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CLC Board of Directors Adopts Leadership Statement on DEIB

July 29, 2021 by Marie Jobling

The CLC Board of Directors approved a strong statement on our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Including and Belonging to guide the continuing efforts of our DEIB Task Force in implementing a focused list of recommendations. More information to follow, but we wanted to share the statement as soon as possible, included below.

DEIB Initiative Leadership Statement Adopted by the CLC Board of Directors July 27, 2021

Our Commitment

Diversity

We believe that developing a workplace and leadership structure that is representative and inclusive of race, ability, age, language, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion is critical to accomplishing our organizational mission and addressing the injurious effects of systemic power and privilege. We believe that when we better reflect the communities we serve, our ability to identify and understand the needs of those communities grows, and our work has a greater impact.

Equity

We strive to empower those who experience systemic and historic oppression by building workplace norms and practices that aim to treat everyone equitably by encouraging everyone to contribute their ideas, perspectives, and opinions, paying particular attention to how privilege has historically been given, and how that history provides advantage to some groups and individuals over others.

Inclusion

We acknowledge that social identities impact the way people communicate, whose opinions are respected, and who struggles with misconceptions, judgments, or preconceived notions. We work to foster a welcoming and collaborative environment where those who may otherwise be silenced are included and respected, so that they can bring their best skills and talent to their work, feel fulfilled and feel unified as a team, knowing that together, we have more impact.

Belonging

We are committed to fostering an open and trusting workplace culture, where biases and stereotypes are discussed and challenged using shared norms and language and everyone feels clearly aligned with CLC’s values, mission, and commitment to equity, fairness, and racial justice.

Resilience is Buoyancy and Showing Up, Nicky Says

May 25, 2021 by Deborah Finestone

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.

Resilience Takes Confidence and Adaptability, Laura Says

May 14, 2021 by Deborah Finestone

It’s worth taking a moment to celebrate just how resilient we’ve been in the last year. This is a key quality at healthy aging and thriving in life, and we’ve all been tested by COVID-19.

As May is Older Americans Month, we’re spotlighting a couple of our staff members who have done a great job of demonstrating strength and resilience and what that means.

“For me, resilience means having inner confidence and a belief in myself,” said Laura Atkins, our METCC Community Connector. “It means being able to adapt to changing circumstances, knowing where to find resources and being willing to ask for help and offer help.”

There are plenty of ways we’ve seen that play out since the pandemic made us all shelter in place. The business community adapted by offering more take-out and delivery services, she noted. Some restaurants even offering drinks to go!

Getting on Zoom

All the participants in Community Living Campaign’s activities on Zoom also deserve applause. They embraced the often awkward and unfamiliar experience of trying a new way to be part of exercise classes, musical performances and art programs.

Indeed, that exercise is part of what Laura says has helped her feel strong through this period.

“Keeping to a healthy lifestyle as much as possible — eating well, exercising and spending time with friends and family — is a big part of how I continue to feel strong and resilient,” she said.

“I’ve also been pushing myself physically by walking up the hills and stairs of Bernal Hill and meeting with friends outside to swim at Aquatic Park. That helps support my mental strength as well and keeping a positive mindset.”

Laura also helps others stay connected to each other by co-hosting an ongoing program we named — appropriately — Community Tales!

Calling & Writing Cards

Beyond CLC, she helps support others to feel strong and resilient by calling and writing cards and then listening. We all need to feel heard.

A fun tradition she’s formed is having Zoom dinners with friends.

“One of my best friends and I turn on Zoom while cooking, talk and then sit down to share the same dinner we each made separately.”

Throughout it all, she’s actually been able to reconnect with some old friends and has seen those friendships get stronger.

“I’ve also been able to build connections with new friends, particularly in the CLC neighborhood,” Laura said. “My walking area has grown as well. I now walk (masked) with a new friend in the METCC neighborhood. Big hills and walking friends are found all over San Francisco.”

Read another profile of our Community Connector Nicky Trasvina.

Wishing Patti Spaniak-Davidson Well on Her Next Adventure

March 30, 2021 by Deborah Finestone

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.

Beautiful Neighborhood Project Brightens Cayuga

January 28, 2021 by Deborah Finestone

One of the beautiful aspects of the pandemic has been seeing people’s creativity come out. In finding solutions and new ways to do things. Creativity in art and using our personal abilities to help others get through in so many small ways.

Community Living Campaign has continued beautifying neighborhoods while keeping everyone involved safe and healthy. One of those projects has been brightening up the stairway in Cayuga that extends Naglee Street.

Many neighbors have, over time, painted fun designs on the risers and most recently installed mosaics.

“During shelter in place, working on the stairway mosaic has been a bright light during dark times and an emblem of our resilience,” said Chris Dillon, a longtime neighborhood resident and president of the Cayuga Improvement Association.

It’s been quite the transformation from an unsightly, unsafe-feeling stairway , said Patti Spaniak, our Community Connector for the neighborhood. Older adults avoided using it even though it’s a great shortcut to Pacific Super.

Working closely with the Cayuga Improvement Association, we secured grants from Excelsior Collaborative Community Grants to paint a few murals. We got local seniors’ input on all the themes and installations. We scheduled community cleaning, hand-rail painting and weeding projects, often with the help of San Francisco Public Works. The Supervisor’s office also supported the project.

Seniors also painted the 30-stair risers, including some with scenes from Sponge Bob and Nemo that children like to try to find.

More recently, the artist of the Kenney Alley project nearby, Kim Jensen, completed the mosaic project. The designs also reflect Demi Braceros, the artist who carved many statues in Cayuga Playground.

What’s more, other similar neighborhood art projects are being considered.

Postal Workers Deserve, And Get, Our Thanks

December 29, 2020 by Marie Jobling

Community Connectors show their appreciation for Postal Workers, who this year had to battle heat and smoke, bad air, a blizzard of political mail and ballots, and of course COVID 19 to bring the mail to our doorsteps. Please take a minute to thank the mail carrier who keeps those cards, letters and packages coming.

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Good Neighbor Awards Celebration (Virtual)

October 27, 2020 by Cathy DeLuca

Join us for an evening of fun and connection as we celebrate this year’s Good Neighbor Award winners and five months of Good Neighbor activities. This year’s neighbors have delivered groceries, spread cheer, kept people connected during shelter-in-place, and much more to help build more joyous, caring, and resilient communities.

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll-free) or 669-900-6833 (local). Enter Meeting ID: 859 4154 3946, then press # twice.

To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/85941543946 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

How to Give a Great Interview by Telling Your Story (Virtual)

June 24, 2020 by Teresa Garcia

Giving a great interview is as easy as telling your own story, with the use of behavioral interview techniques! In this talk, you’ll learn how to share your past accomplishments in a way that helps an interviewer envision how your skills and experience would contribute to their organization. Join John Edmiston, Manager of Applicants and ReServists, and Jamie Goddard, Director of SF ReServe, to learn how to make a memorable impression when interviewing.

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local).
Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.

To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

Cayuga Community Celebrates the Holiday in Style

December 7, 2019 by Marie Jobling

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!

[Show slideshow]

Good Neighbors Gather To Celebrate and To Honor

July 2, 2019 by Marie Jobling

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: