EngAGE changes lives by transforming affordable senior and multigenerational apartment communities into vibrant centers of learning, wellness, and creativity.
On November 24th, EngAGE held Art Shows at Patton Home and Cascadian Terrace in Portland, OR, to celebrate the wonderful artwork the residents created in our classes. On display were pieces produced in classes taught by artist Hannah Finegold, including Printmaking, Botanical Illustration, and Jewelry Making. We also highlighted seasonal art created in Program Director Laura Spidell’s Art Exploration class, including beautiful pressed leaf prints, painted pumpkins, and wreaths. We showcased some pieces we’ve created together as a community, including wall hangings made of painted fall leaves and persimmon tops. It was stunning to see all the art we have made together over the past few months! Residents at Cascadian Terrace also read some pieces they wrote through the Write Around Portland workshop EngAGE offered this fall. All residents in the buildings were invited to attend, enjoy refreshments, and admire the artistic works of their neighbors. As it fell just before Thanksgiving, several residents expressed their gratitude for having such wonderful creative outlets available to them right at home. ~ Laura Spidell, Program Director
Danitza Casallas, Afterschool Program Director (Parc Derian) – For the past 15 years, Ms. Casallas has worked as a designer. She was also a professor in Arts, Architecture, Photography, and Lighting at Pilot University of Colombia for eight years, and an Industrial Design professor at Bosque University for two years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Andes University in Bogota, Colombia, and a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from Istituto Europeo di Design, Milano, Italy. She is certified as an Interior Designer from the New York Institute of Art and Design, and as a UX Designer from Google. In her free time she enjoys acrylic painting, crafts, dancing, baking, photography, swimming, video games, origami, drafting, watching movies, and reading. She is a mother and a wife and says she “knows how important it is to have a nice atmosphere in the place you call home.”
Priscilla Daniels-Mark, Program Director (Rockwood Village, Gresham, OR) – Ms. Daniels-Mark is a self-taught artist with an extensive background of volunteer work for social services organizations. She has always wanted to work in a position that allows her to embrace her creativity while helping others. She enjoys writing as well as creating art with acrylic paints and mixed media. She has recently discovered how relaxing sewing in the style of Japanese mending can be. In her spare time, she loves going to art museums to find inspiration, hiking in nature, and going on long walks. During the pandemic, she trained online for her 200 hour yoga teacher certification to improve self-awareness and become more mindful. Currently, Priscilla is attending school full time to pursue her Master’s Degree in Education. She is very excited by the opportunity to work with EngAGE Northwest.
Thanks to The Road Theatre Company, former EngAGE Program Director Elizabeth Sampson, and Program Director Sandra Vargas for another successful Holiday Toy Drive for Vermont Family Apartments in Los Angeles, CA! The Roadies’ generosity meant that 52 children residing at the community received toys, and 49 families received a gift card. The families were so grateful and the children’s smiles were priceless!
There’s usually a big holiday party arranged by Vermont Program Director Sandra Vargas, with lots of food, music, and Santa in attendance to hand out the gifts. But, for the second year, the pandemic forced a change of plans. That didn’t affect the holiday spirit of the Roadies who once again happily donated to make sure the holidays were joyful for all!
Elizabeth, a member of the Road Theatre Company for over 20 years, spearheaded the project for a decade and continued this year even though she no longer lives in Los Angeles.
Road Theatre Company member Jonathan Nichols coordinated the shopping and the gift wrapping by the Roadies. Program Director Sandra picked up the gifts from Jonathan and handled delivery.
Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful holiday tradition!
Program Director Sandra Vargas
The Road Theatre Company is based at North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony (NoHo SAC).
As we reflect on the challenging but rewarding past year and look forward to 2022, EngAGE remains committed to providing programming that inspires the residents in the communities we serve. We hope the new year will bring inspiration to you and your families, too.
To celebrate this hopeful season, we are delighted to announce three winners in our EngAGE Greeting Card Art contest! We asked residents to submit art that reflects the inspiration they feel from living in an EngAGE community. We received 85 art entries from 10 communities!
We are particularly pleased that the artists range in experience from professional level to a resident who discovered her talent for the first time after moving into an EngAGE community and taking an art class.
Winners are listed below (alphabetically, by artist). See all of the entries here.
“Beach at Dusk” – by Anna Davis, Coventry Court, Tustin, CA (Program Director: Sandra Wareing)
Anna Davis is married and has two children and two grandchildren. She has been retired for six years. When she moved into Coventry Court Senior Apartments, she started taking the painting classes that were offered in the clubhouse. She had never painted before. The instructor recognized her talent and recommended that she continue to take classes, so she did. Now, Anna says, “I’ve been painting for about five years, and I love it!”
“Mountains” – by Adele Kamp, Piedmont Senior Apartments, North Hollywood, CA (Program Director: Arnold Schmidt)
Inspired by the poetry she teaches and writes, Adele captures on canvas what William Blake captures on paper: mysticism, tranquility, and beauty. She has exhibited her art extensively in prestigious galleries in New York and Massachusetts. She served as President of the Kennedy Council for the Arts, President of the Chappaqua Artists Guild, and she is a Member of the Peekskill Arts Alliance, NY. Kamp studied art at the Brooklyn Museum Art School, UCLA, and the Westchester Art Workshop. Among her collectors are former President Bill Clinton, Dick Van Dyke, and Martin Segal, former President of Lincoln Center. Kamp has taught English at both the high school and college level, and she is a published poet in “Patience and Grace.” Adele was one of the original strikers for the New York City School Teachers Union, which led to teachers having pensions. In 2009, the President of the Brooklyn Borough, Marty Markowitz, proclaimed June 8th the official “Adele Edelman Kamp Day” for her service and contributions to the arts.
“The Family Circle” – by James Trivers, North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony, North Hollywood, CA (Program Director: Lisa Argenziano)
James Trivers, 73, is a writer as well as an artist. He has published with Avon, Harper Collins, Prentice Hall, Club Lighthouse, and Quartet books. Among other credits, he has had a script produced by New Path Pictures entitled, Norma Jean, Jack and Me, starring Sally Kirkland and Michael Murphy. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he was represented by NEWSPACE art gallery in Los Angeles. A number of his paintings were purchased from the gallery for the Eli Broad Corporate Collection where they grace the executive offices. One, in fact, hangs in Paris. Prior to retirement, Trivers taught art to adults with disabilities for the City of Pasadena. Now he happily resides and creates at the NoHo Senior Arts Colony.
Congratulations to the contest winners and thanks to all of the talented artists who entered!
Contest details: The winning art was selected by our leadership team: Tim Carpenter, CEO/Founder; Laura Mason, Executive Director, EngAGE Northern California; Nancy Goodhart, Chief Operations Officer; and Maria Rojo de Steffey, Regional Director, EngAGE Northwest. They were provided with images of all of the entries labeled only with numbers – no names of the artists or their communities were included.
EngAGE looks forward to sharing these images on greeting cards that will be given as gifts to our supporters and used for promotion of our organization.
Carrie Miura, Program Director, (The Grove and Dorado, Orange County, CA)– Ms. Miura comes to the EngAGE team with a passion to lead and connect by ways of human advocacy and creative programming. In all of her former work-related positions, Carrie has enjoyed working with both the Youth and Older Adult communities. She is a Graduate of Texas A&M University with a BA in Journalism and Minor in Psychology. In 2018, Carrie completed her Life Coaching Certification through the International Board of Coaches and Practitioner (IBCP) and currently serves as a Board of Director for her Alumni. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, cooking and watching all sports.
EngAGE welcomes two new Community Partners serving residents of these neighboring properties in Los Angeles, CA:
Black Women for Wellness Provides free nutritious meals once a week for Buckingham and Metro Buckingham and also connects residents to recreational and civic involvement opportunities.
LA Green Grounds Seasoned Master Gardeners and volunteers lead residents in the cultivation and maintenance of a shared community garden at the Buckingham and Metro Buckingham properties.
Creating Community in the Garden
Program Director Cathy Trout picks up plants and supplies for the garden from a locally owned nursery and the Master Gardeners also bring seeds. Cathy reports on the garden’s impact on residents:
“It has been truly beautiful to see the community that is building between both properties due to the Garden Club. WSH property management cleared all the garden beds and residents have been responsive to the opportunity to start fresh with a true community garden. Under the tutelage of the volunteer Master Gardeners from LA Green Grounds, they are learning about what seeds to plant vs. seedlings, and during which season, and when to water. They’ve planted a variety of lettuces and greens which will be harvested for the holidays, and they have started a butterfly garden.”
