By Z’ma Wyatt

AARP hosted a diversity and aging conference in Los Angeles last week that took a look at the issues facing ethnically diverse populations who are part of the “Baby Boomer” generation.

   The aim of the conference was to bring together experts and leaders of national organizations who have something to do with aging and diversity issues. “As the recent U.S. Census data confirms, we live in a nation of increasingly diverse cultures,” said AARP Chief Diversity Officer Percil Stanford.

   “We must pay close attention to the needs of diverse aging populations so that there is no divide or disparity in their quality of aging experience in America
    Today, ethnically diverse populations over 50 comprise almost 19 percent of that demographic, with almost 30 percent reporting some form of a disability. At least 20 percent of coupled gays and lesbians areover 55, according to AARP.
    Stanford said AARP first came up with the idea of the conference a few years ago during a meeting between AARP staff and colleagues from other national aging and minority organizations.  AARP is the leading non profit organization in the United States for people over age 50.
    Topics explored at the conference included housing, workforce issues, the health care system and Medicare and Medicaid reform. AARP CEO Bill Novelli and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond spoke at the final session.
    The main theme of the conference was “Divided We Fail” – a reference to the belief that diverse populations in the U.S. must come together in order to achieve such goals as better health care and lifetime financial security.
    Guest panelists included, Margaret Cruikshank, of the Center on Aging, University of Maine; Anita Hill, JD, of the Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University; and immigration advocate, Dolores Huerta, president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.