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.

community organizing

Meet our Director of Neighborhood Networks, Lauren

by

If you live in the Cayuga neighborhood, you may have already met Community Living Campaign’s Director of Neighborhood Networks, Lauren Bactad.

If not, you want to get to know her!

In the few months she’s been with us, Lauren said what’s surprised her most was how engaged and active our senior communities are.

“The outpouring of support between neighbors is heartwarming, as is the dedication felt from the staff,” she said.

For example, she needed a volunteer to help a community member and so many people were happy to raise their hand to help their neighbor.

“That’s what it’s all about — a core part of our mission — and that’s exactly what’s happening,” she added. “It’s such an exciting experience, to see that in action!”

Wanting Deeper Connections

Before joining our team, Lauren served at the YMCA of San Francisco. But when the pandemic hit, she — like many people — took the opportunity to reflect on her life. She realized that in her career, she wanted to help community members more directly, more hands-on. CLC was a great fit!

One of her favorite weekly responsibilities is delivering food from Project Open Hand to the Cayuga community.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight food insecurity during the pandemic but, it’s also a chance to connect with folks in the community,” Lauren said. “Each stop is filled with connection, stories, and seeing how people are doing. Building those relationships is so fulfilling.”

Part of Something Bigger

We all know CLC has lots of fun, light-hearted activities to allow participants to get to know others, build relationships, get some exercise and learn new things. Beyond that, Lauren appreciates that we also stand for important causes and support equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the City.

The recent Asian American Pacific Islander rally on the Great Highway stands out as a great example of that, she said.

“It was memorable to have experienced that important cause with team members,” Lauren said. “We’re all there to reach out to seniors and do good. Our team rallies together for great causes and supports each other endlessly.”

 

Want to see more of what our Community Connectors are up to? Join the CLC Facebook group here!

 

Resilience is Buoyancy and Showing Up, Nicky Says

by

Resiliency is buoyancy. It’s like those buoys you see off the coast, battered by powerful waves in storms, but they just don’t sink. They stay afloat. And they signal to others the line between safety and danger.

Resiliency is one of the qualities we’ve come to admire and appreciate so acutely in the last year. As May is Older Americans Month, we’re spotlighting a couple of Community Living Campaign staff members who have done a great job of demonstrating strength and resilience and what that means.

Nicky Trasvina, one of our Community Connectors, felt that some of the best examples of resiliency are the often unseen, underappreciated essential workers. They continued to step up and keep San Francisco running while most of us were able to shelter in place.

Leaders Feeding Neighbors

Another great example of resiliency are community leaders, like the handful in the Mission who provided food to about 3,000 families each week.

“This continues as an amazing, tremendous undertaking by local leaders in that community, including Roberto Hernandez, Valerie Tolier, Tracy Brown, Ray Ponce and others,” Nicky said. “They created the space and tapped all their resources to get hundreds of pounds of food donated each week. It was such an abundance of food that would have otherwise gone to waste.”

She’s grateful for the opportunity to play a part in the operation, picking up leftover food supplies from donors to be distributed by other volunteers.

Nicky also sought ways to help neighbors and friends in small ways, like bringing them things they needed.

Acting generously also relieved some of the feelings of helplessness so many of us felt. So she also gave financially to some organizations she cares about, following the old adage to “put your money where your mouth is!”

Strength in Prayer

And through it all, one of her primary sources of strength has been prayer.

“Depending on prayer gives me a lot of strength,” Nicky said. “And I think this helps others. I think people appreciate it when they know someone is praying for them. So when I say I’m going to pray for you, I just stop and say the prayer right then.”

She’s also found more connection by reaching out to old friends, neighbors and former students since she was a college adviser. And not just by phone and text.

“It’s not unusual to find me standing out in my front yard talking to people who go by,” Nicky said. “I feel it’s part of my role in getting our neighbors connected. And it’s fun! I’m like the stereotypical old lady looking out through her blinds watching everything, but people like it!”

 

Read another profile of our Community Connector Laura Atkins.

Here’s How You Can Help Seniors Age at Home with Dignity

by

Do you think San Francisco should spend more money on services to help older adults and adults with disabilities age at home?

We have an opportunity to encourage Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors to restore the annual funding for those services, through the Dignity Fund, in the upcoming budget.

Show your support by signing the letter we sent them by clicking here.

During the pandemic, the city suspended its annual $3 million budget allocation to the Dignity Fund. That was especially challenging for the people the fund helps: older adults and people with disabilities.

They’re the people most likely to have found themselves trapped in their homes and isolated. They’re more likely to be unable to access regular health care or transportation to medical appointments. We’ve seen increased food insecurity as well.

How You Can Help

But now, with state and federal funding, the city has the ability to restore funding for these services. Here’s the Dignity Fund Coalition  Sign-on Letter to Restore the Promise of the Dignity Fund. 

You can join the fight by co-signing the letter to the Mayor and the Supervisors here, showing you agree that funding should be restored.

Alternatively, call or email your district Supervisor and tell them you want them to restore the annual $3 million allocation to the Dignity Fund. Click here to find out how to reach your supervisor.

For more information, visit https://sfdignityfund.org/.

 

 

 

 

Wishing Patti Spaniak-Davidson Well on Her Next Adventure

by

The natural-born connector. The person who makes us smile every time we think of her. The person who takes and prints pictures of everyone like they are her family. A font of creativity and enthusiasm.

These were just some of the glowing tributes to Patti Spaniak-Davidson, our departing head of Community Connectors, before she and her husband, Tyler, moved to North Carolina.

“Do we owe it to your new neighbors to warn them their lives are going to grow and change?” Judy Goddess quipped.

Here’s more of what team members and neighbors had to say about Patti:

“Patti’s middle name should be ‘connector.’ She’s a master at connecting people and the services and programs they need. I am so grateful for her help in expanding the Always Active program to the Community Connector sites. I am also thankful that our connection became a special friendship. Keep on connecting, Patti!” —  Valorie Villela

“Patti, you have been such an inspiration to me! You are one of those rare people in the world that just exudes love and care and fun and friendship and all the good qualities of a human being! You encourage everyone to be creative, to be free, to express themselves, and you bring out the best in everyone around you. I shall miss you very, very much!”  — Juliet Rothman

“Patti has been the faithful angel who comes to my gate each week to deliver my Open Hand meals. She always brightens up my corner of Cayuga Avenue with her outfits that are as vividly colored as a 48-color crayon box.” — Paulann Sternberg

In addition, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors recognized her as a catalyst to connect neighbors and a determined advocate for older adults and people with disabilities. Lauren Chung, staff for Supervisor Ahsha Safai, presented her with an official proclamation declaring March 19 as Patti Spaniak-Davidson Day.

Her team of Community Connectors across the city and the rest of the staff at Community Living Campaign will miss Patti and wish her well on her journey!

Meet the rest of us by coming to some of our activities! You can find our calendar of events here.

Dignity Fund Mayoral Forum Highlights Key Issues

by

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.


[Show slideshow]

 

 

Speaking Out to Our Supervisors for Better Employment Opportunities

by

Urgency came through in the voices of those who spoke at the May 9  Board of Supervisors hearing on employment.  Seniors and adults with disabilities both spoke of the economic need in this increasingly expensive City.  But more than that, they shared how they were seeking respect,  purpose, and the ability to contribute their lifetime of experience to improve their communities.

Rebecca Shotwell, pictured left, shared that finding a job “saved her life.”  A graphic artist in the days before Photoshop, Rebecca retired two years before the 2008 financial crisis. Two years ago, after she and her husband had almost depleted their savings, Rebecca started looking for a job, “but who was going to hire an old lady?” Through CLC’s SF ReServe program. Rebecca began working at Aquatic Park Senior Center. They were so thrilled with her skills and contribution, that when a position opened up, they hired her directly.

Increasing Focus on Senior and Disability Employment Challenges

Supervisor Norman Yee, who called for the hearing following CLC’s recent Work Matters! event, recruited Supervisor Sheehy, Rohan, Fewer and Kim as co-sponsors.  

A presentation by SF City Departments introduced the set the stage for the testimony that followed, with data, program overviews and recommendations – linked here.

The hearing was broadcast on SFGov TV – if you missed, you can view the Employment Hearing there (the Employment Opportunities for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities section starts at 1:23).  Thanks to everyone who came and who spoke.  We are hopeful that this will lead to more scrutiny and more funding to address this pressing issue.  

Stay tuned!!

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a80
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a83
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a84
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a87
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a89
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a90
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a91
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a95
UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_10a98

[Show slideshow]

 

 

 

 

 

Housing, Food Security, and Reducing Isolation Are Priorities in Budget Advocacy

by

The Dignity Fund measure – Prop I –  laid a foundation for more dependable funding and planning, but it is just that, the foundation.  Now we must build support for a budget that more equitably addresses the needs and aspiration of old San Franciscans and those with disabilities.  This year’s May 16th Budget Rally was part of the building blocks for the future.  The Rally, co-sponsored by Senior & Disability Action (SDA), the Coalition of Agencies Serving the Elderly (CASE) and the Community Alliance of Disability Advocates (CADA), were joined by representatives of a number of organizations and neighborhood groups to highlight this year’s priorities.

Thanks to Supervisors Norman Yee, Hillary Ronen, Jeff Sheehy, and representative for Sandra Fewer for coming and showing their interest and support!  

See key priorities for the budget process here.  

Remember, the big annual budget hearing at City Hall is June 19, starting at 9:00 a.m. and running until all have spoken. 


[Show as slideshow]

Our Second ‘Good Neighbors’ Event Celebrates the Volunteers Who Power Our Work

by

Community Living Campaign held our second annual event to honor neighbors who volunteer their time to make a difference in their community.  The ARC was transformed on May 6 into a neighborhood block party, with lots of good food, conversation, fun photos, and even a few prizes. 
 
This year, we honored 10 stand-out neighbors who volunteer their time and passions to help make our communities safer, healthier places for all.  We thank you!
  1. Randolph James (Bayview Food Network)
  2. Delfina Pelayo (Cayuga Connectors)
  3. Henry Khalil (Computer Training & Access)
  4. Sara Taylor (Connections for Healthy Aging)
  5. Mark Cambell (Laguna Honda Computer Club)
  6. Saralyn Archie (OMI Food Network)
  7. Cathy Russo (Park Merced University Park Food Network)
  8. Janet Tom (St. Francis Square Community Living Committee)
  9. Tricia Cardillo (Goldsmith Vision & Hearing)
  10. Dignity Dog! (Organizing)

Hope you enjoy the pictures!


[Show as slideshow]

Dignity Fund Coalition Rallies Supporters

by

The Dignity Fund Coalition rallied its supporters on July 19th, the day that the Dignity Fund legislation was scheduled for its final vote at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.  A broad cross-section of senior, disability, veterans, HIV survivors,  those with other chronic conditions and their supporters gathered to hear their Supervisors and Coalition leaders speak to the importance of this legislation to build a foundation to address the needs of a growing number of seniors and adults with disabilities.  The pictures tell the story.  See one you like?  Right click and download.

Invalid Displayed Gallery