New American Media has published a great article about EngAGE entitled, “Honored Arts Program Engages Ethnic Elders for Health and Vitality.” The article includes comments from EngAGE Founder and Executive Director Tim Carpenter and EngAGE COO Maureen Kellen-Taylor, and some fine examples of how the program makes a difference in the lives of seniors. Scroll down to watch the excellent video below to see EngAGE in action, including appearances by Tim Carpenter, Regional Program Director Vanessa Martin, and Casa Bonita residents.
Notable observations from the article:
“Research in recent years shows that such activities as those EngAGE provides, offer older adults more than pleasant pastimes. Creativity classes in art, music — even computer ‘brain games’ — may substantially cut America’s staggering health bill at a time when the U.S. senior population is expected to double to more than 70 million.”
“. . . the National Endowment for the Arts named EngAGE an Exemplary Program for Best Practices in Lifelong Learning, one of only 10 so recognized in the nation. Recently, EngAGE received $125,000 when its founder and executive director, Tim Carpenter, was honored with a 2011 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.”
“Two-thirds of those living in these subsidized homes, Carpenter said, are widows in their late 70s, with incomes falling at the federal poverty line. The total EngAGE service population reflects the ethnic quilt of Los Angeles, with African Americans, Asian American, Latinos, white Americans and an immigrant marble cake of Russians, Eastern Europeans, Armenians, Middle Easterners and others.”
Click here to read much more information in the article about both EngAGE and the people it serves. Enjoy the video!
EngAge from New America Media on Vimeo.
Contributed by Maureen Kellen-Taylor
