Community Living Campaign

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Events

Rose Sharkey, St. Francis Square Network

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We chose Rose for the Good Neighbor award,” says Betty Traynor,” because when she joined St. Francis Square Co-op as a new member about two years ago, she jumped right in and joined our Community Living Campaign Committee as well as other Committees. She is someone I know I can rely on to help our CLC Community Connector group.  This year she took on a major project at the Square: updating our Handbook.  Plus, she makes dynamite brownies for our meetings and events!”

From Rose:
“My husband and I were very fortunate to join the St. Francis Square Co-op when we moved to San Francisco from the East coast. I volunteer because I recognize that there are things that need to be done, and I am blessed with the time and talent to do them. My work has made me feel more connected to this very special community.”

Midtown Gets in the Holiday Spirit with Song

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Midtown Community Connector Network enjoyed the sound stylings of Frank Sinatra (aka Perrish D’Andrea) with one another.  Community Connector Nikki Trasvina hosted with food,  holiday spirit and lovely picture collages of neighbors.   Take a look below!

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St. Francis Square Community Celebrates

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St. Francis Square Co-op was the first neighborhood network, inaugurated with the support of CLC and the Board of St. Francis Square Co-op.  The Community Living Campaign Committee of the Board and network members celebrated their first ten years with a special event on December 8th.   Early founders greeted many new neighbors and remembered those who have passed on who helped create the community ties.  Music, poetry and a visit from Supervisor Valli Brown highlighted the afternoon.  A photo collage brought back memories of activities over the past 10 years that helped weave community.    Take a look below…

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Cayuga Community Celebrates the Holiday in Style

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Cayuga Holiday Potluck is an annual community gathering rich with food, fun raffle prizes, music and of course, Santa.   Thanks to Patti Spaniak and all the leaders and neighbors who pitched in to make this a grand gesture of community living.   Enjoy the pics!

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Inner Sunset Community Connectors Reflect on a Successful Year

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group photo of Inner Sunset participants

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Neighbors and Always Active Instructors celebrate one year of Inner Sunset Community Connectors

Before we opened the doors last October 22nd at St. Anne of the Sunset, we had hoped 15 people might attend our our Monday and Thursday afternoon exercise/community building program.  Instead 35 appeared, ready to enjoy the Always Active exercise program. Though most of us lived in the neighborhood, few of us knew one another. The number of participants, and our friendships have only grown from those early days. 

 
One day last summer, when 53 people tried to fit into our summer space at St. John of God, we were in the awkward position of turning away people at the same time we were committed to building community. After several weeks of this, the Community Living Campaign convinced the SF Department of Aging and Adult Services (the city agency that provides the primary funding for this program), to send a second Always Active instructor, allowing us to serve up to 60 people a session.   More recently, CLC convinced DAAS to earmark extra funding for a third day of classes.  On Tuesdays, beginning November 5, we will offer chair yoga and creative dance on alternative weeks.
 
Note from a participant

MAKING FRIENDS: “I feel healthier which is great but I feel most excited about meeting my neighbors. I don’t feel like a stranger out here anymore.” (Note from a participant)

But we don’t only exercise when we come together. About a month into the program, Marina Lazarra, the community connector from the Community Living Campaign, began offering after-exercises activities. The first classes were on gardening and healthy herbs – Marina’s interests – an ongoing memoir writing class, classes on “finding your style,” earthquake safety, how to get most out of your cell phone, a three-session series on Stroke Awareness, and an evening meeting on Loneliness and Social Isolation engaged participants and brought in new members. More than 10 of us participated in a letter exchange with the fifth graders at the SF Friends School, and were thrilled to attend the children’s dramatization of our life stories.

 
It’s all coming together, the way we had hoped. The Always Active exercise program and the after-class workshops have led to the development of new friendships. People arrive before class and stay after to exchange gossip. The more able-bodied members look out for those of us who move slower or are less steady on our feet. We are no longer strangers working out, we’re becoming friends. Thanks to this program, retirement and aging are taking on new meaning in the Inner Sunset.  
 
Want to help? Right now, we have a matching gift of up to $10,000. Please donate now to double your impact!
 
(Enjoy a few pictures from the November 4th Anniversary Celebration and Thank You Event)
 
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Good Neighbors Gather To Celebrate and To Honor

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The Annual Good Neighborhood Event brought together an even bigger group of leaders on Saturday, June 8 as we gather at the ARC. Each year, staff and participants in each of the CLC programs picks a community member who has gone above and beyond to help their neighbors and provide leadership to the community. We are pleased to present this year’s list of honorees. They include:

  • Mary Crenshaw, Bayview
  • Deb Padilla, Cayuga Community Connectors
  • Esselene Stancil, Computers & Access
    Marlene Olivencia , Inner Sunset Community Connectors
  • Reiko Hatakayama, Merced Extension Triangle Community Connectors
  • Evernease Cook, Midtown Terrace Community Connectors
  • Guido Van Rijn, Miraloma Community Connectors
  • Leroy Lindo, OMI Food Network
  • Judy Goddess, Community Catalyst
  • Rose Sharkey, St. Francis Square Network
  • Alice Guidry, Sunnyside Community Connectors
  • Michael S. Silver, Vision & Hearing Program 
  • Robin Evans, SF ReServe / Senior Beat 

See these and other “good neighbors” in the photo album below. 

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Dignity Fund Mayoral Forum Highlights Key Issues

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The Dignity Fund Coalition invited Mayor London Breed back for a follow-up conversations about issues raised and promises made at their May Candidates Forum. Yomi Wrong returned for another successful term as Forum moderator.  She helped keep the conversation focused on a range of key questions. These questions, drawn from the 100’s submitted at the Candidates Forum, sought to keep the Mayor focused.  So the conversation zeroed in on  her efforts on expanding affordable housing, address homelessness and preparing increasing long term care services would make life better for the City’s older adults and adults with disabilities. Coalition members and key community leaders filled the Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Main Library and the event was once again live streamed, with the help of SF GovTV.  You can now view on SF Gov TC.

Hope you enjoy some of the pictures below from the Forum and stay tuned for what’s next.

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Breast Cancer Support Pink Luncheon 2018

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Breast Cancer Groups Celebrate

On Oct. 11, the Breast Cancer Group of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, and the Bayview Imani Breast Cancer Support Group held their annual celebration luncheon.

Though African-American and white women are diagnosed with breast cancer at roughly the same rate, African-American women are 42 percent more likely to die from the disease. There seem to be several reasons for this: African-American women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease, and experience delays in treatment. They are also more likely to be diagnosed with a triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive subtype that is linked to poorer survival.

The OMI breast cancer group meets the third Thursday of the month, from 11 a.m.– noon. The group takes on different projects – murals, paintings and placemats – some of which were on display at the church. Their primary task, explained Barbara Tate, program director at the LCOS, is supporting one another and the newly diagnosed. “When we hear of someone who’s been newly diagnosed, we try to visit and talk with them. We go with them to the doctor if they want us to do that. We listen to their story and tell our own. Whatever the person wants, we’re available.”

October 11, however, was a day to greet old friends, enjoy good food, celebrate and listen to inspirational speeches from Pastor Evered Cohen of the Lutheran Church and the Rev. Dr. Carolyn Ransom-Scott

If you are looking for support or want more information, call Barbara Tate, 415-586-7890.

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2018 Annual Award Event A Wonderful Community Gathering

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Our annual award event was filled with warmth and friendship with so many helping us mark our 10-year anniversary and honor this year’s Awardee, Ashley McCumber, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels San Francisco.  Enjoy the pictures and plan to join us again next year.  Thanks to all event and raffle sponsors and attendees for support. If you missed the party, but would still like to help us move with strength into our next decade, make a donation today.

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