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.The Community Living Campaign is submitting a proposal to Supervisor Myrna Melgar and the Participatory Budget Process in Supervisor District 7. The goal is to improve safe and accessible transportation options for older adults and adults with disabilities in our District 7 Community Connector neighborhoods and beyond. Those networks got started as a partnership between CLC and neighborhood leaders and garnered the support of Supervisor Norman Yee. CLC has been able to continue and stabilize the funding for these networks since the initial start-up funds through the Participatory Budget process and since Supervisor Yee initiated add backs in the City Budget process.
With the pandemic and increasing challenges related to transportation, especially for those on the Southwest part of the City, we are looking to expand our transportation efforts in a focused effort to bring more transportation resource to these networks. Knowing how challenging transportation can be for seniors and adults with disabilities, Community Living Campaign launched a Transportation Support program in January of 2020. The goal of our program remains connecting neighborhood residents with free and low-cost transportation options, as well as empower residents to navigate the transportation system and advocate for the services they need. We have started to provide services to residents of District 7:
CLC has enjoyed consistent support for the work of our community connector networks and believe this project will strengthen what already exists, as described below by leaders in our Community Connector networks.
Anytime a neighborhood strengthens relationships with older adults, it’s a stronger community. Our connector program mattered greatly during the pandemic. So many of our seniors felt isolated —several live alone and depended on the Connector program for updates and information; it provided events, like walking and waving, which gave them something to look forward to. On one of our walks, we visited the Fire House (285 Olympia Way) to thank them for being there for us. I had my 9 year-old grand-daughter with me, and the fire fighters let her try on a fire hat and let us take as many photos we wanted. They were so glad to meet people in the neighborhood, we created a bond.
Merced Extension Triangle – Marc Christensen, President of METNA
I fully endorse and encourage connector programs across the district; as District 7 works to strengthen our neighborhood resilience program a connector program would loop in our senior population (like Sunnyside, Midtown Terrace and Miraloma Park). In this last pandemic year, METNA had more knowledge and relationships with our seniors because of the Connector program allowing us to help with food security and distribution of PPE and sharing important information and updates.
Sunnyside Community Connectors, Alice Guidry, Community Advocate
The CLC Community Connector Program is successful in the Sunnyside community. We have been able to better synchronize our Sunnyside Neighborhood Association (SNA) with our seniors. For example, when the Sunnyside Community Connectors were planning a Fair Safety and Emergency Preparedness Fair with SF FD (and other safety organizations) — they promoted to our entire community via the SNA newsletter and flyers. Using SF FD demo, our seniors learned how to operate a fire extinguisher—we were so grateful, as they feared having to use it. This is important safety fair brought our community together.
Darlene Ramlose, Miraloma Park
Community Connectors of Miraloma Park and MPIC (Miraloma Park Improvement Club) joined forces to advise Supervisor Melgar and the SMFTA of the importance of providing service of the 36/52 bus line in order to serve the entire community of those who travel to work or play using this bus line, especially our seniors who rallied to support the request as many of them use the 36/52 on a regular basis to get around the City.
CLC Connector’s program has given me great support. I never feel alone because I know they’re there. All I have to do is make a phone call, and they’re willing to help out in anyway they can. I have benefited from their resources. Making sure I have meals and fresh vegetables and fruits. They send little cards on special days. They let you know we’re loved and not forgotten. First time in my life I feel I have connections, and what a comfort that is. Making friends with other folks the same as me. Keeping us informed. What a relief that was during and still is concerning Covid-19. They have a lot of different programs to get involved with. I have especially benefited from their writing classes, and exercise classes. I’ve gotten much from special speakers, such as on Hypertension, diabetes, and other subjects.
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!
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!
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.
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.
Books transport us to another world — another time or locale, real or imagined.
And reading keeps minds sharp and help young minds get stronger.
Jim and Kathryn Rato
So what better way to build community, provide some escape while sheltering in place, and entertain and teach than sharing books?
Those are the goals behind the growing number of little libraries that Community Living Campaign has helped neighbors put up in their front yards around San Francisco. There are now 14 of these little libraries, where people can borrow books for free or donate books they no longer need — new or used — for others to enjoy.
Glenda Hope, in Cayuga, first read about the idea online and then began noticing them here and there but not in her neighborhood.
“I thought it would be a great way both to share books but also to disseminate information about Cayuga Community Connectors,” she said. It’s proven to be both on her street, which sees a lot of foot traffic near the BART station.
One of our Community Connectors, Patti Spaniak, asked some other neighbors if they’d like to host a little library in front of their homes, and CLC and the San Francisco Public Library provided the libraries. Then, we bought art kits from Etsy and made it a neighborhood project to decorate the boxes before installing them.
Kiki DeKat and Tyler Davidson
For the box in front of Spaniak’s house, installed in 2018, they hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It included a community reading of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities.
“It was so much fun for all of us!” she said. “We had children and older adults. We also read some funny pieces and kids read from children’s books.”
As the number of little libraries grew, the donations poured in by the boxful. Our participants also picked up books from the library. Donations are not only in English but also in Chinese, Tagalog and other languages.
“We received such wonderful donations, including current best sellers and books in mint condition,” Spaniak said.
Besides swapping books, the libraries have proven to bring joy to those who witness visitors. A few senior neighbors near the little libraries said they love looking out the window and seeing the action. They like seeing someone timidly looking at what books are available or dropping off new choices for others to enjoy.
Besides books, some people leave flyers about other activities or news in the neighborhood, Hope said. She even found some “thank you for this library” notes left in the box.
One said, “I have so enjoyed seeing what treasures I might find in this little library. I am moving away and will miss those finds. Maybe I will be able to put up my own box. Thank you for doing this.”
Thank you to everyone who installed little libraries in front of their homes for the neighborhood to enjoy:
Bob CappaCommunity 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.
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!
The most recent San Francisco Food Security Report found that one of every three San Franciscans is food insecure. If you are food insecure, you sometimes run out money before you can buy the nutritious food you and your family need. This makes for hard choices between food and other necessities. San Francisco’s high cost of living is pushing more and more people on fixed incomes into food insecurity.
CLC has weekly grocery delivery programs that brings nutritious food to seniors and adults with disabilities in the Bayview, OMI and other southern neighborhoods. Once a year, we are proud to help organize a special delivery of turkeys and fixings to 1550 household. It comes with happy greetings from their neighbors. This is possible, first and foremost, with generous support from Glide Memorial, the S.F. Department of Public Health, and A. Phillip Randolph Institute.
In the OMI, CLC Community Connector Deb Glen and her team along with Patty Clement-Cihak help organized distribution in the OMI and Cayuga. In the Bayview, Veronica Shepard and her colleagues in the SF Department of Health, CLC Grocery Delivery Coordinators Chester Williams and Vernice Ross and members of HPUNITI for helping bring this special holiday gift to those in need. Chester is also a member of the San Francisco Food Security Task Force, co-chaired by Paula Jones, DPH Director of Food Security. This Task Force works to address food inequities by helping to strengthen the food safety net and expand access to food programs. Take a look at their most recent report here.
Take a few minutes to see the hard work of the people and organizations who are tackling food insecurity during the holidays and all year long.
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…
