Blog archive
April 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
Cheers to our Volunteers!
By Blog MasterPosted: 04/01/2021
Pasadena Village relies on volunteers to build community, fulfill member requests for rides and other support, for office and tech help, to create and run all of our programming, and a myriad of other ways of furthering our mission. Knowing that the 2021 Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 18-24) would again be without the joyous and delicious gathering at the local favorite restaurant Mijares, the Village forged a new partnership to show our appreciation in another way.
Gabriel Vazquez from the Institute for Redesign of Learning was looking for ways their clients can give back to the community when he and Katie Brandon met on Zoom at a Pasadena Chamber of Commerce event earlier this year. The Institute for the Redesign of Learning (IRL) provides programs for individuals with special needs, ages infants through adults, through the greater Los Angeles including here in Pasadena.
This mutually beneficial partnership turned into a creative endeavor for adults in IRL’s programs who are on the autism spectrum or who have Down's syndrome. Gabriel told the Village how much these individuals miss social connections and how they find joy in art projects. One of IRL's clients is Francisco who has been a part of the Almansor Transition Program for many years which has surely enriched his life. The IRL staff works with him on independent life skills and ways to be a part of his community. They shared, "Francisco is mainly non-verbal but if you know him well as we do, you will be able to communicate with him," and that he has been recognized for his hard work and ability to follow directions. The IRL staff was grateful for this creative project for Francisco. They shared that, "Artistic freedom allows Francisco to totally be himself. His art frequently displays bright vibrant colors with no rhyme or reason." We hope the cards he made will convey his larger than life smile and personality.
Two months after the Chamber event, Gabriel hand-delivered over 100 colorfully decorated thank you notes to the Village office to be sent to Pasadena Village volunteers and supporters. They have traveled from the Institute for Redesign of Learning campuses, to the homes of their clients, to the Village’s offices, and finally will arrive in our volunteer’s homes in the coming weeks. The Volunteer Coordinating Committee hopes our amazing volunteers know how appreciated they are and that these little cards will spread joy and make our community feel even closer during these times when we continue to be physically separated.