Tim Carpenter, EngAGE CEO/Founder and Encore Publics Voices Fellow, wrote an insightful article for Visible Magazine about the twin pandemics of COVID and isolation.
“Unfortunately, physical distancing to protect ourselves against the spread of COVID-19 exacerbates isolation in older people, creating a perfect storm where one pandemic makes the other much harder to bear.”
Read the full op-ed here.
Register: creativeagingsymposium.org. Free, suggested donation of $10 if affordable.
Congratulations to the creative writers at BSAC!
2020 Vision is the culminating project of “Writing for Life,” the creative writing class led by EngAGE teaching artist Sarah Jacobus. The book is a collection of student work over the first five months of meeting virtually in 2020, and includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and journal reflections on life under COVID quarantine.
EngAGE has provided copies of 2020 Vision at no cost to the writers whose work appears in the book to share with family and friends. You can enjoy the stories in e-book form here.
Watch a recent Experience Talks ZoomCast featuring the “Writing for Life” class members and instructor Sarah Jacobus in conversation with Tim Carpenter, EngAGE Founder/CEO.
“Writing for Life” Instructor SARAH JACOBUS is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Fine Arts Degree in creative writing. She left a job as a staff social worker with Jewish Family Service to start Imagine That!, an independent practice facilitating workshops in storytelling and poetry for elders in a variety of settings, including residential care, senior centers, and senior housing. She is a Certified Facilitator and Master Trainer of TimeSlips, an improvisational storytelling process that focuses on imagination rather than memory. Sarah is committed to the practice of creative engagement as a tool for meaningful self-expression, community building—and fun.
Thanks to EngAGE Program Director Arnold Schmidt (at right in photo) for handling the printing arrangements for the beautiful publication of 2020 Vision.
EngAGE Program Directors have made a special effort this year to make the holiday season a happy one for our community residents. There have been door decorating contests, surprise gifts of hot chocolate and handmade ornaments, a surprise decorated tree in a community room. We hope you’ll visit our Facebook Page to see the many photographs we have posted there.
There’s one holiday event that we always enjoy highlighting. Every year for the past decade, Program Director Elizabeth Sampson, who serves several communities in the San Fernando Valley, also generously has volunteered to make sure the children at Vermont Family Apartments in Los Angeles receive gifts. (The Vermont apartments were designed especially for grandparents caring for their grandchildren.) Elizabeth has spearheaded an annual Toy Drive with the help of The Road Theatre Company, of which she’s been a member for over twenty years. 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 this year, with the pandemic upending everyone’s plans, Elizabeth had concerns:
I was afraid that the Toy Drive wouldn’t do well this year because everyone knows that all actors and performers have been affected by this virus. But the Roadies have outdone themselves. I raised more money by almost $600 – I raised just over $2,000. It is incredible. One of the Roadies (a beautiful actor named Jonathan Nichols, who donates $200 every year), this year gave $400 and wanted to know if we were doing anything for the parents. Well. Because of him and the higher amount, we were able to give not only a wrapped present to all 42 children under the age of 13, and a $20 Walmart gift card to all 14 of the teenagers between 13 and 16, but we also were able to give gift cards to all 49 apartments (families) for groceries for a holiday meal. Sandra picked up the toys and got the Walmart gift cards, and then she wrapped all of those presents herself (!!!) for hand delivery, door-to-door (masked and distanced).
Sandra shared her thoughts:
I have to say that this year the residents’ reactions were priceless. I placed the gifts on the floor in front of their apartments and rang the doorbell. When the door was opened, to see the expressions on their faces was all for me. Some cried and others laughed for joy. Sorry I couldn’t catch those moments to share with you. To keep social distancing, I would step away, then ask if I could take a picture. Most agreed, and I am glad to say that all of them were happy to see that EngAGE had come through again this year. All 49 units received a $25 gift card towards groceries. This surprised them, and brought tears of happiness to some of them.
Happy Holidays to all from EngAGE!
The Portland firm Community Development Partners is heading up the development of Timber Ridge Apartments on 4.79 acres in LaGrange, OR. Dan Steffey of CDP said the $23.7 million, 104-unit complex “would be a community that would be a welcoming home for people of all generations.” EngAGE is consulting to create a Community for All Ages model for Timber Ridge.
EngAGE Northwest Regional Program Director Kathleen Sullivan reports: “Timber Ridge Apartments is one of four projects EngAGE NW partnered on this year that is designed for people of all ages. As part of our initiative to develop community for all ages, EngAGE NW is involved in the design of the physical environment and will work with our partners at Northeast Oregon Housing Authority to foster community and a sense of belonging for future residents. We do this with the EngAGE model of using art, mentorship, wellness, and learning as the cornerstones of our programs. An historic development in Eastern Oregon, Timber Ridge Apartments is an example of how we can work together to achieve housing for Oregonians that is respectful and inclusive for all people. I am thrilled to be a small part of this superlative undertaking.”
Read more in this article in The Observer, LaGrande’s local newspaper.
Regional Program Director Sandra Vargas shared the results of the wonderful creative holiday project by residents at Bella Vita Senior Apartments in Carson, CA, and The Metro@Compton Senior Apartments in Compton, CA. They made special holiday greeting cards that brought appreciative smiles to the faces of our troops. Happy holidays to all!
