“I think they were expecting just a regular white reporter like they had always had,” says Dillard, 87, of Denver.

But Dillard didn’t let such incidents dampen her ambition. Over nearly three decades, she covered 13 beats, reported on the White House and Congress, and became a theater critic.

Earlier this year, Dillard traveled to Cleveland for the National Association of Black Journalists’ 50th anniversary celebration, where she was honored as a founding member. Dillard and 43 other Black journalists launched the organization in 1975.

It has since grown to more than 4,000 members—nurturing thousands of careers and fostering connections among Black journalists.

“We didn’t found it just because of the racism we encountered in those days,” she says. “We founded it because of advocacy,” and wanting other Black journalists to know they weren’t alone.

Following a divorce, Dillard was also a devoted single parent, raising her son with her own mother’s help. While she says job offers came in from larger, national newspapers, she chose to stay in Denver because it was the best place to raise her son.

Alton Dillard, 62, an AARP Colorado Executive Council member, built a career in government communications. He says that his mother’s recognition at the association’s anniversary celebration was a tribute to a life spent breaking barriers.

He added that accompanying his mother on the Cleveland trip put everything into perspective.

“Mom was always an inspiration,” he says. —Stacey Shepard

Supporting caregivers AARP Wyoming’s Care for Caregivers series will be offered virtually starting in November.

The program began in 2023 with face-to-face gatherings that combined educational presentations, local resources and time to socialize. Upcoming topics will include artificial intelligence for caregivers, safety and mobility in the home and caregiver health. For more information, visit aarp.org/wy and click on Events.

Targeting fraud, abuse Two new state laws—both of which were set to take effect Nov. 1—focus on enhancing protections for older adults.

One AARP-backed law sets regulations for the use of cryptocurrency kiosks, also called crypto ATMs. Criminals have been increasingly using the machines to steal money via transactions that are difficult for law enforcement to trace. The kiosks can look like regular bank ATMs and are often located in gas stations, grocery stores and other businesses. The new law sets a daily transaction limit of $2,000 for new customers, among other safeguards.

Another new law—the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act—creates a civil legal pathway for incapacitated and vulnerable adults to seek justice against those who abuse, neglect or exploit them.

The law allows claims to be filed by an individual or a designee in any district court where the adult lives or lived at the time of the incident. It also enables courts to issue restraining orders and ensures access to relevant records. Go to aarp.org/ok to learn more.

Tackling crypto scams AARP will offer a webinar in December aimed at helping people avoid cryptocurrency fraud.

In 2024 alone, the FBI logged nearly 150,000 complaints and $9.3 billion in losses tied to crypto fraud. Reported losses in North Dakota totaled $7.7 million, FBI data shows.

The webinar, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m., will cover common scams and provide tips on how to avoid them. Go to aarp.org/NDCryptoscam to sign up.

Also this year, North Dakota enacted a law to combat fraud involving cryptocurrency kiosks, also known as crypto ATMs. It requires kiosk operators to post fraud warning notices, among other measures. Go to aarp.org/ndadvocacy to learn more. —David Lewellen