Blog archive
September 2023
Various Perspectives on Racism
09/16/2023
Rumor of Humor # 23
09/14/2023
A DIfferent Perspective
09/10/2023
Racism I Have Experienced
09/05/2023
1619 " Rump" Session
09/04/2023
August 2023
1619 Project Discussion Group explores the Arroyo Seco
08/28/2023
Beyond the Village - Judith Harris
08/28/2023
Board of Directors: Strategic Planning Updates
08/28/2023
Men's Time Brunch
08/28/2023
One Village, One Book
08/28/2023
Pasadena Racism, Past and Present
08/28/2023
Profile of a Leader: Ron Stoffers
08/28/2023
Remember John and Thelma Orr
08/28/2023
Volunteer & Leadership Training
08/28/2023
Gardenias
08/21/2023
Current Events Including the RICO Indictment of Mr. Trump
08/19/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
RofH#22
08/06/2023
July 2023
Arroyo Seco Development, Past and Present
07/24/2023
From the President
07/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #20
07/23/2023
VMC Conference 2023
07/21/2023
Strategic Plan Progress: Program Teams
07/17/2023
From the Executive Director
07/14/2023
Reflections from Villager Monica Hubbard
07/14/2023
SCOTUS: Rulings on Cases with No Standing
07/10/2023
History and Future Development of Arroyo Seco
07/09/2023
What I Like About Being a Villager
07/09/2023
June 2023
Dick and Sharon, Mixed Race Marriage
06/19/2023
Conversations with West African Art
06/09/2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
By Susan KujawaPosted: 06/02/2023
Dr. Kate Kurtin is a professor in the Communication Studies department at California State University Los Angeles and an advisor for the student run marketing agency, ZenX-LA. She is invested in the career potential of her students. Before receiving a PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Connecticut, Dr. Kurtin earned her Master’s degree in Advertising from Boston University. Boston U has a 100% job placement rate for their graduates. As Dr. Kurtin explains, “When I came to Cal State LA, I made a promise to our students to work toward that 100% job placement rate. The key to that for me is real-world experience and opportunities for portfolio building.”
At Cal State LA the majority of the students are persons of color. Many of them receive financial aid; some hold down jobs while working toward their degree. The students are dedicated to getting the job of their dreams via the Cal State program. It is Dr. Kurtin’s vision to give them real life opportunities to develop their skills and build their portfolios.
Pasadena Village's Executive Director, Katie Brandon, learned about Dr. Kurtin’s portfolio building project and saw an opportunity to get some much needed marketing assistance. When Dr. Kurtin shared about the pro bono portfolio, Katie saw an opportunity to provide multi-generational interactions between our members and the students.
After meeting with a group of Village members, it was decided that the students should focus on the Village's need for volunteer drivers. Some Pasadena Village members no longer drive and rely on volunteers to take them to medical appointments, shopping, etc. Many Village members volunteer to drive other members, but as we age, we see the need for younger drivers. The question is – how do we attract these younger drivers to the Village?
The students were able to choose from the pool of organizational applicants and four ranked Pasadena Village’s project as their priority. Milagritos (Mila) Godina, Jocelyn Gomez, Emmily Mendoza, and Samantha (Sam) Castellanos were matched with Pasadena Village. Mila was assigned as the Account Manager, and she initially met with Katie and Priyanka Kumar, Pasadena Village’s Member Services and Volunteer Coordinator. From February through May, the students met monthly to delve into Pasadena Village’s current marketing, research competition, create a SWOT analysis, social media plan, and printed flyers to distribute in the community.
They also visited Pasadena Village and enjoyed table tennis with the Ping Pong Pals. They learned how some members of the Village depend on volunteers for some of their driving needs. All four of the students even volunteered at the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch!
The students' campaign focused on recruiting drivers from two audiences. The first audience consisted of people between the ages of 40 to 70 or older. The second audience consisted of those between 20 and 40 years old. The students used information from their research as a guide to create eye-catching flyers that attracted both target audiences. They created handouts and posts that showcased the Village's mission and highlighted the need for volunteer drivers. Explained, Mila, “Although our ultimate goal is to gain volunteer drivers, we kept in mind spreading the Village's mission.”
At the end of the project the students presented a final campaign portfolio complete with research, background information, creative samples of flyers, marketing materials, cost estimates, and timelines. Stay tuned to see Pasadena Village implement their marketing plan and attract more volunteer drivers. If you are interested in learning more about our Transportation program, please contact Priyanka Kumar at priyanka@pasadenavillage.org.
The Village owes a debt of gratitude to Cal State LA and the dedicated students of their marketing consulting project.