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Sam Felsing

A Heartfelt Gift of Gratitude from a Student

May 29, 2025 by Sam Felsing

On May 12, 2025, the CLC In Chinese Program held a photowalk at Presidio Tunnel Tops. One of our longtime students, YiHung Wong, surprised the teaching team with a deeply meaningful gift: handmade illustrated cards expressing her appreciation.

Each drawing was unique, featuring the teacher’s name, her name, the date of the gift (the day before the event), and a poem dedicated to each teacher. YiHung chose this special occasion to present the drawings, knowing that the rare in-person gathering—most of our classes are held online—would bring us all together.

YiHung and her husband, artist ZhiChong Huang, collaborated to create these beautiful, personalized illustrations. YiHung has been part of our computer class since the pandemic began five years ago, joining virtually and steadily growing her digital skills. After gaining basic computer skills, she was able to join the singing and English classes, and she also attended the online celebration and health education, for which she was very grateful.

She expressed heartfelt thanks not only for the opportunity to learn during a difficult time, but also for the patience, kindness, and dedication of the teachers who made it possible. These drawings showed her gratitude for the support and encouragement she received.

Receiving such a thoughtful and personal gift was truly moving. It reminded us why we teach—and how much it means when our efforts are recognized and valued. We are deeply grateful for YiHung’s generosity and spirit.



Filed Under: Chinese, Volunteering & Giving Back

Stranded at the Door: The Accessibility Challenges ACT is Fighting to Fix

February 25, 2025 by Sam Felsing

Jennifer Walsh arrived in her wheelchair at the first-ever Accessible Community Teams (ACT) meeting, ready to present. She had spent years advocating for better sidewalk accessibility through Community Living Campaign’s (CLC) Sidewalk Search Party, training residents to report infrastructure issues, and helping make San Francisco a safer place for all. She was going to share her knowledge with the ACT. But as she approached the venue – an old church – she faced an all-too-familiar problem: she couldn’t get inside.

A new gate blocked the wheelchair ramp, and the people in charge of the facility were out of town. “I left when the associate pastor said, ‘I can’t do anything. The boss is out of town; we might have a ramp next week,’” Jennifer recalled. Quick thinking, Jennifer decided to do her presentation outside via Zoom.

The irony of the situation was not lost on anyone. ACT was formed to tackle accessibility barriers in neighborhoods, yet one of its key advocates was being forced to deliver her presentation from the cold sidewalk. “It was amazing,” said Patti Spaniak, Director of Community Engagement for CLC, which backs ACT. “So it was irony and a paradox.” This incident underscores exactly why ACT exists.

The Birth of ACT

ACT is the brainchild of Juliet Rothman, who has long been involved in accessibility advocacy through the Sidewalk Search Party. Sidewalk Search Party is a community-driven initiative that has been meeting since 2019 to strategize ways to educate city departments and private construction sites on maintaining accessible temporary pathways during construction. The group frequently explores neighborhoods in the city and tags broken sidewalks as “quaked” by putting a duck-shaped information packet next to the sidewalk for neighbors and city workers to see.  

ACT was born out of Juliet’s realization that accessibility issues—uneven sidewalks, blocked ramps, poorly lit streets, and narrow pathways—exist everywhere, making everyday life difficult for seniors, people with disabilities, parents pushing strollers, and others. ACT will work to change this by empowering local communities to identify and report these issues, creating a grassroots movement for accessibility improvements.

What ACT does

ACT will operate hyperlocally, empowering individual neighborhoods to take action rather than tackling citywide accessibility issues simultaneously. Community volunteers will form teams, receive training on identifying common barriers—such as sidewalk hazards, inadequate lighting, and inaccessible entryways—and learn how to report them effectively. 

“We will hopefully make these communities more comfortable for everyone—seniors, people with disabilities, even moms pushing baby carriages and racing across streets with toddlers,” Juliet said. “The idea is to make groups of people in each community spread the word, be aware, and take steps to address the issues they find.”

To support ACT efforts, teams will use The Accessibility Teams Handbook, which highlights that accessibility is rarely a simple “yes” or “no” issue, as it often depends on specific circumstances and environmental factors. The handbook provides guidance on reporting barriers, understanding legal accessibility requirements, and working with city agencies to advocate for improvements. By leveraging this resource, ACT members can make meaningful contributions to their communities while gaining a deeper understanding of accessibility challenges and solutions.

The Department of Public Works has already expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, recognizing that community reports save the city time and effort in identifying problem areas. “If you guys go out there and find all this stuff and let us know, that saves us the effort of going and looking,” a Public Works representative relayed to Juliet. 

Patti is working to better align ACT with CLC community groups. She has helped secure buy-in from local leaders and structured a system to integrate ACT into community meetings and advocacy efforts. So far, Patti has signed up three of the neighborhoods CLC works with.

The Road Ahead

Looking ahead, ACT aims to expand beyond its initial three pilot neighborhoods. “My main goals for this year would be to train all the communities that CLC serves,” Juliet said. “And I would like to have the booklet printed.”

As ACT gains traction, organizers hope to compile success stories, demonstrating the impact of local advocacy on citywide accessibility improvements. Jennifer’s experience at that first meeting was a stark reminder of why this work matters. If an accessibility expert can’t enter a building to present at a meeting about accessibility, what does that say about the daily experiences of people with disabilities? ACT is determined to change that—one community at a time.

Filed Under: Aging with a Disability, People & Stories

Inclusion and Accessibility Resources

February 15, 2025 by Sam Felsing

CLC provides resources and training for individuals who require special accommodations or equipment to be connected to the online world. Our Community Connectors and Computer Trainers are experienced with hearing and vision challenges in English, Chinese, and Spanish.  Jennifer Walsh is our Accessibility Integrator with decades of experience helping people learn how to use available tools to  enhance their ability to be more independent. This helps to reach a broader group of individuals and support seniors in the community.

Vision & Hearing Initiative

San Francisco’s at-risk seniors and individuals with disabilities are benefitting from a grant from the Francis Goldsmith Fund through United Way of the Bay Area – especially those with vision and hearing loss. We want to help seniors and adults with disabilities to have access to the internet, computers, tablets, and phones to keep in contact with family, friends, and healthcare professionals, especially in this time of sheltering in place.

Living with hearing and vision loss can make it more difficult to remain connected, reducing access to healthcare and supportive services, and further limiting job opportunities for older adults. Our Vision and Hearing Initiative provides:

  • Accessible Technology Training
  • Assistive Technology Education & Resources
  • Best Practices for Communication
  • Access to Affordable Devices for Hearing & Vision Loss
  • Neighborhood Outreach for Hearing Tests and other services

Accessible Technology Training

SF Connected hosts computer labs at Adult day Health Centers and other locations. We provide participants with accessible computer training to strengthen and support their online social networks and access to information. These services are available in more than 50 locations around San Francisco. Our Computer Lab Trainers and online tech support help over 600 computer students with vision and/or hearing disabilities and offer low-income seniors in Adult Day Health Centers with approximately $6,000 of assistive devices or aids.

Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

We train all our staff to serve as Ambassadors, working to increase vision and hearing accessibility throughout our programs and beyond. We provide seniors with assistive technologies, including hearing aids, glasses, readers, and other adaptive tools. Find services you need at the Independent Living Resource Center (ILRC)-Lending Programs.

Vision, Hearing, and Accessibility Resources

Jennifer creates presentations that she uses in her classes and workshops. They are available to download and use :

  • Hearing
  • Learning
  • Mobility
  • Vision

We maintain a San Francisco Directory of Resources for Seniors Living with Vision and Hearing Disabilities, which serves as a guide to these resources, listed alphabetically: 

  • AbilityTools is California’s Assistive Technology Act Program and provides a variety of services for Californians with disabilities of all ages.
  • Ability.net gives you the ability to search their simple ‘how to’ guides to make your devices easier to use.
  • Apple Accessibility shows you how to make your computer your own with these features: Speech, Vision, Hearing, Mobility, and Cognitive
  • BridgingApps offers a custom-built App Search Tool that allows users to shortcut the process for finding mobile apps and some web-based tools that help people with disabilities, caregivers, older adults and others.
  • Easter Seals Crossroads has an assistive technology division dedicated to increasing access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for people of all ages and abilities so they can live, learn, work and play independently with greater freedom in communities of their choice.
  • Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California
  • Independent Living Resource Center provides Assistive Technology, Housing, Economic Empowerment, Legal Services, Community Activities 
  • Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired   
  • Lingraphica offers speech-generating devices, help you improve your communication, speech, and quality of life.
  • Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) matches seniors with volunteers who can provide in-person and remote services.
  • SF Connected Program Disability & Aging Services provides free computer tutoring and support to older adults and adults with disabilities.
  • SF Public Library Accessibility Services 
  • Living with Vision Disability: Strategies to Decrease Indoor Light Sensitivities
  • Living with Hearing Disabilities: Social Gatherings 
  • Windows 10 Ease of Access Guide allows you to learn how to customize visual and audio content for better visibility, mobility, and hearing access on a PC (non-Apple device).
  • Windows 11 Accessibility Features

For more information or to suggest additional resources, contact Jennifer Walsh, Abilities Integrator, at  jennifer@sfcommunityliving.org or call 415.821.1003, ext. 111.

Filed Under: Resources

Community Living Campaign’s Commitment to Protecting and Respecting Our Most Vulnerable Communities

February 11, 2025 by Sam Felsing

As the political landscape shifts, many in our immigrant, LGBTQ+, and disability communities are facing uncertainty and concern about their rights and well-being. At Community Living Campaign (CLC), our mission has always been to combat social isolation, foster inclusion, and advocate for those most vulnerable. In the face of new challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every individual in our community is protected, respected, and equipped with the information they need to navigate daily life.

To uphold this commitment, CLC has established a Vulnerable Communities Response Workgroup to address the pressing concerns of our staff, participants, and the broader community. This workgroup is dedicated to:

  • Building Strong Partnerships – Connecting with organizations that specialize in immigration, trans rights, and disability advocacy to strengthen community-wide support networks.
  • Providing Critical Information – Curating and sharing trusted resources, training opportunities, and referral options to help individuals stay informed.
  • Amplifying Partner Efforts – Using CLC’s communication channels to promote the programs, events, and services of expert organizations working on the frontlines.
  • Supporting and Training Staff – Exploring trauma-informed training to ensure our staff can engage sensitively and effectively with those experiencing distress.
  • Remaining Adaptive and Responsive – Continuously listening to community needs and adjusting our efforts to meet emerging challenges.

Additionally, we are expanding our advocacy efforts by:

  • Empowering Individuals with Knowledge – Providing leadership training and advocacy tools to help people speak up for themselves and their communities.
  • Encouraging Community-Led Advocacy – Creating spaces for staff and community members to raise concerns that can guide CLC’s advocacy priorities.

These are uncertain times, but we stand firm in our belief that together, we can build a more just and compassionate society. CLC will continue to fight for the dignity, rights, and safety of our most vulnerable communities—because no one should feel alone or unprotected.

Filed Under: Action & Advocacy, Aging with a Disability, Diversity in Aging

Transportation Options

January 9, 2025 by Sam Felsing

Don’t let finding transportation keep you isolated at home! We’ve gathered information on the many ways to get around San Francisco, including free and low-cost options.

Transportation Access and Support

CLC staff regularly reach out to our neighbors to make sure they know about the free and low-cost transportation options available in San Francisco, such as Free Muni for Seniors and the Essential Trip Card. We help residents decide which programs would best meet their needs, and we provide assistance during the application process.

Public Transit

San Francisco has many public transit options, including programs specifically for older adults and people with disabilities. Read general information on Muni Accessibility. Find out more about BART on the BART website or call 511.

SFMTA Essential Trip Card (ETC)

  • The Essential Trip Card is a discount taxi program for seniors (65+) and people with disabilities to take essential trips.
  • Registered customers pay 20% of regular taxi fare using a prepaid debit card ($6 gets you $30 credit; $12 gets you $60 credit).
  • To apply, call 311 between 9am and 4:45pm and mention the “Essential Trip Card.”
  • For more information, visit the ETC webpage.

SF Paratransit

  • Paratransit is a door-to-door van or taxi service for people who cannot take Muni some or all of the time due to a disability.
  • Registered users pay $2.50 each way.
  • Now is a great time to apply! Visit the Paratransit website for details.
  • For more information, call 311 or 415-351-7000 (the Paratransit office) between 9am and 4:45pm.

Shop-a-Round

  • Shop-a-Round is a group van service that takes seniors (65+) and people with disabilities to grocery stores.
  • Vans are currently limited to 2 people per van.
  • Registered users pay $2.50 each way.
  • Now is a great time to apply! Visit the Shop-a-Round website for the scheduled and applications materials.
  • For more information, call 311 or 415-351-7000 (the Paratransit office) between 9am and 4:45pm.

Free Muni for Seniors and People with Disabilities

  • A program that allows low-income seniors (65+) and people with disabilities to ride Muni for free.
  • Income requirements can be found on the Free Muni for Seniors webpage and the Free Muni for People with Disabilities webpage.
  • To apply, you can fill out the online application or print and mail this application.
  • You must have a Senior Clipper card or Regional Transit Connection (RTC) card to access use your Free Muni benefit.
    • To apply for a Senior Clipper card, download the application from the Clipper Card website.
    • The RTC Discount ID Office is closed until the shelter-in-place order is lifted. Customers who need to renew or replace their RTC card and must travel for essential needs may still ride transit without being cited.
  • For more information, call 311 or 511.

Taxis and Ride Services

  • Flywheel
  • Luxor
  • Lyft
  • While more expensive, SilverRide (415-861-7433) and Onward (510-771-7171) provide rides specifically to older adults with more service than standard taxis or ride services. No app is needed to use the service. 

Transportation Questions or Concerns?

  • Muni, driving, parking, walking, biking: Call 311 (or 415-701-2311 outside of SF)
  • Paratransit, Shop-a-Round, Essential Trip Card: Call 311 or 415-351-7000 (M-F, 9-4:45pm)
  • BART, Golden Gate Transit, other regional transportation questions: Call 511
  • Accessibility concerns about transportation options: Contact the SF Office on Disability and Accessibility (formerly the Mayor’s Office on Disability) at 415-554-0670 or ODA@sfgov.org.

 

 

Filed Under: Resources

New Emergency Preparedness Flyer Designed for Seniors and People with Disabilities

December 23, 2024 by Sam Felsing

Emergencies can happen at any time, and being prepared is key to staying safe. That’s why our emergency preparedness team has redesigned its “Emergency Preparedness for Seniors & People with Disabilities” flyer to make it more user-friendly and accessible. Plus, it’s now available in four languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Tagalog. 

What’s New?

The updated flyer features:

  • Clear and engaging writing to make the information easy to understand.
  • A vibrant color scheme and eye-catching art to highlight key points.

Essential Topics Covered

The flyer covers important emergency preparedness topics, including:

  • Planning ahead: Steps to ensure you’re ready for any emergency.
  • The 72-hour rule for supply kits: What to include and why it matters.
  • Making an evacuation plan: How to create a plan tailored to your needs.
  • Earthquake safety: Tips to stay safe during and after an earthquake.
  • Keeping a Vial of Life form: Why having your medical information ready is critical.
  • Preparing for smoke and heat emergencies: Strategies to protect yourself in extreme conditions.

Additional Resources

The flyer also includes contact information for local resources that can help you prepare and respond to emergencies.

Get Involved!

Download the flyer today and take the first step toward better preparedness. Our organization tables at Senior Facilities and other locations: if you’d like us to come give a presentation please email laurette@sfcommunityliving.org and we’ll be in touch.

Together, we can help ensure everyone in our community is ready to face emergencies with confidence!

 

Filed Under: Resources

Good Neighbors 2024

November 13, 2024 by Sam Felsing

Each year, the Community Living Campaign honors San Franciscans who volunteer their time and care to make their neighborhoods better places for us to age and thrive together. They are some of the many neighbors who contribute to vibrant communities all over our City.  Join us in  celebrating the impact these Good Neighbors working with us have had throughout San Francisco. Together, we are keeping our neighborhoods vibrant and connected.

  • Advocacy: Chinese Crochet Team – SinHing Lee, ManYi Ma, Jinzhu Liang, FangYu Li, Susie Chen, RuiYuan Lim
  • Bayview Grocery Network – Mary Cerutti
  • Cayuga  – Steve Indig
  • Chinese Community Connectors – Emily Lee
  • Computers & Access, Chinese – WanLing Ma
  • Computers & Access, English – Nathalie Soler
  • Crocker Amazon  – Mo Ling Sit
  • Inclusion & Access/Sidewalk Search Party – Blandina Bello Hernandez
  • Inner Sunset- Millie (Milagros) Cenidoza
  • Midtown Terrace – Evangeline Villanueva
  • Miraloma Park – Jennifer Okano
  • Miraloma Park – Ferruccio Morassi
  • OMI Grocery Network – John Glen
  • Park Merced Grocery Network – Orlando Trevinio
  • Potrero Hill – Ruth Carsch
  • SF Reserve – Paul Hickman
  • St. Francis Square – Sylvia Lew
  • Sunnyside Community Connectors – Marilyn Koehler
  • Senior Power – Diane Lawrence

Read about some of this year’s good neighbors below and watch this year’s videos.

Chinese Crochet Team

Advocacy: Chinese Crochet Team – SinHing Lee, ManYi Ma, Jinzhu Liang, FangYu Li, Susie Chen, RuiYuan Lim
.These people are really a big help for the crochet project. This year, they’ve helped crochet many Forget-Me-Not flowers, beautiful faux flowers that we gave to city decision-makers to remind them to “Forget us Not” during budget time. We also gave them as gifts to our donors at our annual event this year. We are greatly indebted to the fine craftsmanship of the flowers and for their help during a hard budget year. 

Mary Cerutti

Bayview Grocery Network – Mary Cerutti
The Bayview Home Delivered Grocery Network honors Mary Cerutti, a dedicated volunteer who helps ensure that seniors and people with disabilities in Bayview get fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins each week. We are very grateful for all she does

 

Steve Indi

Cayuga  – Steve Indig
The Cayuga neighborhood is honoring Steve Indig, an active member of the Neighborhood association (including a lot of planning for the recent fall festival). He regularly cleans Alemany and our stairway and offers valuable tech help to many of our neighbors. Thank you, Steve!

 

Emily Lee


Chinese Community Connectors – Emily Lee
We are thrilled to recognize Emily Lee as our Good Neighbor. A dedicated, long-term volunteer, Emily has been part of our Cultural Exchange program for nearly three years, teaching English classes every Wednesday. Her commitment and care are evident in the strong relationships she’s built with her students, who can truly feel her dedication to their success and her deep connection to the community. We are honored to have Emily’s passion and hard work as part of our program and proud to celebrate her as our Good Neighbor.

WanLing Ma

Computers & Access, Chinese – WanLing Ma
WanLing is truly a good neighbor and an incredible help to all those around her. She consistently offers her support to neighbors with their technology challenges, often visiting their homes and working with me over the phone to assist them. WanLing is always encouraging her neighbors to keep learning, patiently guiding them through any difficulties. Thanks to her efforts, several of her neighbors are now able to join our online computer class, continue developing basic tech skills, and stay connected with family and friends through their phones.

Nathalie Soler

Nathalie Soler

Computers & Access, Chinese – Nathalie Soler
We are delighted to recognize Nathalie Soler as this year’s CLC Computers & Access–English Good Neighbor Award recipient. As a dedicated Health Science student at the University of Florida, Nathalie shares her enthusiasm for education and technology with the CLC community by volunteering to teach both our Translation Tools and Recipes classes. Through her Translation Tools class, Nathalie patiently guides learners step-by-step through platforms like Google Translate and Microsoft Translator, helping to break down language barriers and create meaningful connections. In her Recipes class, she introduces participants to a variety of recipe sites, sparking culinary creativity and helping people find dishes to suit any taste or occasion. Nathalie’s commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive digital learning environment makes her an invaluable Good Neighbor to the CLC community.

Mo Ling Sit

Crocker Amazon Community Connectors – Mo Ling Sit
Ling is a quick-thinking leader and valued member of the CLC community, particularly in the Excelsior and Crocker Amazon neighborhoods. Known for her generosity and humility, she became a standout volunteer during the pandemic, offering help at Crocker Connector events and consistently bringing warmth and positivity to the community. Originally from Canton, China, Ling’s compassion shines through her behind-the-scenes work, especially in food preparation for Crocker Potlucks and ensuring smooth event setups and cleanups. Her infectious energy and leadership, such as her standout role at the 2023 Sunday Streets booth, have made a lasting impact, helping to keep the community engaged and connected.

Blandina Bello Hernandez

Inclusion & Access/Sidewalk Search Party – Blandina Bello Hernandez
We proudly nominate Blandina “Blandi” Bello Hernandez as this year’s Good Neighbor for her dedication to the Sidewalk Search Party. Blandi has devoted countless hours crafting paper ducks that we use to mark and identify unsafe sidewalks throughout the city. Her work brings much-needed attention to the sidewalk challenges that make it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate San Francisco. Thank you, Blandi, for your invaluable contribution!

Millie Cenidoza

Inner Sunset – Millie (Milagros) Cenidoza
Millie Cenidoza is a dedicated Good Neighbor for the Inner Sunset Community Connectors program in 2024 and has been an integral part of our community since its inception. A regular participant in our exercise classes, Tai Chi sessions, and walking groups, Millie is always welcoming new faces and encouraging others to join. She goes out of her way to check in on homebound neighbors, offering support and suggesting ways to grow our community. Her kindness, generosity, and enthusiasm shine through in every interaction, whether it’s helping others on field trips, offering assistance with public transit, or providing much-needed support. Born in the Philippines and having moved to San Francisco in 1972, Millie worked tirelessly as a financial analyst while raising her son, who now has children of his own that Millie helps care for. A parishioner at Saint Anne of the Sunset, Millie is a beloved presence in the Inner Sunset, effortlessly making aging look as graceful and easy as a morning walk around the block, always with a wave and a smile for her neighbors.

Gin Moon

Merced Extension Triangle (METCC) – Gin Moon 
Gin is METCC’s Good Neighbor this year for good reason. Almost without fail, he brings a food contribution (fruit, eggs, etc.) every week to share at our Tuesday Exercise + Social. He offers without being asked to take another participant home after our social hour. Gin’s generosity enables the participant’s husband (who drops her off) to stay home or play golf after his Tuesday morning task. Always helpful in class, Gin wears a smile and stays to socialize. There’s a range of good neighbors’ styles, and Gin’s style includes contribution, participation, and saying “yes” to some of the programs and services offered by the Community Living Campaign.

Evangeline Villanueva

Midtown Terrace – Evangeline Villanueva
Midtown Terrace Senior Exercise is proud to announce the recipient of the CLC 2024 Good Neighbor Award: Evangeline Villanueva. We all know and love Evangeline as the Office Manager of the Forest Hills Christian Church, the site of the weekly exercise program. Without a doubt, our program would not run as smoothly without her consistent support and fulfilling our many special requests. She is the master of unconditional support. Her rapport and ability to get along with everyone reflect her strong faith and commitment to Forest Hills Christian Church. Her generosity of time and energy captures the spirit of Forest Hills Christian Church. Evangeline accomplishes great things with her relaxed nature and kind heart. She is responsible and always reliable. Today, we recognize our unsung hero, our hidden gem, our super-quiet superhero, and thank her for all she has done for us.

Jennifer Okana

Miraloma Park – Jennifer Okano
Jennifer Okano is a church administrator at Cornerstone Trinity Baptist Church (CTBC) on Teresita Blvd. and has served the church for many years.  CTBC was originally established in the Sunset district in 2001 and moved to the Miraloma neighborhood in November 2011.   Jennifer was raised in the Richmond district and has lived and worked in San Francisco all of her life. Jennifer enjoys meeting, getting to know, and serving her Miraloma neighbors in the community through church partnerships with various Senior events.  These neighborhood partnerships include the CLC Senior Exercise group, the annual Tea Party, the MIP clubhouse clean-up, various ministry programs such as the neighborhood Beautification (community clean-up),  the annual Mission 4:19 Middle Schoolers/Seniors bingo and board games event, and the annual Trunk or Treat to name a few.  Jennifer feels blessed with the many opportunities to always meet her neighbors, encourage one another, and extend God’s love and faith to her Miraloma neighbors. 

Ferruccio Morassi

Miraloma Park – Ferruccio Morassi
Ferruccio has been a volunteer since 2015. He comes from a background of serving people, being friendly, and having a great sense of humor. He has been in the hospitality business for 40 years, including owning a restaurant in Petaluma, CA. Ferruccio realizes the importance of helping in all areas of the Miraloma Community whether it’s a day of exercise, a special event, or just showing up no matter what.  He has helped in the kitchen, serving and greeting for our potlucks, tea parties, or any other event. He is great at calling Bingo, as he has lots of experience on cruise ships. Our connectors enjoy his personality and get a kick out of his humor—he has not lost his accent yet! We are thankful to have him as a volunteer and wanted to thank him as a good neighbor.

Ruth Carsch

Potrero Hill – Ruth Carsch 
Good Neighbor,  Ruth Carsch, has been a dedicated participant in our programs since we launched in the winter of 2022. She has been a constant presence in our Chair Yoga Class and has actively participated in numerous events, including our Clothing Swap, Community Cookie Party, and Stroke Presentation and Luncheon. Ruth has even stepped in to lead the Chair Yoga class when the instructor was delayed. A retired reference librarian from the San Francisco Public Library, Ruth also has experience as an educator and consultant. Born in London, she moved to the U.S. at the age of four and was raised and educated in New York. She relocated to San Francisco in the early 1970s and has been a cherished member of the community ever since.  

Paul Hickman

SF ReServe – Paul Hickman 
Paul was one of the first members of the Emergency Preparedness team at CLC, having joined in March 2022.  He is so friendly and charming, some folks have called him “the face of CLC”.  Before joining CLC, Paul was at Felton Family Service Agency for 12 years, and prior to that, spent eight years working at St. Anthony’s.  Paul is originally from Boston. Paul is  a bright light for so many people, always reaching out, connecting and making every space he graces a better place to be. He is a role model for how to work hard with care.

Sylvia Lew

St. Francis Square – Sylvia Lew 
Sylvia Lew has been the secretary and administrator for St. Francis Square Housing Co-op since 2001, and our choice for Good Neighbor this year. Though not officially a neighbor in that she does not live here, she fits a different definition of neighbor as a person who shows kindliness and helpfulness toward others beyond what she is required to do. And her tasks are many– secretary and communications central for almost 300 apartments, the liaison among: cooperators; the Board of Directors; the housing manager, maintenance workers, and outside service workers; mail and package deliveries; and the office itself, and much more. She speaks Cantonese and Mandarin and facilitates communication with our monolingual Chinese households. She is so nice to everyone, diplomatic, and genuinely kind. No matter how much she has on her workday plate, she is good-humored, attentive, and unhurried to every one of us. She does so many extras for us—if something is left hanging, she helps see it through from home after hours. We are so fortunate to have such a caring person looking out for us all.

John Glen

Omi Grocery Network – John Glen
It was a unanimous decision to select John Glen as Good Neighbor of 2024. John has lived in the OMI community for over 50 years and has always been a blessing to the OMI Neighbors. In the early years, John would provide free labor for tune-ups, oil changes, and brake jobs for seniors in the neighborhood. John has been volunteering with the HDGP from the onset; Deloris McGee recruited him to deliver groceries along with Ned Reese. In August 2022, John had an accident on his motorcycle and suffered a TBI and a broken ankle. After three months in the hospital and intense therapy, John has resumed his role of volunteering at the HDGP and with our extended community events. The CLC-OMI staff and volunteers would like to thank John for his continued services.

Park Merced Grocery Network – Orlando Trevinio
The Park Merced Home Delivered Grocery Network honors Orlando Trevinio, a dedicated volunteer who helps with packing and deliveries to ensure that Park Merced seniors and people with disabilities get healthy foods twice each month. Thank you, Orlando.

Marilyn Koehler

Sunnyside Community Connectors – Marilyn Koehler
Sunnyside Connectors is delighted to honor Marilyn Koehler for all she does to contribute to the Sunnyside Community. A dedicated member of the group, she helps create a welcoming environment and is always willing to help. Thank you, Marilyn.

Diane Lawrence

 

Senior Power – Diane Lawrence
Diane has many talents, which she has generously shared with San Francisco, the Sunset District where she lives, and our District 4 program, Senior Power. She has many accolades, including being the President of the Advisory Council to the Commission for SF Dept. of Disability & Senior Services (DAS). Despite this grave responsibility, Diane has been a friend and supporter of Senior Power since before its inception in September 2018. She was always there with suggestions, advice, and in many cases, “boots on the ground” as she attended meetings and worked at various activities, including street fairs and festivals. Not only has Diane promoted the resources of DAS and its many programs, but she has selflessly patronized and promoted The Adventures of Rob Raven, our book on climate change. Without missing a beat, she would swing into the benefits of belonging to the Senior Power, with its meetings and newsletter, as well as the Community Living Campaign organization as a whole, while promoting the DAS Hub and advising individuals of the various agencies in place to help our seniors and persons with disabilities. Her tireless efforts and enthusiasm have been a bonus for me, and I am proud to call her a friend. She is long past due for this recognition, and I am pleased to nominate her.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Building Community, People & Stories

SF Seniors & People with Disabilities

October 9, 2024 by Sam Felsing

San Francisco Benefits Hub

Located at 2 Gough Street, the DAAS Benefits and Resources Hub is an innovation that brings together County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) specialists, expert Medi-Cal and Cal-Fresh benefits staff, and skilled social workers who provide access to the wide array of DAAS services.  Seniors and people with disabilities can drop in to ask questions or apply for multiple programs in a comfortable environment developed specifically for them.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) offer the public a single source for connecting to free information and assistance on issues affecting older people and people with disabilities, regardless of their income.* For in-person help finding programs and services in your neighborhood, call or visit one of our resource centers for information, referrals and assistance, including translation, help filling out forms, volunteer opportunities and more! Locations and more information here.

Filed Under: Resources

Dignity Fund Speaks to the DAS Commission About Prop E

October 3, 2024 by Sam Felsing

Our Co-Executive Director and Dignity Fund Member, Marie Jobling, recently spoke with the San Francisco Disability and Aging Services Commission about why people should vote No on Prop D and Yes on Prop E.

Good Morning Commissioners and Executive Director Kelly,  My name is Marie Jobling, and I’m here today as co-chair of the Dignity Fund Coalition. 

There are many important measures on the November ballot, especially Propositions D and E on Commission Reform. These dueling measures will profoundly affect local democratic engagement in policy development and program oversight. After hearing from representatives of each campaign and reviewing their material, the Dignity Fund Coalition has taken a position of No on D and Yes on E.

At this point, we need to anticipate the chaos that might result if Prop. D passes. The Dignity Fund Coalition, in crafting the language for the Charter Amendment to create the Fund, included language to assure good planning through the Community Needs Assessment, input from providers through the Service Provider Working Group, and transparency through the meetings and recommendations of the Oversight and Advisory Committee. This will all be eliminated from the Charter.  

We understand that these bodies, as well as many other Commissions, will be ended in January.  The Dignity Fund functions will revert back to the DAS Commission. 

This action is not only an issue for Dignity Fund implementation. Overall, it is abruptly ending scores of other government bodies that assure community engagement and transparency throughout City government. 

The list of Charter-implemented Commissions and Advisory Groups that will end is extensive and includes others whose policies and programming are important to older adults and adults with disabilities.  To name a few, it includes the Health Commission, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Library Commission, the Immigrant Rights Commission, Police Oversight and so many more. 

So here is what we are asking in what is a very short timeline. 

We ask your help in requesting a detailed overview of the impact and implementation timeline if Prop D passes.  

By your next Commission meeting, we will know the result of the vote and it would be important to plan for how DAS, as well as the Dignity Fund Coalition, can prepare for the confusion that will ensue.  We can be better prepared, as every constituency represented by disbanded Commissions and Advisory groups will be set up to compete with one another to keep a place at the table over the ensuing months. 

We would appreciate any information that can be provided publicly from the City Attorney and are hopeful you can provide a fuller briefing next month.

We would urge San Franciscans to read the voter handbook and vote No on Proposition D and Yes on Proposition E.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Recent Examiner article  – Supporters of Proposition D, this billionaire-supported November ballot measure that would reduce the number of San Francisco city commissions, have continued to run up the fundraising score, with contributions totaling nearly $8 million versus the opposition’s comparatively paltry $21,500.

Filed Under: Action & Advocacy

Marcy Adelman: Hero to San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ Seniors

August 26, 2024 by Sam Felsing

Dr. Marcy Adelman

If Marcy Adelman hadn’t grown up in an intergenerational household, she might never have had the epiphany outside the Castro Theater that shaped her life and work, nor become this year’s Norma Satten Community Service Awardee.

Born shortly after World War II, Marcy spent her early years in a Massachusetts apartment with her parents, brother, grandmother, and aunt. Her Orthodox Jewish Ukrainian grandmother, who fled Ukraine with her younger brother to escape conscription and persecution, was the fiercely protective matriarch, deeply committed to preserving their family story.

Marcy’s grandmother became the “keeper of history, religion, and tradition” in their family. “She was very important in so many ways, especially to me,” Marcy said. While Marcy isn’t an Orthodox or religious Jew, she believes that understanding her history is crucial to self-development. Her grandmother’s lessons helped Marcy discover who she was, even if the process was challenging.

As a teenager, Marcy realized she was a lesbian but found little information since LGBTQ topics were rarely discussed. The library kept books on the subject behind the librarian’s desk, requiring readers to sign them out. “And, I wasn’t as a teenager going to sign that I was interested in getting a book on homosexuality,” Marcy said. Instead, she turned to fiction by Gertrude Stein and French authors to understand her sexuality.

Marcy eventually told her father she was a lesbian, but since being gay was seen as a mental illness, he insisted she see a therapist. After several sessions, realizing therapy wouldn’t change her, she lied to her father, claiming she was “over it.” The experience was transformative; when her therapist dismissed being gay as “a phase,” Marcy’s heart knew otherwise, and she fully accepted her identity. She even began considering a future in therapy to help others embrace their authentic selves.

As an undergrad at Suffolk University, Marcy chose to identify as bisexual, thinking it would be more socially acceptable and attract other gay women. Surprisingly/not surprisingly, it made her more appealing to men. She immersed herself in leftist politics, focused on her English and History studies, and dreamed of escaping to Europe after graduation.

In Europe, Marcy traveled extensively, visited gay bars, dated women for the first time, and fell in love with a French woman she lived with for two years. After the Kent State Massacre, Marcy felt a renewed drive to return to the U.S. and get involved in politics, leading her and her partner to move to San Francisco in the 1970s.

Marcy recalled how she “just dropped into a little bit of heaven” when she joined the Gay Women’s Liberation Movement in San Francisco. “We would sit around in circles, talk about our lives, our difficulties, and most importantly, our dreams.” This support gave Marcy the courage to pursue a psychology degree at San Francisco State University.

At this time, there was finally a desire to do positive research on gay people. So Marcy decided she wanted to study lesbians and provide an accurate report on them, not just one that would compare them to heterosexual women and pathologize them. So she did some research, put it together, and presented it to her faculty advisor, Dr. Harvey Peskin (Aaron’s Dad). She told him she wanted to write her thesis on lesbians. After a brief pause, Dr. Peskin said, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but we don’t require a thesis here.” Peskin, however, was intrigued and soon enlisted a colleague to help him review and guide Marcy’s project. Published in 1977, Marcy’s thesis was the second in the nation to look at lesbians in different stages of their lives: single, partnered, employed, etc. Marcy’s work with the LGBTQ community was just beginning, however. 

Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, Marcy was in line at the Castro Theatre on a sunny summer’s day. The Castro was a place where gay and lesbian people could all be out in ways that they never could’ve been back in their hometowns. But something wasn’t right. ” I looked up and down the line and marveled at seeing so many of my fellow community members publicly expressing joy, affection, and pride- and it hit me like a ton of bricks. We were all about the same age. Where were our seniors? Why weren’t they here with us sharing in this moment?” Marcy asked. 

Marcy didn’t know what to do with her thoughts until an opportunity presented itself. While reading the SF State newsletter, Marcy spotted an article reporting that Dr. Frederick Minnegerode of the University of San Francisco was coming to campus to conduct the first National Institute of Health aging study on gay aging. Specifically, gay male aging. Intrigued, Marcy went to a nearby pay phone, called up Dr. Minnegerode, identified herself as a Lesbian (The first time she’d done that to a total stranger), and asked the doctor, “Why didn’t you include lesbians in your study?” Dr. Minnegrode told her that if he had thought he could get enough lesbian participants, he would have included them. With little thought, Marcy volunteered to get such participants, and she soon became a vital part of the study.

After completing the main study, Marcy used some of its material for her graduate thesis. Then, after Dr. Minnegrode unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack, she inherited the research and eventually used it to help write “Long Time Passing: Lives of Older Lesbians.” The book, published in 1986, was the first anthology of stories about lesbians. It was also the first time each lesbian storyteller received author credit for their contributions. Of course, Marcy’s work continued further. She went on to serve as a psychotherapist for many in the LGBTQ and straight communities. She has also served on several committees, including: 

  • The San Francisco Advisory Committee to the Aging and Adult Service Commission
  • The Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada’s Board of Directors
  • The San Francisco LGBT Dementia Care Project
  • The Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Board of Directors for the City and County of San Francisco. 
  • The California Commission on Aging and the Master Plan for Aging
  • The San Francisco LGBTQ+ Aging Policy Task Force

In the late 1990s, Marcy did some of her most famous work. It was the height of the dot-com boom. Rents were sky-high, and San Francisco was getting more and more expensive. Marcy started to receive phone calls from older members of the LGBTQ community. “All these men and women were calling me, saying, ‘I have to leave. I can’t afford to stay here, but there’s nowhere to go where I can be out again.'” While walking with a friend, the two began discussing how someone needed to do something to provide housing to this forgotten group. Her friend turned to her and said, “Well, why don’t you do it?” With little thought, Marcy agreed. 

Marcy and Jeanette

Convincing her wife, Jeanette Gurevitch, to help was the first challenge. Initially hesitant, Jeanette eventually saw the opportunity to support older gay men and lesbians and joined the effort. The next hurdle was convincing city officials, who mistakenly believed the LGBTQ community was too affluent to need affordable housing. Marcy and Jeanette led a group that surveyed over a thousand LGBTQ adults, proving the need for support. The survey shattered the myth of gay affluence and, in 2000, led to the first grant from the city of San Francisco for LGBTQ housing, which in turn afforded Marcy and her team, then known as Rainbow Adult Community Housing, much-needed credibility, and seed money to plan the housing and services program that is today known as Openhouse.

Marcy has dedicated her career to addressing the needs and elevating the quality of life of LGBTQ seniors. Since she was a little girl listening to her grandmother in their apartment, she has understood that our older adults can provide us with context and history to help us better understand ourselves. Now, as a senior herself, she is ready and willing to do just that. 

Marcy says: ” The elders in my family and my community did that for me. They talked about who they were and their past, and they passed on, either through deed or word, their values, and their experiences. That shaped me and was important to me, so it’s my turn.”

For significant contributions to LGBTQ seniors in San Francisco, Marcy Adelman will receive Community Living Campaign’s Norma Satten Community Service Award at the UC School of Law Skydeck on Thursday, September 19th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP to attend.

More Pictures from Marcy’s Extraordinary Life








Filed Under: Action & Advocacy, Events & Celebrations, People & Stories

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