Blog archive
April 2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
By Blog MasterPosted: 06/29/2021
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear members of Pasadena Village,
Each year at Pasadena Village’s Annual Meeting, we have time as an organization to reflect on the successes and challenges of the year, and offer gratitude to all those who have volunteered, led, and contributed to the Village’s progress.
Pasadena Village does not operate in a vacuum - pandemic notwithstanding! Our members are all active in many areas of the greater community, and Pasadena Village relies on partnerships with a wide range of community partners to provide educational programming. Pasadena Village operates, not only on membership fees, but on the generosity of local businesses, foundations, and individuals - both members, and nonmembers - who support our mission.
As Mayor Gordo shared at our Annual Meeting on June 24, the City of Pasadena is reopening as COVID-19 case rates and pandemic deaths continue to decline. Our city has the highest vaccination rate in the state and it is a time of hope for our larger community and the Village. .As a community of older adults, Pasadena Village is a key part of the fabric of the greater Pasadena area.
As we look back on the past year, it is a poignant time to first remember those who have passed, those who have persevered, and those who have been there for us throughout this difficult time - both in our community and throughout the entire world. It is also a time to reflect on our values, individually, and as a Village.
We value the support we give each other through Zoom, via phone, email, snail mail, and visits. We rely on each other as fellow volunteers. We value the community we all work hard to continue to build. We value learning from different perspectives. Our Neighborhood gatherings and Affinity Groups have helped us stay connected, albeit on Zoom. We have continued lifelong learning through informative programming provided by Educational Programs, Inclusivity, Cultural Activities, Social Connections, VIPs and others. Birthday Celebrations, Holiday Boutique, Member Connections, and bringing meals to each other are Pasadena Village traditions we have carried on despite the circumstances.
We learn together and we enjoy being together. Our ethos as an organization is about planning for the challenges and opportunities of aging. In the same way, we are going to spend these months ahead as a time to plan, and a time to transition to our next period of growth. We are going to, together, test new ways of reaching potential new members, get out of our comfort zone, personally, as well as an organization, so we can grow intentionally and with purpose.
To that end I would like to announce a new Pasadena Village Outreach team. As in-person events start to be planned again, we want to have a Village presence in our community. The Outreach team will staff a Village table or booth at festivals and fairs such as the Wiggle Waggle Walk organized by Pasadena Humane Society or the San Marino Car Classic in Lacey Park. We are looking for Village members to join the Outreach team. If you are willing to represent the Village at events such as these, please let me know that you are interested.
In addition, at the Annual Meeting, we announced there will now be two versions of "Meet Me at the Village." This gathering is a key way that Pasadena Village builds community and welcomes potential new members. We will continue to have a Zoom edition of "Meet Me at the Village" on the fourth Friday of the month, and, starting in July, will add a second, in person edition on the third Thursday of the month at 10 am at the Village office. We invite you to join us at either version, and we look to each of our members to consider someone you know who might want to learn more about the Village. Please invite them to attend with you in the coming months.
Zoom will continue to be part of the Village offerings, and our Reopening task force is working to have a viable hybrid meeting format worked out to accommodate both those who prefer to join us in person at the Village office and those who prefer to join gatherings from the comfort of their home. Those who organize Neighborhood gatherings, affinity groups, and committees will have several options at their disposal now that the village office is again open for in person meetings and events.
At the Annual Meeting, we had time in breakout rooms for you to gather with fellow members and volunteers to discuss your hopes looking forward, for yourself and the Village. Please let me know if we can help continue the conversations you started and implement any new ideas that will help us build community.
I’d like to again thank those involved in planning and executing the 2021 Annual Meeting:
Mike Babcock
Pat Dawe
Fritzie Culick
Dave Folz
Sue Kujawa
Paula Rao
Linda Simmons
Linda Stowitts
I am also grateful to all of our members, Board of Directors, volunteers, partners, and donors for making Pasadena Village such an amazing community and for your part in the success of the 2020/21 fiscal year.
Sincerely,
Katie Brandon