Experience Talks 11/8: Dr. Donna Benton and Arjuna Paris O’Neal

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01 - KPFK ListenLiveButtonTune 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.

 

PODCASTMiss 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 11/8 @ 5 PM PT

DR. DONNA BENTON

and

ARJUNA PARIS O’NEAL

with Host Dr. Connie Corley

donna benton PhDDr. Donna Benton is an assistant research professor at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, Co-director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center, and Director of Older Adult Services at Pacific Clinics. She is a clinical psychologist who specializes in gerontology. She is in her last term as commissioner on the  California Commission on Aging. She has worked in the field of aging for over 30 years. Dr. Benton has presented her research and clinical work on elder abuse, minority aging, and caregiving locally, nationally, and internationally. She is committed to promoting collaborative partnerships and policies that enhance services for families caring for older adults.

At the upcoming “A Sandwich Generation Forum” at the Burbank Marriott on November 14th, Dr. Benton will discuss how to avoid caregiver exhaustion and simple ways to improve a caregiver’s quality of life.  This special presentation is sponsored by the USC Family Caregiver Support Center.

ArjunaParisO-NealArjuna Paris O’Neal grew up on Detroit’s Eastside, surrounded by drugs, poverty, and violence. The son of a drug dealer, Arjuna was exposed to gang culture as a child, bearing witness to the daily beatings, murders, and brutal life that came with it. At the time, it seemed to Arjuna to be the only option available to him—the only way to support his struggling mother, the only way to survive. He was only 15 when he started selling drugs himself and was running his own operation by age 17.

But everything changed one fateful day, when a bullet nearly took his life. During his long recovery, Arjuna discovered a personal relationship with God, the power of yoga in rebuilding his strength and body, and the power of meditation in regaining control of his mind. He went back to school and earned multiple degrees—Associate of Arts in Business, a Bachelor of Science in Business, and a Master of Business Administration. He even expanded on his passion for yoga and became a certified yoga instructor.

It was this inner calling that inspired Arjuna to create Share Necessities, an organization dedicated to improving communities by empowering the young people within them. The organization’s “Mindful Leadership” program launches in January, 2016, in the Los Angeles Unified School district, using yoga & meditation as its foundation.

 

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NoHo SAC: “Class of 1898 – Old School Improv” on Wednesday, November 11th

An invitation from EngAGE Creative Programs Director Amanda Talbot:

It is lovely when a seed you sow grows into something magical. When I first started working for EngAGE as the Creative Programs Director, I wanted to bring my experience of Second City Improv to the seniors that lived at Burbank Senior Artists Colony. Before this could happen, I moved to NoHo Senior Arts Colony. Even though I was at a new building I still wanted to bring Improv Second City Style to the seniors who I was creating programs for. While sitting in Celeste Pechous apartment one day, I thought about this and had the idea to ask her if she would be interested in giving a weekly improv class to the seniors at NoHoSAC. Sitting there debating with myself, I had almost dismissed the idea of asking Celeste, but I am glad I ‘Yes Anded’ myself instead of shutting the idea down. Celeste agreed and an 8 week class was set up. The residents loved Celeste and the Improv she taught them. They are funny, witty people with a great sense of humor and years of life experiences to pull from to make their comedy unique. From that first initial thought I had, the improv has grown into something magical. Celeste got this vibrant bunch of people who range from their 70s into their 90s a slot at Second City Hollywood on November 11th at 7pm. The Improv team is called, “Class of 1898 – Old School Improv.” A documentary film maker shot some footage of all the great things EngAGE does with the creative arts and aging, and, while at NoHoSAC, met with Celeste and the improv group. He fell in love with them all and is now documenting their progress from NoHoSAC to Second City Hollywood. If you are free on Wednesday, November 11th at 7 pm, come and check this fun comedy team out. You will be happy you did. Be a part of the magic!

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The Grove: Senior Olympics + Activities

The annual EngAGE Senior Olympics is an opportunity for all EngAGE communities to come together and compete in outdoor games, art and craft, and performance competitions. Site Leader Miles Morse reported: “Everyone had a great time and were happy  they participated. Although no medals were won, the teamwork and community interaction between all cultures was heartwarming.”

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Twice a month EngAGE partner, Orange County’s Second Harvest, delivers 2000 pound pallets of groceries to an EngAGE site for seniors who may not qualify for the Food Bank. EngAGE staff divide the food and then transport it to other properties where individual packages for residents are prepared for distribution by a group of 5-7 resident volunteers. Regional Programs Director Meloney Morse says: “Volunteers have a fun time helping and display a sense of community when they are able to give back.”

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Instructor Meloney Morse guides a twice a week, one-hour fitness class with essential focuses on flexibility, strength, and balance.

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Instructor Shirley Yu’s hand-crafting class meets twice a month for 2 hours each class. Creating a hand-sewn fabric shopping bag was a recent project. The instructor says: “This project was enjoyed because it’s not very intricate, but is a very useful and practical craft.  When completed, we’ll make a matching wallet.”

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~ Meloney Morse, Regional Programs Director

EngAGE offers a variety of classes, workshops, and special programs at each of our communities. These posts highlight just a small sample.

 

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Park Plaza: Senior Olympics + Exercise

EngAGE RPD Elizabeth Sampson reports: This was a stellar Senior Olympics and Park Plaza did very well. Grace Delcid won two medals for her artwork.  Below is a picture of Katchek carrying the Banner.

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Aqua Aerobics combines strength, flexibility, and endurance while working against the pull of the water.  The movements are fluid and conducive to healing and recovery.  This month, Instructor Tami Tirgrath incorporated special jump/hop exercises in water to increase the muscles used to climb stairs (glutes, quads, calves, etc.). She explored how water enhances one’s ability to perform flexibility exercises. They practiced Yoga and Pilates moves in the water and danced to different types of music using everyone’s favorite dance music.  It was great to see everyone show off their best “steps.”

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The weekly Exercise Class facilitates both cardio-vascular health and muscle strength.  Residents are working on core stability, balance, flexibility, and leg and back alignment and strength. Work is done standing, in chairs, and with elastic bands. The ladies in Instructor Terese Tintocalis’s class are going strong; they are a dedicated group of 15 women who are passionate about their exercise! And their accessories! And their exercise lipstick!

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~ Elizabeth Sampson, Regional Programs Director

EngAGE offers a variety of classes, workshops, and special programs at each of our communities. These posts highlight just a small sample.

 

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The Jasmine: Senior Olympics + Creativity

Meloney Morse, Regional Programs Director reports: “The residents were very happy to inform me that they were sent a ‘party bus’ with bright party lights [for transportation to the EngAGE Senior Olympics]. It was a good day for everyone. Five people took home medals in the Arts and Crafts, and Performance categories.”

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In the Watercolor and English Conversation Class, Site Leader Jaqui Miles works on English conversation with Jasmine residents while offering some of her considerable skill as an artist in watercolor techniques. Jaqui reports: “We continued doing Zentangles drawings and paintings (repetitive designs done on a grid). This continues to be enthusiastically enjoyed. I am introducing more techniques and using additional media. Students get to pick out a template and draw or trace it, depending on their skill level.  We will also include oil painting in the future.”

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Practical Crafts class offers the opportunity for creative expression as well as community-building conversation. This month’s project was a fabric shopping bag. Instructor Shirley Yu reports: “Yoko submitted a craft she made in class to the Senior Olympics and won 3rd place! She was so excited she called her son right away. I took her picture and framed it for her the following week. The class has started sewing fabric shopping bags. Once completed, we will make a matching wallet.”

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And there’s always time for ice cream at the monthly birthday celebration!

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~ Meloney Morse, Regional Programs Director

EngAGE offers a variety of classes, workshops, and special programs at each of our communities. These posts highlight just a small sample.

 

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Worth Repeating: Masters After 80

“Worth Repeating” is a weekly feature on the EngAGE Blog that will bring you previous posts that we think are still timely, interesting, or just plain fun! From 10/31/14:

WORTH-REPEATINGFrederick Wiseman, T. Boone Pickens, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Edward O. Wilson, Roy Haynes, Carmen Herrera, Ginette Bedard, Tony Bennett, Ellsworth Kelly, Christopher Plummer, R.O. Blechman, Carl Reiner, Frank Gehry, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Betty White. From author to politician, from Supreme Court justice to painter, all of these people are at the top of their game after the age of 80.

See photos and read a series of brief, insightful interviews here.

 

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Happy Halloween!

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“Pumpkins are now one of most recognizable symbols of Halloween, but they  weren’t used as jack-o’-lanterns until the mid-19th century. How did pumpkins go from being an ordinary squash to a Halloween staple?” Read more here.

 

 

 

 

 

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