News from Andalucía and La Coruña: Flashback to the Fourth

Fourth of July BBQ and Line Dancing

We had a ho-down! Road Theatre Company member and professional choreographer Jessica Wierzba came in to teach the residents some Line Dancing.

Elizabeth bought cowboy hats for everyone and they were greeted with a hat at the door, which, once donned, put them officially in the mood for some flattened, scorched cattle meat and a couple of knee-slapping, “Yee-Haaas!”

Jessica and Programs Assistant Brian Cole, tearing up the floor.

While we were dancing in the cool, air-conditioned community room, Andalucía Manager Louis Perla was outside in the 97 degree heat, cooking up hamburgers and hot dogs for the crowd.

A sea of white hats – I guess they are all “Good Guys.”

Having fun.

The day ended with a cake and singing “Happy Birthday” to the Manager of La Coruna, Kea Kane.

~ Elizabeth Sampson, Regional Program Director

 

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Catching the Winning Spirit at the 1st Annual Engage Community Cup

Residents from 23 EngAGE communities competed in the first annual Engage Community Cup on September 16th at Cerritos Park East in Cerritos, CA.

LBSAC Program Director Helene Weinberg reports: “The fifteen-member team from the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony, aka “The Ladies of Long Beach,” ages 59 to 79, showed their style in the athletic field events, art, and performance competitions. They earned the most medals for these events and were named the Community Cup Champions! The LBSAC team won the championship trophy for the former Engage Senior Olympics in 2014 and 2015, and were determined to take home the coveted cup this year. We are so proud of this accomplishment and congratulate all 23 teams who participated!”

 

Here’s a great highlight video of the event, made by Helene.

 

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Ashton Applewhite’s Ted Talk: Let’s End Ageism

Friend of EngAGE Ashton Applewhite, author of  This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, presents a rousing Ted Talk that’s well worth 11 minutes of your time.

 

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News from Burbank Senior Artists Colony: Poetry Book Release and Signing 10/1

~ Megan Hocking, Program Director

 

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News from Long Beach Senior Arts Colony: Doing a Double Take in Ceramics

Ceramics instructor Colette Brown instructed her students at LBSAC in Long Beach, CA, on how to make a sculpture self- portrait — or portrait of a friend or family member. Below, center, Colette sculpted a self-portrait head, while resident Elena, right, sculpted a head of “Frenchie” in preparation for the art display at the EngAGE Community Cup (formerly Senior Olympics) on Saturday, September 16th. Martha, left, sculpted her mother who lives in El Salvador.  Martha used a photo of her mother to replicate her features and hopes to send the sculpture to her as a gift for her 90th birthday. Great work!

~ Helene Weinberg, Program Director

 

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Experience Talks 9/17: Michael Alexander and Julie Carmen Hoffman

Tune in to Experience Talks, our weekly “Radio Magazine for the Experienced Listener,” on Sundays at 5:00 PM PT on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, 99.5 China Lake, 93.7 N. San Diego, streaming live online, and now syndicated on up to 100 Pacifica Network stations! Experience Talks is produced by the non-profit EngAGE, Inc.

 

Miss the show? You can always hear it as a podcast on the Listen Page of our website! You’ll also find an archive-in-progress of all of our previous shows there for you to enjoy. New shows are usually posted within 48 hours after broadcast.

 

 


SUNDAY 9/17 @ 5 PM PDT
MICHAEL ALEXANDER
JULIE CARMEN HOFFMAN
Host DR. CONNIE CORLEY


MICHAEL ALEXANDER has devoted his entire professional career to the arts, working to make stellar performances, in many genres, accessible to diverse audiences. On September 23rd, he will be honored for 27 years of service as the Executive Director of Grand Performances. The mission of Grand Performances is to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts. Every week throughout summer, multiple events are offered at the California Plaza Watercourt, featuring world-renowned musicians, dancers, poets and other artists from around the world.

Earlier this year Michael received Sidney R. Yates Award for outstanding advocacy from the Association for Performing Arts Presenters. Michael firmly believes that access to the arts is a right, not a privilege, and he has joined and often chaired the boards of numerous professional organizations, including the California Arts Council.

Michael Alexander is renowned for a number of firsts:

He was the Aman Folk Ensemble’s first employee of this otherwise all-volunteer ensemble that performed widely and lasted for decades

In his role as the Director of Performing Arts for the City of Los Angeles, Michael secured the Western Arts Alliances’ first grant to enable scholarships to LA artists and presenters serving marginalized communities.

During his tenure with the City, he created a festival support program that resulted in the City’s first Deaf Arts Festival.

At the upcoming gala on September 23rd, to represent Fela as authentically as possible,  Sahr Ngaujah who portrayed Fela on Broadway, and Ethio Cali will provide the musical backdrop for this annual benefit concert.

On this week’s Experience Talks, Michael talks about Grand Performances, the gala, and how the arts play a vital role in a world of challenges.


JULIE CARMEN HOFFMAN is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), and a Clinical Professor LMU YTRx Yoga Therapy for Mental Health at Venice Family Clinic. She will discuss an innovative advanced clinical practicum starting September 26th in conjunction with the Venice Family Clinic Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center, through Loyola Marymount’s Yoga Studies program. Learn more at Yogatalks.comwww.MalibuPsychotherapy.com, and see a video entitled, “Yoga Therapy for Mental Health,” here.

 

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News from Magnolia @ Highland: “Magnolia Centerpieces” Community Cup Entry

The Artists’ Round Table Community Cup Art Entry:Magnolia Centerpieces
(polymer clay flowers, fabric vases)

The EngAGE Community Cup is this Saturday, September 16th, at Cerritos Park East!


Members of The Artists’ Round Table at The Magnolia @ Highland in San Bernardino, CA, always get excited about competing in the annual EngAGE Community Cup. They put a lot of thought, time, and effort into the big project they decide on every year. This year, the group wanted to make sure they could display their Community Cup project in their own community room long after the big event was over. So, they set out to make these very special centerpieces to display on each of the nine tables in the room.

Back in January, they started making vases out of plastic soda bottles, newspaper, and fabric. As soon as they were done with the vases, they got started on making hundreds of petals and leaves using polymer clay — a painstaking, delicate process that took months to complete. Putting the magnolia flowers together was difficult, too, but they were excited to do it.

Ownership and pride in their work and the community they live in is what drives these residents to stick with such long, challenging projects. They always encourage each other, take plenty of pictures, and love getting the praise and recognition from their friends and neighbors along the way!

The Artists’ Round Table: Deborah Merriweather, Dolores Hayes, Edna Atlas, JoAnn Moore, Marjorie Melton, Marie Carter, Maxine Henderson, Rose Mary Shavers,Wilhelmina Evans

~ Alma Wright, Regional Program Director

 

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