Polite is AARP Florida’s Director of State Operations

The South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA), a non-profit which creates planning and development strategies to deliver socio-economic support programs for South Florida seniors, has named Dionne Polite to its board of directors. As AARP Florida’s director of state operations, Polite is responsible for the oversight and management of the organization’s operations, which includes all outreach initiatives, engagement opportunities and education efforts in the state of Florida to its 50+ communities.

“Dionne Polite is a natural fit for SoFIA’s board of directors with decades of experience working in the non-profit arena as a champion for senior and multicultural issues,” said SoFIA President and CEO, Peter Kaldes, Esq. “Highly-respected throughout the Florida community for her outreach efforts and broad leadership expertise, Polite will enhance and shape SoFIA’s trajectory into 2019 and beyond.”

Prior to her work at AARP Florida, Polite was the associate state director of multicultural outreach for AARP New York, where she was responsible for initiatives focused on the African American/Black and Caribbean communities. Before joining the AARP enterprise nine years ago, Dionne was the senior director of diversity outreach programs and volunteer development at the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

“SoFIA’s dedication to Florida’s senior communities and its mission to empower people to age well closely aligns with my personal convictions and professional pursuits,” said Polite. “I’m very excited to see how we can build collaborative relationships between organizations to achieve our goals and help seniors to live happier and healthier lives on their own terms.”

With over 30 years of experience working for non-profits, Polite has been a national fundraiser for both the American Diabetes Association and the March of Dimes. She has received countless accolated for her commitment and outreach efforts to communities of color and in 2016, Legacy Miami Magazine, named Polite as one of Miami’s Most Powerful and Influential Black Leaders for South Florida.

Polite was recently appointed to Miami-Dade County’s Elder Affairs Advisory Board and is a member of Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone XXXVI class. Dionne has also recently been selected to participate in AARP’s Executive Education Program, done in collaboration with Georgetown University.

Polite is a member of The North Broward Chapter of The Links, Inc. where she is the co-chair of their health and human services facet. She is a graduate of York College in Jamaica, NY. She is a resident of Miramar.

For more than 50 years, SoFIA has provided innovative services tailored to meet seniors’ caregiving and respite, civic engagement and economic security needs. Visit www.theSoFIA.org for more information.

About SoFIA

A non-profit think and act tank, the South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA) creates planning and development strategies to deliver socio-economic support programs for South Florida seniors that can also serve as a model for other communities with aging populations. For more than 50 years, SoFIA has provided innovative services tailored to meet seniors’ caregiving and respite, civic engagement and economic security needs. In 2017, SoFIA’s 658 experienced senior volunteers provided 266,646 volunteer hours to serve nearly 4,800 residents including: veterans who received the mentoring of fellow veterans; seniors, disabled adults and caregivers who were enabled to live independently through caregiving and companionship programs; children in underserved communities that saw a 90 percent improvement in literacy skills through the Foster Grandparent program; and other non-profits that benefitted from experienced consultants. Visit www.theSoFIA.org for more information.

About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.