Advocate Spotlight: Nancy Ekman Dorner
Nancy Ekman Dorner has centered her career on mental health—first working with adolescents and now with older adults. Several years ago, she participated in AARP’s Leadership Training and identified a core issue that would shape her advocacy work: isolation among older people is a difficult challenge to address, and it's not getting enough attention.
"As the years progressed, the research indeed supported my conclusion," Nancy says, and she's been thinking about solutions ever since.
Building Bridges Between Generations
Nancy's overall goal is to promote inter-generational approaches to combat older adult loneliness. One innovative initiative she's seen is placing senior centers right next to high schools. Bringing generations together through closeness in space offers opportunities for collaboration, including allowing older adults to be guest speakers in classes, offer tutoring, and share their life stories with students.
"I view such approaches as a 'win-win' for all involved," Nancy explains. She hasn't found the perfect vehicle yet, but she has ideas and is working on them.
Advocating for Mental Health Education in Schools
Nancy first connected with New Futures over a decade ago when she was advocating for mandatory suicide prevention education in New Hampshire public schools. She worked with the Public Policy Committee of the Suicide Prevention Council to explore the idea, and New Futures was there at the table with her.
Advocacy paid off. In 2019, Governor Sununu signed SB 282 into law, requiring public schools across the state to provide suicide prevention education to students.
Advocating for Healthy Aging
For the last several years, Nancy’s advocacy with New Futures has focused on healthy aging. As a member of the Steering Committee of the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging, she participates in meetings and advocacy work with both the Alliance and New Futures.
"My experience with New Futures, especially in recent years, has been wonderful," Nancy says. "The collaborative approach to aging issues in New Hampshire that New Futures supports has brought all the stakeholders to the table. The work of the Commission on Aging, New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging, AARP, and Alzheimer's Association bring together leaders working on mutual issues to draw on each other's strengths and work on innovative approaches to multiple concerns.”
Favorite Advocacy Moments
If you ask Nancy about her favorite part of advocacy work, she'll tell you about working directly with state legislators. “When I started engaging in advocacy about 15 years ago, I began to appreciate the tremendous knowledge and experience senators and representatives bring to our state," she says. "Given the legislative structure in New Hampshire, these citizens essentially work as volunteers to help make our state a better place to live."
One moment that stands out is a recent legislative lunch and learn New Futures and the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging hosted to present the 2025 NH Healthy Aging Data Report. The report, funded by Point32Health Foundation with Dr. Elizabeth Dugan as principal investigator, is a comprehensive resource that breaks down aging issues by city and town.
“Many legislators attended the event and were clearly impressed by the presentation on the report,” Nancy explains. The report can be found online at healthyagingdatareports.org.
Advice for Future Advocates
If you're thinking about getting involved in advocacy, Nancy’s advice is to work on issues you are passionate about. "Passion will see you through the frustrations, disappointments, and yes, disillusionment," she says. Nancy has found that when she believes her work will genuinely make New Hampshire better, it helps her push through the inevitable obstacles.
She also encourages New Hampshire residents to get involved. “You will truly feel like you are making a difference and, in the process, meet some passionate, committed, like-minded people as well!”
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