Standing Together in 2026: Why I’m More Hopeful Than Ever — A Message From Iona’s CEO Joon Bang

Dear Friends,

I recently received a special invitation to a meal. It was with Iona’s Dementia Solidarity Group (five individuals who meet weekly for lunch at Iona to talk about life after their diagnosis). We talked about our favorite desserts (coffee ice cream and key lime pie, to name a few), the monuments at the National Mall, and what’s been on our minds this week. Their humor filled our time with laughter, and their vulnerability as they shared their struggles grounded us in our shared humanity. When one person said quietly while looking down at her hands, ‘It’s been a tough week,’ we didn’t rush to fill the silence. We just sat with her. 

I’m tempted to talk about each of their storied careers and accomplishments, but they, along with so many of my teachers in the Iona community, remind me that being is more important than doing. That truth shapes how I think about our mission: how do we create a world where everyone can age well, not just for some, but for all? 

The five people I sat with for lunch are part of a much larger story. In our city, 1 in 6 older adults is living with dementia. 1 in 3 is experiencing hunger. Many are aging alone, and here and across the country, 11,000 people turn 65 every day. 

Last year, we worked to meet these needs by serving over 100,000 meals to nearly 1,600 food-insecure older adults, providing more than 5,000 classes and activities to reduce isolation, and conducting over 80 memory clinics at low-income senior housing facilities. The Washington Post featured our work, but the recognition matters less than the reality that the gap between what’s needed and what’s available keeps widening. 

Over the past three months, I’ve met with nearly 300 program participants, clients, volunteers, and supporters through listening sessions. We talked openly about what people are carrying right now, about uncertainty, change, and what it means to grow older in this moment, in the District, and in our country. What I heard was both sobering and inspiring: deep concern about the challenges ahead, as well as an eager willingness to act and be a part of the change. 

It reminded me of Edith Childs. In 2007, at a small gathering in South Carolina, she started a chant that energized a room of 20 people and eventually became a rallying cry for millions. “Fired up! Ready to go!” One voice in one room sparked a movement for change. 

That’s what I’m seeing and hearing from our community now. We know there are hurdles ahead of us. But standing together, shoulder to shoulder, I’ve never been more fired up to advance our collective vision for a world that ensures all people can age well. In the coming weeks, we’ll share about the opportunities to join me at City Council hearings throughout the year and provide you with practical tools to learn and get involved.  

For now, I’d love to hear from you: what would aging well look like in your ideal vision for our city? To share your response, please email joonbang@iona.org.

With gratitude,

Joon Bang
Chief Executive Officer