We’re proud to announce The Senior Beat, an effort to amplify the voices of San Francisco’s older adults. We’ll report on news of interest to seniors, but just as importantly, what they have to offer the rest of the city’s residents: their experiences, their opinions, their stories, and their contributions to their communities and the life of this world-famous city.
The Senior Beat is an initiative of the Community Living Campaign’s SF ReServe program, which matches seniors and people with disabilities with part-time, paid opportunities at local nonprofits and public agencies. The Senior Beat is a fledgling step toward creating a society where people of all ages see, hear and benefit from one another.
Recent Stories:
- Advocates rally for justice for the vulnerable in city budget – Judy Goddess/Mary Hunt
- Fifth-graders learn what it’s like to be older – by interviewing seniors – Judy Goddess
- Life after polio? For one busy mother and community activist, not a missed step – Jan Robbins
- First affordable housing project for seniors breaks ground in the Mission District – Judy Goddess
- A life of travel, adventures, true grit – and a good car – Jan Robbins
- Couple dances to the same tune, blending love of exercise with dedication to volunteering – Jan Robbins
- Bay Area Senior Games: Running, swimming, cycling, you name it, San Franciscans are winners – Jan Robbins
- Senior Center Takes Steps to Battle Bullying – Judy Goddess
- Designing Products for Older Adults: Senior Supervision Advised – Judy Goddess
- Mayoral Candidate Forum Is First to Focus on Needs of San Francisco Seniors and Adults with Disabilities – Robin Evans
- Adjusting, not fighting aging, is the way to a happy life – Judy Goddess
- Rae Doyle introduces the neighbors – one story at a time – Mary Hunt
- What’s age got to do with it? Changing perspectives – Jan Robbins
- When your garden hugs you back – Jan Robbins
- Seniors show creativity never gets old – Jan Robbins
- SF conference on aging: hated to part but hopeful for the future – Jan Robbins
- OMI Senior Center holds annual lunar new year celebration – Judy Goddess
- Older adults want to contribute – and many do – Judy Goddess
Mary Hunt
In her twenties, Mary Hunt worked in the music business, for Virgin Records in London and for rock bands in Marin County. She switched to video production in her thirties. In her forties, she got a “real job” at San Francisco State University, and stayed in academia until retirement. During that time she also raised a wonderful daughter and earned a master’s degree in humanities. She now works as a senior beat reporter and is thoroughly enjoying this new phase of life as a photojournalist. Read Mary’s Articles.
Mary writes for the West Portal Monthly. If you have story ideas, you can contact Mary at at mhunt-seniorbeat@sfcommunityliving.org.
Judy Goddess
Judy Goddess started reporting on senior issues several years ago when she realized that few outside of our own circles of friends were aware of the contributions and concerns of older adults. A mother of two and grandmother of four, Judy left academia to find greater fulfillment in community service. For most of her years, she supported herself as a grantwriter for various small nonprofits, while pursuing her passion as an advocate for students and parents in the public schools. The only thing she regrets is not having a pension. . Read Judy’s Articles.
Judy writes for the Ingleside-Excelsior Light and the San Francisco BayView. If you have story ideas, you can contact Judy at jgoddess-seniorbeat@sfcommunityliving.org
Jan Robbins
Jan Robbins felt like a native the minute she landed in California in the early 70s. She helped start the first rape crisis center in Marin County. Then she went on to found one of the first on-site corporate chair massage companies in 1985 and was recognized in Time magazine. Jan taught mind-body health for 17 years for the Older Adults Department at City College San Francisco. With degrees in Sociology and Psychology, she remains ever fascinated by the complexities in the human condition. Her two children and two grandchildren live in Thousand Oaks and Los Angeles. Read Jan’s Articles.
Jan is a senior beat reporter for the Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon. If you have story ideas, you can contact Jan at jrobbins-seniorbeat@sfcommunityliving.org.
Robin Evans, Editor
Robin Evans is a career reporter and editor. She spent nine years at the San Jose Mercury News, including as San Francisco Bureau Chief and Religion Writer/Editor. Her other roles include editor of the West County Times in Richmond, Calif., editorial writer for the Contra CostaTimes and online content developer for Yahoo and Redwood Age. She recently retired as marketing manager for the JSK Journalism Fellowships program at Stanford, where she continues to work as special projects coordinator.
Looking for more articles? View the Senior Beat Story Archive