Title: Panel Session: Active Aging in Action: Health, Purpose, and Connection

Description: What does it truly mean to age well? This engaging panel brings together experts and community voices to explore practical, meaningful ways older adults can stay active, connected, and purposeful. Through a dynamic conversation, panelists will share insights on maintaining physical health, supporting cognitive and emotional well-being, and fostering strong social connections that enhance quality of life. Participants will gain actionable strategies to support lifelong engagement—whether through movement, learning, volunteering, or community involvement. The session will also highlight local resources and innovative approaches that empower older adults to thrive, remain independent, and continue contributing their talents and experiences. Join us for an inspiring discussion that reframes aging as a time of opportunity, growth, and connection.

Panel Members:

Amy Schmutte, Older Wiser Local (OWL) – Milwaukee River West;

Shelly Underhill and Karen Kempinen, Adventures in Lifelong Learning-Kenosha/Racine;

Emily Rendall-Araujo, Uptown Social-Sheboygan

Bios:

Amy Schmutte

Amy is the Program Manager for OWL (Older.Wiser.Local.) at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, which is an open-door programming series welcoming all older adults, especially those from the 53212 zip code. OWL offers arts and craft workshops as well as informative lectures and demonstrations on a wide variety of topics. A brief history of the Jazz gallery Center for the Arts: in 1979, we came together as the Riverwest Artists Association to present the first ArtWalk. The artists that gave our neighborhood its distinct identity opened their studio doors and welcomed the public into our community. Nearly thirty years later, we purchased the former home of the historic Milwaukee Jazz Gallery, a nationally-renowned jazz club and transformed it into a dedicated space for the community — a place to create, present, and experience the arts. Today we’re the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, a home for emerging artists and musicians as well as those who’ve been around the block a few times. Here we celebrate experimental efforts along with more traditional takes, and everything in between. A bit more about Amy: As an artist herself and an active member of the community, she has a passion for life-long learning through the arts. She enjoys… and spends her free time creating abstract Photography, Found- Objective Drawings, and Found-Object Assemblage. Also, due to a deep connection with nature, Amy acts in an immersive “Re-Wilding” course that combines Ecology with the Arts, created by Philip J. Grygny, through the Milwaukee Recreation program. Amy resides in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee with her 15 year-old son, Oliver, and cat named “Betty White”.

Shelly Underhill

Shelly Underhill is a retired physician who has served Adventures in Lifelong Learning as President, board and advisory council member, class committee member, and discussion group coordinator.

Karen Kempinen

Karen Kempinen was born in Milwaukee and graduated from New Berlin High School. She earned both her BA in Psychology and her MA in Behavioral Disabilities from UW-Madison. She worked for 39 years as a full-time special educator in private school, public school, and residential settings in Texas and Wisconsin. Including post-retirement substitute teaching, she taught for 48 consecutive years.
As soon as Karen retired from full-time teaching in 2011, she joined Adventures in Lifelong Learning [ALL], where she has served in various capacities, including publicity chair, secretary and president. She is grateful for ALL’s intellectual and social engagement offerings for the seniors of her community.

Emily Rendall-Araujo

Emily Rendall-Araujo is the Director of Senior Services for the City of Sheboygan, overseeing Uptown Social, Sheboygan’s Hub for Active Seniors. Under her leadership, Uptown Social has intentionally moved away from the stereotypical expectations of a “senior center,” focusing on creating a welcoming, energetic space where primarily adults 55 and older stay active, connected, and engaged in their community. Located in a redeveloped 30,000 square foot facility that was once a vacant grocery store, Uptown Social has become a catalyst for community revitalization. Phase one of the project opened in 2022, with the second phase completed in 2025 and phase three on track for 2028. The organization’s bright, modern environment helps challenge outdated stereotypes about aging and provides a dignified space for wellness, learning, and social connection. Prior to taking this role in 2020, Emily served in other nonprofit roles in the Sheboygan area including as Executive Director of the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, Director of Community Development with United Way of Sheboygan County, and Community Engagement Officer with Lakeland University.