EngAGE25 Celebration: Stories from Our Team – Henry Sotelo

Thanks to EngAGE Program Director Henry for #MakingADifference and sharing this story.

Miss Ivory Is a longtime resident at one of our EngAGE communities. Recently, upon learning about the EngAGE 25th anniversary milestone, she expressed to me her adoration for all the EngAGE painting classes she has taken over the years (instructed by Meloney and now by me). She said that painting helps her relax, gives her joy, and is her favorite creative outlet. She’s kept all her paintings and decorates her apartment with them. Miss Ivory also shared that many of her family members have requested her artworks as heirlooms to remember her always.

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Welcome to the Team: CandyJoe Dahlstrom

EngAGE welcomes CandyJoe Dahlstrom, Program Director at Cantabria and Asturias, La Coruña, and Andalucia in the greater Los Angeles area.

CandyJoe is a multidisciplinary artist with professional experience in the fields of theater, dance, make-up, costume design, graphic design and film editing. She has a passion for building community though the arts, exploring the natural world and learning new skills. CandyJoe enjoys volunteering at her local library and watching baseball with her husband and children. 

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EngAGE25 Celebration: Crafting/Creating Community

Residents not only celebrate at holiday gatherings, which make sure that everyone feels included and appreciated, they also enjoy the opportunity to be creative. Crafting is a rewarding way to mark a special occasion with a creation of your own; sharing the process with neighbors makes it even more fun. In these photos from several of our communities, we can see a Valentine’s Day gathering as well as examples of residents’ projects, including greeting cards for vets (LAWorks), flower arrangements and Dollar Store decorations (LACountyArts). Even our youngest residents participated in creative adventures (PGE). Residents at Metro@ Hollywood created gifts for friends and family and were themselves recipients of Valentine gifts from the generous supporters at BigSunday.

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EngAGE25 Celebration: Stories from Our Team – Liv Schaffer

Thanks to EngAGE Intergenerational Program Director Liv for #MakingADifference and sharing several lovely resident testimonials. 

In Northern California, EngAGE provides a variety of art programming for residents in the communities we serve. Classes culminate with projects such as a beautifully printed calendar as well as art shows in the Community Rooms or in other venues. including San Francisco City Hall. There, Art With Elders, our Programming Partner organization, curated a selection of work from all of the communities where they teach. EngAGE community residents Rita, Helen, and Jackie were delighted to have their work included. Six residents took a field trip to see the show, with lunch and transportation provided by EngAGE. Pictured below are Liv and the group gathered at City Hall’s main stairs and in front of their art in the show last summer.

Please scroll down to read some of the testimonials Liv collected from residents who participate in all of our art programming.

Resident Testimonials

First off, I think the art class with Virginia is very rewarding. Under her instruction we’ve been awarded the chance to explore our creativeness. Even though I am a part of the class I had no work shown in the exhibit. It was inspiring seeing the work of my fellow residents as well as other communities on display. It was awesome and I saw the sense of accomplishment in everyone. Thoette 

 I enjoyed all of the art that is still in our community room. I also enjoyed the calendar for 2023, especially since one of my pieces made January. I also enjoyed our visit to San Francisco where some of our art was on display at the court house  I hope EngAGE will continue with the programs in our community. Helen 

I never been involved with the art exhibit before. I thought it was very thoughtful of them to do it for us. It was great. I really enjoyed it but most of all I enjoyed all the people and the artists explaining each picture to the people that attend. It was really great, loved it. — Rita

I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the EngAGE art program. Virginia is so great at teaching us about color and variances, lines and shapes, and shading and contrasts. She has encouraged me to engage (no pun intended ) with putting pen, pencil, brush, and/or ink to paper, and that there are no mistakes in art and there’s no need to fear the canvas or the paper. Being able to go see the exhibit in San Francisco and seeing artwork of people who live in my community was an honorable experience. I’m so grateful that our community received such a wonderful, (here I go again) engaging opportunity. I look forward to attending our sessions each week anticipating what our next art project will be. I look forward to seeing my friends and their creations as well as seeing their joy and accomplishments. I sincerely hope this EngAGE program continues to receive more grants so the Art class continues. Sheila 

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EngAGE25 Celebration: Pandemic Food Delivery

When the pandemic hit, EngAGE responded by moving our programming online as much as possible in order to keep our residents connected and active mentally and physically. One vital service that needed to be continued was supplemental food delivery. Our team rose to the occasion, and food boxes that under normal circumstances would have been picked up in the community room by residents were delivered directly to recipients’ apartment doors. EngAGE team member Miles Morse explains in this brief video.

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EngAGE25 Celebration: Stories from Our Team – Pauline McCourt

Thanks to EngAGE Northwest Program Director Pauline for #MakingADifference and sharing this story.

Last month, I introduced needle felting to my community’s craft class. While the demonstration and instructions were starting, resident Kristi reluctantly walked in to join the group and immediately said the project looked too difficult for her. So, we worked together, taking each step slowly, to create a rainbow flower. Kristi said it was hard to use the sharp needle and coordinate her movements, but she kept working. After an hour, she had mastered the skill and felt so proud.

The next week, Kristi was the first to show up for class. I was still setting up the materials but was excited to see her gathering supplies and beginning to work. She worked carefully and quietly, not asking any questions. After about an hour she proclaimed that she was done. She held up her work to share it with the group, beaming with pride: a fish with bubbles.  Her lovely piece of artwork required focus and resilience, yet she faced the challenge and was successful. It was exciting to see her joyful transformation, thanks to this new opportunity to create art.

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EngAGE25 Celebration: Stories from Our Team – Megan Eldridge

Thanks to EngAGE Program Director Megan for #MakingADifference and sharing the story of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at three of our communities.

Megan, the youngest from a big family and a miliary wife and mom, loves to cook for large groups. She had corned beef and cabbage on the stove for hours at each community celebration! Megan reports: The residents loved the green decorations, the cute green glasses, and the opportunity to gather with their neighbors for the holiday. But most of all, they really loved the food. In fact, the celebration became more about corned beef than St. Patrick’s Day!

Special thanks to COA (Community Outreach Alliance) Food Connection for providing additional food at Cotton’s Point, and to our residents who brought dishes for the potluck.

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