A Farewell Valentine for an EngAGE Resident

Posted on February 13, 2017 by EngAGE

EngAGE Regional Program Director Jennifer Fallon kindly shared this poignant story with the EngAGE team, and now, with you:

EngAGE brings so many wonderful experiences to our seniors every day. Our residents are at a different period in their lives facing new challenges, opportunities, and struggles. Our job allows us to educate them, to help them explore hidden gifts, and most of all to establish new relationships within their residential community.

Today, I struggle with a loss of a wonderful resident, John Duffy, a retired Gunnery Sergeant who served in the Korean War. I only knew him for three years at Cotton’s Point, but he touched my life dearly. Professionally, EngAGE gave me the opportunity to provide him financial and health resources through educational presentations and phone calls. Socially, he always came to our events. In particular, he really enjoyed the visiting school children who would sing at our property. Personally, he wasn’t just a resident, he was my friend. I was blessed to learn about him through the years. EngAGE events allowed me to see him smile, socialize with his neighbors, and talk to him about his life. His memories that he shared with me have more meaning than ever right now. Receiving the call from his son this morning was a difficult one. His family’s words to me – “Thank you for being there for my dad.” – bring a wonderful sense of fulfillment and love.

When we have difficult days with our job, please remember that our work touches the hearts of many forever.

Warmly,
Jennifer Fallon

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News from Long Beach Senior Arts Colony: The Hearts and Hands Project

Posted on February 12, 2017 by EngAGE

Residents at LBSAC were offered an opportunity to work on a creative art project for a long established Long Beach non-profit called The California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ). CCEJ is a human relations organization dedicated to eliminating bias, bigotry, and racism through education, conflict resolution, and advocacy.

CCEJ hosts an annual “Interfaith/Intercultural” breakfast at the Long Beach Convention Center which will be on March 2nd, 2017. About 1000 people are expected to attend. The keynote speaker will be Luis J. Rodriquez, who was, from 2014-2016, the official Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. He is an artist, poet, author, and activist who grew up in a gang environment. This year’s theme is “Hands and Hearts – Creating Community in Violent Times.”

The LBSAC creative goal: Create 100 table centerpieces incorporating the idea of “Hearts and Hands,” using CCEJ’s branding colors of red, orange, teal, and purple. The centerpieces can be vessels or any type of structure that stand about 8-10 inches tall. Each can be different. After the breakfast, guests will be able to participate in a raffle for the centerpieces by making a donation to CCEJ.

EngAGE, the instructors, and the artists will be recognized in the promotion of this annual special event, and are invited to attend.

Our resident artists are enjoying being part of this exciting creative project with the opportunity to create unique and meaningful works of art while helping to support an important community partner.

~ Helene Weinberg, Program Director

 

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Tim Carpenter on Durfee Foundation Stanton Fellowship Retreat

Posted on February 11, 2017 by EngAGE

In 2016, EngAGE Founder and Executive Director Tim Carpenter was honored to be the recipient of a Stanton Fellowship from the Durfee Foundation.

When choosing recipients, the Durfee Foundation seeks “the most knowledgeable, inquisitive, and highly networked leaders – the ones who are best positioned to identify and make headway on a big question. . . . Peer learning is an important part of the Stanton Fellowship. Fellows meet regularly to share their work, learn from one another about their respective fields and projects, and discover more about LA from site visits to different neighborhoods and hearing from local experts. They come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, and bring curiosity and engagement to a cross-disciplinary network.”

On February 9th and 10, Tim participated in what he described as “the Durfee LA joyous retreat – community, connection, and hope” in Oxnard, CA. Here are a few photos.

Stanton Retreat selfie, Durfee Foundation, with Carrie Avery, Claire Peeps and joyous community of fellows. — with Paula Daniels, Aaron Paley, Jonathan Parfrey and Claire Peeps.

Waxing poetic on the beach. — with Keith McNutt.

Retreating on the beach, Stanton Fellows and Carrie Avery, joyous. — with Paula Daniels, Aaron Paley and Jonathan Parfrey.

Solo reflection…

The retreat group.

 

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News from The Jasmine: Yoga

Posted on February 10, 2017 by EngAGE

Yoga students at The Jasmine at Founder’s Village in Fountain Valley, CA, stretch and relax during Yoga Hour led by Backhausdance member and certified yoga instructor, Chihiro Sano.

~ Meloney Morse, Regional Program Director

 

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Experience Talks: On Hiatus for KPFK Winter Fund Drive

Posted on February 9, 2017 by EngAGE

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.

 

Experience Talks will be on hiatus for the rest of February while the KPFK Winter Fund Drive is going on. Please take a moment to pledge your support to the only radio station powered by the people! You can become a Sustaining Member by making a donation of as little as $5 every month. Click here to learn more and make a pledge. You can choose a premium for your pledge, too. Whatever you give will help keep KPFK-FM on the air! Thank you.

 

 

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Senior Hunger and the National Council on Aging SNAP Fact Sheet

Posted on February 8, 2017 by EngAGE

Over 4 million low-income adults over age 60 rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to stay healthy and make ends meet. On average, they receive $108 per month to help put food on the table. Click here to read a fact sheet that addresses the problem and learn how the National Council on Aging is helping. Click here to get information on SNAP, including how to apply.

 

Posted in Food Assistance, FYI, Health, Retirement/Senior Services | Tagged | Leave a comment

EngAGE Fitness Coach Jack Witt Interviews Betty Reid Soskin, America’s Oldest Park Ranger

Posted on February 7, 2017 by EngAGE

Jack leads a group of residents from Piedmont Senior Apartments in North Hollywood on a visit to MOCA (the Museum of Contemporary Art) in downtown Los Angeles.

Fitness Coach Jack Witt offers his insights and training about health and fitness in several of our EngAGE communities. He also leads resident groups on tours of interesting places and events around L.A.

In addition, he writes a blog on his GetFitWithWitt.com website. Most recently, Jack talked with America’s oldest Park Ranger, Betty Reid Soskin, age 95, about her life, her inspiring health and longevity, and her life philosophy. Here’s one of her timely observations:

“As the years go by, periods of chaos will happen, but out of these periods of chaos our democracy, which is a semi-flawed system, will re-define itself and it’s up to each new generation to make sure they work to bend that arc of the moral universe towards justice.”

Read the complete interview at NoHoArtsDistrict.com.

 

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