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Let’s talk‚ Ohio‚ Tour Aims to Elevate Opinions

All 88 counties, just one mission

Hilary Appelman,

AARP

Published May 01, 2026

Diverse group preparing to vote with a U.S. flag in the background

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Longtime volunteer Dennis Kucler hopes AARP Ohio’s statewide Let’s Talk, Ohio, listening tour in 2026 is the start of something bigger.

Kucler, 80, a retired executive and Vietnam War veteran from Cleveland, says he wants the celebratory activities and conversations of Let’s Talk, Ohio, to encourage more residents to volunteer and to engage with their communities long-term. The needs of the state and the country are “not going to go away Jan. 1, 2027,” he says. “My focus is to try to encourage people to not only get involved now, but to stay involved.”

The tour is taking place during Ohio’s celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary and the run-up to statewide elections for governor and U.S. Senate in November, says AARP State Director Jennifer Carlson.

The goal is to “listen to every community, elevate every voice” and ensure that older Ohioans’ opinions are heard, Carlson says. “It’s a really important year, because it’s a major election year, and it’s also the celebration of the birth of our country,” she says.

The Let’s Talk, Ohio, tour kicked off in April and will continue into the fall, with a red-white-and-blue AARP-branded minivan making stops at county fairs, community picnics, local festivals and campaign events in all of the state’s counties.

At every stop, AARP staff and volunteers are gathering stories and insights from Ohioans that will help the organization shape its policy and advocacy priorities, Carlson says. The conversations will inform AARP’s work on issues such as financial security, caregiving and livable communities. The organization also will share responses with elected officials and political candidates.

Since retiring 15 years ago, Kucler has been an active volunteer. He serves as AARP Ohio’s Driver Safety coordinator and volunteers with young people in the juvenile court system and Cleveland public schools.

“My wife accuses me of putting in more hours now than I did when I was working,” he says with a laugh. “It keeps me young. I don’t have time to get old.”

LISTENING TO VOICES

Kucler finds huge satisfaction in volunteering, which he says also leads to meeting and socializing with “a lot of terrific people.”

“My challenge to people is: If you try it, you will get more out of volunteering than the people that you’re helping out,” he says. “Just get off the couch and try it.”

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The listening tour will hit every corner of the state, all 88 counties, including popular events such as the Cincinnati Music Festival in July, the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in August and the Ohio Pumpkin Show in Circleville in October. AARP Ohio is also sponsoring some events in conjunction with America 250-Ohio, the state commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial.

“It’s been fun mapping out and seeing all the ways that communities celebrate, and it’s a great way to participate in these milestone anniversary events,” Carlson says. “We want this tour to be enjoyable—not just informative.”

Kucler, a lifelong Ohio resident, says if the 250th birthday commemorations “show people the importance of becoming involved and getting involved, then we really had a fantastic celebration.”

“I love fireworks and all that stuff,” he says. “And it’ll be fun, but this isn’t necessarily just about fun, right? It’s about making a difference.”

Interactive options offered will allow Ohioans to take the AARP pledge to keep Social Security strong and watch educational videos on subjects such as cryptocurrency kiosk scams. There will also be opportunities to learn about AARP Ohio’s top priorities, including financial security and resilience, caregiving, age-friendly communities and bipartisan voter education.

The state office is also putting together an election guide featuring candidates’ positions on issues important to older voters. The office is providing data and background on proposed legislation, such as the national Credit for Caring Act and a companion state bill, as well as state legislation aimed at reducing fraud around cryptocurrency kiosks.

The voter engagement guide will let AARP amplify “how we’re championing issues and helping individuals choose how they live and age,” Carlson says. “We want to make sure that every elected official understands AARP’s mission and goals and strategic vision.”

Carlson says AARP will also share highlights and data from a December 2025 survey about the pressures and challenges facing the state’s more than 2.1 million caregivers.

The months-long tour is a “visible symbol of AARP accessibility and commitment to every corner of the state,” Carlson says.

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Hilary Appelman is a Pennsylvania-based freelance writer for AARP who covers long-term care, livable communities, advocacy, and other issues affecting people as they age, and has written for AARP Bulletin and AARP States since 2011.