026 to share more about aphasia. This was MnCAN's third annual invitation to participate in this wonderful community resource sharing and education event. Thank you to the VA Medical Center for hosting - we hope to see you there next year! |
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| Our community is so special! We had a record 28 people with aphasia or care partners join us for our Coffee & Connections social in Minnetonka in April. Don't miss our next event on May 29, 2026 (details below). |
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Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for our third annual Back Channel Brewing Community Tuesday social event in May - we shared many laughs and hugs! We welcomed 50 MnCAN community members and a lot of other brewery patrons who learned more about aphasia - spreading outreach is so important.
What made the evening especially meaningful was the shared understanding that aphasia connects us in powerful ways. Whether someone is newly navigating communication challenges or has been on this journey for years, there is a deep sense of empathy, patience, and genuine connection that brings people together.
Thank you to everyone who came to say hello, stayed to connect, and opened the door to new friendships - we are truly grateful to know each of you.
Thank you for hosting, Back Channel Brewing. We will see you again next year! |
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| Did you know that MnCAN hosts a Virtual Coffee Club that meets every Tuesday morning from 8:00 - 8:45 all year long?! It is a great opportunity to meet people and practice conversation.
This group was first launched in January of 2021 with some of the original members still attending today. Read more here: Coffee Club.
If you would like to get on the email list to receive the Zoom link, please email: angie@mncan.org. |
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We are upgrading our WEBSITE www.mncan.org and we want to hear from YOU! We want the new website to be even more user-friendly and helpful so please share your feedback. This is an anonymous feedback form but we would love to discuss this topic with you if you email us at contact@mncan.org.
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We would love your feedback on PROGRAMS you would like to see MnCAN offer in the future. We want to create programs that are meaningful to you. Do you like photography? Art? Music? We are hoping to offer more social events with meaning throughout the year! We will collect the information and share updates with you throughout the year. |
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Care Partner and Participant Resources |
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We love sharing community resources with our MnCAN family. FamilyMeans of Stillwater has given us helpful information about the resources, support and services they offer.
FamilyMeans is a nonprofit established in 1963 and offers services related to: Counseling & Therapy for Grief & Loss, Caregiving & Aging, Financial Solutions, Youth Development, & Employee Assistance. Specifically, we want to highlight their caregiving & aging support for family and friend caregivers of older adults and others, with functional limitations.
Their mission statement: "Support is here. At FamilyMeans, our work is life’s challenges. We listen without judgement, offer encouragement, and believe in you even when you might not. You can count on FamilyMeans." For more information about Family Means CLICK HERE |
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Our Aphasia and PPA pocket cards are a simple, powerful way to help others understand your communication needs. These wallet-sized cards briefly explain aphasia or primary progressive aphasia and can be especially helpful during appointments, while driving, or out in the community - supporting awareness, patience, and clearer communication.
Interested in getting one? Email us at contact@mncan.org and we can drop it in the mail for you.
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SPECIAL May Coffee & Connections: Angie Maier and Jessica Wald, MnCAN Directors, would love to invite you to join us for coffee and treats at this social event. We will share about our June Aphasia Awareness Month fundraising campaign and how YOU can help us reach our $15,000 goal. Date: Friday, May 29, 2026 Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Location: Augsburg Park Library 7100 Nicollet Ave Richfield, MN 55423 Please reach out with questions -
we are happy to help! Email: contact@mncan.org
Call or text: 612-524-8802 |
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Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to our biggest event of the year - this is one you will not want to miss. Our 2026 Break the Barriers for Aphasia Fundraising Gala is coming in October! Join us for an inspiring afternoon filled with live music, silent and live auctions, delicious food and drinks, powerful keynote speakers, and a community coming together for an incredible cause. Together, we will celebrate connection, raise awareness, and support individuals and families living with aphasia.
Want to contribute? We are starting to collect ideas for Silent and Live Auction item packages, and we are looking for sponsors. Email us if you are able to contribute or have an idea! contact@mncan.org |
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Minnesota Connect Aphasia Now (MnCAN) is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation today is tax deductible as allowable by state law. |
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