50+ Lifestyles

A Tale of Two Leaders

By Laura L. Kopp, MS
CASI President/CEO

In 1973, a fierce and courageous nun saw the needs of seniors going unmet. She took up the fight to ensure their voice was heard and that our community had the resources to meet the demands of an ever growing aging population.

Fifty years later, an equally passionate and fierce leader has picked up this mantle with the commitment of creating a community where all citizens can age successfully. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, founding CEO, Jerri Leinen-Moeller and current CEO, Laura Kopp took a moment to reflect and compare notes on what CASI means to them and the impact it’s mission has had on hundreds of thousands of families over the last five decades.

What brought you to work with Seniors?

Jerri:

I have loved being around older people all my life. As a child I simply had a passion to be of help to people that others seemed to dismiss. I remember specifically that people didn’t visit a lady in our hometown who had been so active until her MS took over and she became house bound. No one ever seemed to take the time to stop in to visit or take something to her to lighten her day. Loneliness is pervasive in our communities. This of course starts down the path of not eating well or taking care of yourself.

An opportunity opened up by the Diocese of Davenport to research services needed by our senior community. A great deal of national attention was highlighting a great need. They wanted to spotlight the need. This obviously was my area of interest.

Laura:

I had spent the first 15 years of my career working in the acute child abuse field as a Forensic Interviewer and the next three years in the disabilities community as the Vice President of Programs for Goodwill of the Heartland. Every position I have ever held has been within the not for profit business sector advocating for those at risk, creating pathways for those facing barriers to independence and connecting others with the resources they need to reach their full potential. In April 2013, my younger brother became critically ill. After spending an entire month in Ohio at THE Ohio State University (IYKYK) Medical Center watching my only sibling fight for his life, I returned home and resigned my position effective immediately. Watching a loved one die gives you incredible clarity on your priorities and your boundaries. I had been sacrificing both for a very long time.

When I first applied for the CEO position at CASI, I was certain I was grossly unqualified as I had zero experience working with seniors and zero experience being a CEO. However, when I walked through the door for my interview and I saw CASI’s Mainstreet and I felt the mission in every sign and photo along my walk to the front desk, I KNEW I had to find a way to be involved with this organization.

After joining CASI, I quickly realized that my time spent working with abused children and those within the disabilities community, gave me a unique perspective on serving seniors. Because the risks are the same if you lack the knowledge or resources to meet Your own needs. Whether those be related to safety, nutrition, housing or medical care and whether you are 8 months or 80 years old, if these needs are not being met you are going to face the same the same risks and the same negative outcomes. My decades spent working in the not for profit arena allowed me to understand the care systems in our community better than most and to have built strong partnerships throughout these systems.

Most rewarding part of your role in serving seniors:

Jerri:

It was always about seeing the people feel their own power, their success. No matter what the issue might be, the most gratifying is that we helped someone fulfill a dream or not being turned away because they didn’t fit in or simply couldn’t do it alone. One prime example was the day Bob Gaston and Bob came to ask if I would consider starting a Chorus and Band. Both were amazing talents, and each had been directors of vocal and bands respectively throughout their careers. This had been something I’d dreamed about. They were like they had been sent from above. Of course, today these groups have expanded exponentially utilizing participants who could come share their music and enjoy the conviviality of like seniors (and do they have fun)!

Laura:

Having spent 15 years working in the acute child abuse field, my experience had long been that I was serving people/children following one of the most traumatic and painful of experiences of their lives. If they were coming to see me, something truly awful had happened. I would see them once, during this time of crisis and then never see them again.

At CASI, everything we do, everyday is geared towards strength, happiness and independence. The members and guests who visit us every day CHOOSE to be there and everything they choose to do there is driven by their desire to be happier, healthier and more connected. The most satisfying part of my role in serving seniors is watching the impact our mission has on our members, participants, guests and staff everyday. Knowing that the efforts we put into raising money, creating diverse programming, hiring THE best staff and advocating (loudly) for equal resources for seniors are TRULY changing lives is so humbling and fulfilling at the same time.

What was the largest challenge you faced 50 years ago?

Jerri:

Funding! We started unveiling some of the worse poverty and horrible conditions in apartment complexes, with cockroaches galore and were promised funding to help alleviate those problems yet it was never enough to carry on our mission.

Laura:

Funding! A recent report showed that the 65+ population in Scott County has increased by 38% over the last 10 years. Over that same 10 year time period, CASI’s revenue has decreased by 22%. This is due in large part to local funding cuts and the impact of a global pandemic that most critically impacted seniors.

What is your fondest memory of working at CASI?

The people, the camaraderie, the challenges, goals met. Every Volunteer Recognition Event seeing the variety of people wanting to be of help to their neighbors. I always had the image of that gathering as a magnificent garden of love personified. It’s always the older people whether giving or receiving. We were in it together.

Laura:

Oddly enough, my fondest memory is of a time during the pandemic. As the community’s only Senior Activity Center, CASI remained closed for an entire year due to COVID. During this closure, our Senior Advocacy program continued to operate full tilt as we worked to help seniors navigate a very literal virtual reality. Our advocates helped seniors connect with their medical team through virtual medical appointments, secure their monthly prescriptions through online ordering and delivery services and to maintain adequate food stores through the same means. Without these services, I have no doubt hundreds if not thousands more Scott Seniors would have died during that first year of the pandemic.

My personal favorite memory of this time was in January 2021 when CASI was asked to assist with the Scott County senior COVID vaccination initiative. When the vaccines first became available, the 65 and older population was the first high risk group to be targeted; however, the initial supplies of the vaccine were scant and the roll out by the federal government was challenging. These first doses were offered by appointment only and these appointments could only be made online on a first come first serve basis. For seniors, many of who do not have computers or internet access, this posed a significant challenge. CASI was asked to be a critical partner in the senior vaccine initiative in Scott County. Within hours we were able to set up a designated phone line where seniors could add themselves to a waitlist. We were able to then add these seniors to our member management system which allowed us to communicate with thousands of seniors at one time to provide them the most up to date and accurate vaccine information available. Together, in partnership with the Scott County Health Department, Genesis Health System and Community Health Care, CASI personally assisted over 4,000 seniors access the COVID vaccine. This included hosting a senior vaccine clinic onsite at CASI. Having the ability to respond in real time to the needs of seniors is what makes CASI a unique and irreplaceable resource in our community.

What words of advice do you have for this next generation of senior service providers?

Jerri:

Always be authentic, bring your best self to the table and listen. The older people are counting on you to be their strong advocate.

Laura:

When it comes to understanding and serving seniors, it’s like my mom always use to say, “Their today is our tomorrow”. I hope you’ll join us here at CASI as we work to make the Quad Cities a great place to age today and tomorrow!

Laura L. Kopp, MS is President/CEO of CASI, located at 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806. For information call (563) 386.7477 or email info@CASIseniors.org.