An Interview With Stanley Bronstein
The “small wins” aren’t so small. Every testimonial a Vitality Arts student shares publicly is a satisfying “win.”
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ellen Michelson.
Ellen is founder and president of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy since 1994. Presently, the foundation is focusing on creative aging programs for older adults. She has received the MacPhail Duet Award from the MacPhail Center for Music, a National Leadership Award from National Guild for Community Arts Education, and a 50 Over 50 award from AARP Minnesota and Arts Funder of the Year by Inside Philanthropy. She divides her time between Minneapolis and New York City.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I have a habit when outside my home to look around me — up, down, left and right — not just focusing on the path straight ahead. My obsession with design, texture and color heightens my awareness of how artistry and creativity is everywhere waiting to be noticed. Creativity is there for us if we choose to use it as a tool to enhance our everyday lives. I like to say it is a gift wrapped in pretty paper waiting to be opened.
My journey to advocating for older adults was slow in its arrival to the field of Creative Aging.
Since the foundation’s inception, our primary focus had been funding arts education for youth and adults with mental illness. But, as I became older, I learned more about the many biases toward older adults. I saw an incredible opportunity overlooked by philanthropic, government, and community funding support — quality art learning workshops designed for the older adult.
There are creative aging curriculum models that can meet almost any older adult where they are in their aging progression. Upon realizing there is inequity within older adult community arts education, I knew I could try to improve this imbalance through advocacy. It was in 2012 that E.A. Michelson Philanthropy shifted the focus of our work to primarily advocate for and fund art-making opportunities for older adults.
We created the term “Vitality Arts®” to describe the arts learning model we promote within the broader field of Creative Aging. This type of programming includes multi-session, hands-on, skill-based arts workshops specifically designed for older students taught by professional teaching artists. We partnered with the nonprofit Lifetime Arts by working with museums, community centers, and senior residential communities nationwide to fund Vitality Arts programs for adults over 55.
These programs are not just about filling the time we have as we age — but giving that time purpose and meaning.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
It’s hard to pick the most interesting — so I’ll share the most eye-opening. When walking through vibrant cultural institutions, I notice how much intention goes into engaging children and families. Compared to the abundance of programming and specially designed spaces within museums for young people, there are minimal opportunities for adult art-making classes, and practically no consideration is given to intentionally designed spaces for older patrons within these institutions. Where are the spaces for older adults to explore, create, and connect comfortably within our museums?
This realization intensified our work within Creative Aging, reinforcing the narrative that museums and cultural organizations are places for everyone, at every age, of any ability to engage with and be inspired by art. Witnessing museums beginning to adopt more inclusive programming has been incredibly rewarding and continues to drive our mission forward.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made along the way? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I started this work, I had not thought about my inner ageism. I’ve always respected and admired older adults. I began to look with intention at how I perceive aging and how I choose to live throughout my aging years.
I realized I had absorbed ageist assumptions in my 68 years simply from growing and living my daily life.
The American Society on Aging states, “Even by age 3, children are familiar with age stereotypes, which are then reinforced over their lifetimes.” I challenge the organizations we support to look inward and identify how they perceive older adults. That first step can shift institutions to becoming more equitable with all ages.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Since 2012, E.A. Michelson Philanthropy has granted more than $20M toward creative aging advocacy and programming — benefiting more than 60 museums, arts, and community organizations to engage older adults in their own creative growth.
But we’re not just funding projects. We’re sustaining a movement that challenges ageism and promotes lifelong learning. By supporting teaching artists, museums, arts organizations, and senior housing, we ensure that older adults across the country have access to the arts in ways that enhance their lives and strengthen their communities.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
It’s hard to narrow that down to one! I’m constantly hearing stories of older adults discovering hidden parts of themselves that they might not have tapped into without this work.
I’ll give you two examples:
We funded a program with CommonBond Communities in St. Paul. Colin Kloecker, Community Engagement Manager, leads the work, taking our Vitality Arts programs to low-income senior housing developments. Along the way, the program captured the attention of Ardella, a Stage 4 cancer survivor. Ardella, who had been left isolated during the pandemic, dove into art classes. She’s now learning new creative skills she never thought she would master, building bonds with grandchildren, and making friends in her community as a way to combat her isolation.
I also worked with Dane Stauffer, a performance artist and teaching artist based in Minnesota. While teaching a storytelling course, Dane’s work attracted Milan Mockovick. Milan’s introduction to this writing course has been a new way to “stay alive.” He’s unlocked new parts of himself that he didn’t know existed and has been inspired to continue his writing.
I read these testimonials constantly. This work gives people meaning — a reason to keep learning, to keep striving, to continue engaged living.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Pay attention to aging Americans. One in six people will be over 60 years old by 2030. In the U.S., more people will be over 65 than under 18 by 2034. You can’t ignore this demographic reality.
- Talk about aging Americans — honestly. Combatting our own internal conflicts around how we view aging is difficult — but necessary. Be a positive part of the conversation around aging and acknowledge decline does happen. We need to see older adults as vibrant, capable societal contributors.
- Invest in aging Americans. So often, funding for the arts and community programs is delegated to younger generations. That’s critically important — but “life doesn’t stop” at 65. In fact, we have so much more life to live. Funders have relatively ignored aging. We deserve opportunities to live our fullest life. The best rest of our lives.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
To me, leadership is about listening, learning, and evolving to move a goal forward. It’s about identifying needs and taking action but doing so with inspiring people surrounding you — allowing them to lead when their expertise is beneficial. It’s about sharing your intentions and working together to accomplish the end goal.
The next generation of art educators, program leads, community leaders, teaching artists, and more can now broaden and sustain the field of Creative Aging. The foundation’s alignment with Lifetime Arts amplifies our impact far beyond what we could achieve alone.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Confront your biases about older adults now. It doesn’t matter what age you are, our perceptions of getting older often skew negative. And, positive outlooks on aging have the potential to add 7.5 years to our lives.
- Patience is needed when developing new ideas — I have recruited talented people to help me move my philanthropic work forward. But, as this shift into Vitality Arts programming was such unchartered territory, it became more important than ever. I’m so grateful to have talented advisors and the dozens of museums, program managers, education departments, teaching artists and media who believe equally in the importance of uplifting work with older adults.
- Think outside of the box. When I first started, senior residences, community centers and libraries were top of mind to target. However, I later discovered that museums and their leadership understand the need to dissolve ageist attitudes, extend their education programming to older adults and redesign their physical spaces to have purposeful accessible design.
- Change takes time. Shifting people’s perspectives on getting older is a daily effort. Again, patience — and I will add fortitude — can get us there.
- The “small wins” aren’t so small. Every testimonial a Vitality Arts student shares publicly is a satisfying “win.”
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I want to see a world where lifelong creativity is the norm, not the exception.
Imagine we live in a world where every community center, museum, library, and arts organization have robust arts programming for older adults. Where older adult arts education is as funded as youth arts education. A person has value at every life stage.
I am grateful to all who have chosen to read my story. It would be wonderful to see creative aging programs become completely sustainable through increased funding.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
James Clear said, “Knowledge is making the right choice with all the information. Wisdom is making the right choice without all the information.” But for me, wisdom and compassion are the right choices without all the information.
I view the work of philanthropy as risk investment. By that, I mean sometimes I decide to support needs that are not 100% figured out. I might not have the perfect formula for proof of impact in relation to the dollars spent. I believe that if I can positively impact a person’s life, the cost of assistance should be the least of my concerns.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’d like to have a large table seated with the leaders of the many philanthropic foundations in America — both corporate and private. Besides my hope that they will come to the table ready to share a lovely meal, I would ask that they come to the table with the mindset of seriously learning about how older adults deserve our time, money, and consideration.
Creative Aging programs can absolutely impact physical health, brain health, well-being, community connection, and so much more. Research proves this every day. We need more attention — and more funding — focused on these issues.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can learn more about our initiatives at eamichelsonphilanthropy.org. Check out our “Videos to Inspire” tab to hear why staying engaged in our lives is critical while getting older — with a familiar face, Jane Fonda!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About the Interviewer: Stanley Bronstein is an attorney, CPA, and author of more than 20 books. However, he doesn’t consider any of those his greatest achievement. His most significant accomplishment was permanently losing 225 pounds and developing the personal growth system that made it possible — The Way of Excellence. As a catalyst for change, he has dedicated his life to helping others maximize their potential, transform their lives, and achieve optimal health. To learn more, you can download a free PDF copy of his latest book, The Way of Excellence Journal, at https://TheWayOfExcellence.com.
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Ellen Michelson Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.