Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.
The sixth annual Good Neighbor Award Event brought us together to celebrate the kindness and good work of some special neighbors. If you missed the event or just want to relive, you can view the video of Good Neighbor Summer activities , meet the first round of honorees and the second round of honorees. Or gosh, just sit back and view the event in it entirety.
It has been a good summer so far and we are delighted each time we see old friends and new acquaintances in person. We have been walking, excercising, practicing yoga, doing improv, celebrating birthdays, visiting friends in hospitals and assisted living, honoring those that have passed, standing strong for justice and so much more.
Here a some snapshots of summer activities from August
And from July – stay tuned more to come.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.
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/.
The development of the California Masterplan on Aging is an important step for California. As part of the development , the California Department of 
Aging is hosting a series of Webinars toward greater cultural awareness and humility. Sessions are free and available on regularly, with sessions recorded in case you miss one. Over the next several months, CDA will host an Ensuring Equity in Aging webinar every first Wednesday, from 10-11am. Presentations will cover a range of topics including the value of cultural traditions and harnessing community strengths and assets. They will also detail how historic and systemic discrimination and internal biases harm the wellbeing of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ, disabled older adults, and in different ways, all Californians. Speakers address how we can work together to address the resulting inequities through culturally responsive policy, program, and service planning and delivery.
Upcoming Programs:
If you missed the first few, you can still join in with these recorded sessions.
This and other important information is posted on CDA’s Equity in Aging Resource Center.
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!
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:
See these and other “good neighbors” in the photo album below.
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.
Current and former staff and board gathered for a fun Halloween party. The office was transformed with an incredible collection of decorations from Marie, Peter and Kate, all fans of this special holiday. Enjoy figuring out who’s who with some great costumes.
Gifts from the Neighborhoods: Baskets created by each program and neighborhood were among the prizes for this year’s Good Neighbors.
Neighbors throughout San Francisco are at the heart of creating community. In every CLC program, there are many people who share their time and talents to improve lives of fellow seniors and people with disabilities. These dedicated neighbors who share their lifetime of experience and talents demonstrate just how much better we can make our communities when we create opportunities for everyone to contribute.
Each year, CLC hosts a citywide “Good Neighbor” party to thank these neighborhood volunteers for their countless contributions and to honor those in their midst who inspire others in CLC’s neighborhoods and programs.
The afternoon included great food from Mission Language and Vocational School, appetizers from our own Lizette Martinez, and homemade strawberry shortcake from our own Kate Kuckro. Folks also enjoyed a CLC Trivia game, a free prize drawing of themed basics from the different neighborhoods and projects, and fun photos. As one neighbor said, “we come from the north and the south, the east and the west and we join together to learn from one another.”
This year’s Good Neighbor honorees – all seniors or people with disabilities themselves – have contributed in a wide range of ways. But across the board, all are quick to offer help in whatever ways they can. The Honorees help with computers, offer rides, share garden cuttings, host gatherings around the piano, organize neighbors, pack groceries, offer hearing screenings, and reach out to local businesses.
This year’s Good Neighbor Awards go to…
A Reservoir of Talent: Good Neighbor Honorees share their time and skills to improve their communities.
These special neighbors will be honored again at CLC’s 10 year anniversary event on September 20th.
