“Welcome to our Thursday afternoon dance party!”

This enthusiastic declaration greeted me recently during my visit to an affordable housing community and LeadingAge member in Portland, OR. I had just entered the community’s multi-purpose room, which features an inviting dance floor. Two of the community’s 500 residents were inside, looking excited and expectant.

I quickly realized that the two women were not there to greet me. They had come to dance, as they do every Thursday afternoon. Undeterred by my presence, they turned on their portable music player, headed to the dance floor, and started having fun. It was just the two of them—but that was enough.

My delightful encounter with the two dancers reminded me why visiting LeadingAge member organizations is one of the top perks of my job. I look forward to every visit and tour. I always learn something new. And I always return home with a deeper appreciation for our members and the people they serve.

Over the years, I have been amazed by how different LeadingAge members are from one another. We vary, for example, in the types of residents and clients we serve and how we serve them; in our sources of funding and business models; and in how we organize and manage our governance structures.

However, what truly inspires me is realizing that, despite our diversity, LeadingAge members are more similar than different. There’s one simple reason for this: our shared mission and vision unite us in powerful ways.

Because of that shared mission, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a spirit of deep compassion in our member organizations, whether they are reaching out to the unhoused and underserved or ensuring that residents and clients with diverse life experiences have the best possible aging experience.

In February, for example, I took a team of LeadingAge staff members to play bingo with residents of a small affordable housing community in downtown Washington, DC. During the game, my bingo partner told me he had recently moved into the modest community from a homeless shelter. He was deeply grateful for the compassion that made this life-changing opportunity possible.

Because of that shared mission, I have also witnessed an inspiring spirit of innovation among members across the country. We continually strive to find better ways to provide housing, services, supports, and a sense of well-being and belonging to older adults.

For example, a few weeks after my bingo game in Washington, I visited two well-appointed life plan communities on the West Coast. One is pioneering a highly inclusive governance structure that invites residents to serve on the board and take on leadership roles, including board chair. My second visit took me to what could become the country’s first net-zero retirement community—one that uses various strategies to balance the greenhouse gases it produces with those it removes from the atmosphere. Residents are supportive and actively engaged in that mission.

Along the way, I’ve also met with members who, despite budget constraints, are using technology to improve their business operations and residents’ quality of life. Others focus intently on applying the latest research to help residents improve their health and maintain long-term wellness.

During my visits, I am often reminded that member success depends on maintaining compassionate hearts while building smart, innovative organizations. Creating a space where compassion and innovation thrive together is at the heart of our mission to serve.

Getting that balance right isn’t always easy, of course. Each day, we find ourselves navigating a dance that requires determination, practice, flexibility, perseverance, and the willingness to take two steps backward for every step forward.

That dance doesn’t always go smoothly.

But, as the two members of the Thursday Dance Club in Portland will confirm, the willingness to step onto the dance floor is often enough to keep us moving forward. And, certainly, the dance is often exciting and energizing, sometimes fun, and always worth the effort.

LeadingAge looks forward to celebrating and supporting your compassion and innovation at the upcoming Leadership Summit from April 20-22 in Washington, DC. During two keynote addresses, you’ll learn how to make innovation stick and how to lead confidently and clearly. Educational sessions will explore the latest advancements in technology, including emerging tools and generative AI. Other sessions will help you improve your services by reducing residents’ social isolation and boosting their wellness and longevity. I hope you will join us.