An Innovative Leader, Giving Voice to Older Adults

Episode description:  

There are many advocates for older adults these days, but few like Orlene Grant, an iconic leader acclaimed for building innovative partnerships across government entities, higher education, local and national nonprofits. In today’s episode, Ms. Grant, the Founder and CEO of the Juanita C. Grant Foundation, will talk about her organization’s mission to improve the lives of older adults through economic development, education, and training—working collaboratively in the community to address high levels of elder poverty, lack of social connectedness, and financial hardships as a result of elder abuse and fraud. She will spotlight the Foundation’s recent interactive summit, that brought together professionals, thought leaders and industry experts to focus on common issues and solutions to disrupt elder abuse and its damaging long-term effects—tangible steps to interrupt, prevent, and dismantle the exploitation of targeted communities. Ms. Grant, who also founded The Grant Group, a healthcare management consulting firm, will describe her wide-ranging efforts to improve the quality of life of the 50+ community through economic security and interventions that address ageism through workforce initiatives, advocacy efforts and research. She is indeed a tireless champion for equity in aging and elder justice.

Guest description: 

S. Orlene Grant, RN, MSN, is the President, Founder and CEO of the Juanita C. Grant Foundation whose mission is “to improve the lives of older adults through economic development, education, and training.” Ms. Grant is an innovative leader in the aging field as is known for building partnerships with government entities, higher education, local and national non-profit organizations in delivering national programs and services at the local level. Ms. Grant works collaboratively in the community to develop inclusive outreach programs to address high levels of elder poverty, lack of social connectedness, and financial hardships as a result of elder abuse and fraud. She is an advocate for equity in aging and elder justice. Ms. Grant leads training programs with federal, state and local law enforcement experts on preventing elder abuse and fraud.  Ms. Grant is a frequent speaker and panelist at professional conferences such as the National Council on Aging’s Age + Action Conferences, the Association of Social Workers, Maryland Recreation Professional Association, Georgetown Senior Center, the Prince George’s County League of Women Voters, Prince George’s County Commission of Women Annual Conference and the Fairfax County Village Home for Life 2023 Expo and the 2024 Altrusa International Conference. She has been a guest on WHUR shows, “the Daily Drum” and “Taking It To the Street” and the WUSA9 Morning Show speaking on ageism, preparing older adults to return to work, social connectedness and elder abuse and fraud prevention. 

Ms. Grant serves on regional and national boards, including being elected to the National Alliance of Non-profit Insurance Board of Directors and re-elected Vice Chair of Fairfax County’s Coordinating Council on Aging and Adults with disabilities (CCAAD) in Fairfax, Virginia. Ms. Grant also accepted the appointment as Chair of the CCAAD's inaugural Equity in Aging and Disabilities Committee. In 2024, the SCAN Foundation has recognized Ms. Grant as an expert on aging assisting in their research projects. In continuing her development as a non-profit leader, Ms. Grant has completed the American Society on Aging 2021 Leadership Class Certificate training, the 2022 Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Center for Public and Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate program and 2023-24 SAGE Platinum level training certification. Ms. Grant received her Nursing undergraduate degree and Master’s in Community Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Contact: ogrant@jcgfdn.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcgfdn  

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sogrant

X: @sorlenegrant