January 2026

President's Message: WHY the Village Works

One of the most remarkable things about Pasadena Village is that it works at all. A community like ours does not spring into being by accident; it is built by members willing to give of themselves, their time, their attention, and their creativity. It works because we choose to make it work.

The Village model rests on a simple but profound premise: aging in community is both more satisfying and more sustainable when the journey is shared. No single person can create that experience alone. It takes the accumulated contributions of many—each unique, each shaped by personal capacity and circumstance—to build the fabric of mutual support that defines Pasadena Village.

February and a Season of Reflection

Each February, the nation marks Black History Month—a time set aside to honor the contributions, resilience, and imagination of Black Americans. It is also a reminder that community is not merely a pleasant idea, but a practice that has been essential to survival, dignity, and progress throughout history.

Black History Month invites us to reflect on how people have built sustaining networks—churches, mutual aid societies, neighborhood associations, and cultural institutions—long before “Village” became a formal movement. These efforts flourished because individuals invested in one another, took responsibility for one another, and believed that strengthening the community strengthened the individual. In many ways, that same ethic animates Pasadena Village today.

How Members Contribute

Members contribute in many forms, each essential in its own way:

• Dues
  When someone joins the Village, they select a dues level. This is the only required fee, and it provides the financial foundation upon which everything else stands.
• Donating
  Many members choose to give beyond dues, supporting staffing, programs, and services that dues alone cannot cover. These gifts expand what is possible for the Village as a whole.
• Participation
  Simply showing up—attending a gathering, joining a discussion group, walking with others—strengthens the threads of connection. Participation is how community becomes real.
• Volunteering
  Some members volunteer to support fellow members: driving, helping with household tasks, assisting in the office, or lending a hand during events. These gestures create a culture of mutual care.
• Initiating New Groups
  Other members see an interest waiting to be shared and begin new activity or affinity groups. These member-led efforts nurture friendships, curiosity, and belonging.
• Serving on Teams and Committees
  Some take on the essential but less visible work of helping operate the Village. Committees and teams collaborate with staff under the leadership of the Executive Director to carry out organizational responsibilities.

A few members are invited to serve on the Board of Directors, where the work centers on long-term stewardship—ensuring that the Village remains healthy, sustainable, and well-positioned for the future.

Different Levels of Responsibility, One Shared Purpose

All contributions matter, although they are not all the same. Participation builds community. Volunteering supports individuals. Committees and teams sustain operations. The Board focuses on governance, oversight, financial health, and direction.

Black History Month again offers a useful lens: throughout history, meaningful change has required contributions at many levels—from grassroots mutual support to structural leadership. Each level plays its role; all are necessary.

Finding Your Pattern of Contribution

Every member’s pattern of participation evolves with time. Some engage socially, others assist through service, and others guide the organization’s path. There is no single correct way to give—only the commitment to give in a way that is meaningful and sustainable.

What makes the Village thrive is not that everyone does everything, but that enough of us do enough of what we can, together.

Why It Matters

Pasadena Village is not merely a service to be consumed; it is a community to be built. It exists because members choose to participate, to support one another, and to sustain an organization that helps those connections flourish.

The Village works because we make it work. And because we do, each of us benefits—in our own way, at our own pace, and in our own season of life.

With appreciation for all you do to make this community real,

Dick Myers

President