February 2026

January 2026

Mary Mejia is Here to Make a Difference

Pasadena Village has a history of offering internships to college students who assist with supporting Villagers in various ways, such as programming, marketing and outreach. We are fortunate to attract students who recognize the value of engaging with older adults, and most feel they experience a new appreciation and understanding for aging with positivity through community.

This Spring semester, we are happy to welcome Mary Mejia, a bilingual (English/Spanish) student at Pasadena City College studying Psychology. She has served as Math Intervention Specialist at Alma Fuerte Public School in Pasadena. Through mentorship, tutoring, and applied socialization skills, she has also assisted college students with developmental disabilities to become independent. Her role with Pasadena Village will include office support, program planning, marketing and outreach in the community.

Born and raised in Pasadena, Mary has enjoyed watching the city expand and welcome greater diversity. Mary commented, “I’ve always wanted to work with a nonprofit organization. Pasadena Village not only checks that box, but it is also a community-oriented organization. Any organization that fosters community values is exciting to me. To be amidst the Village is thrilling because I get to witness how individuals come together to support one another and to thrive by any means necessary.”

Executive Director Katie Brandon has worked with several interns during her 5 years with Pasadena Village and is excited about working with Mary. “We are thrilled to welcome Mary to our team. She has enthusiastically embraced her role in welcoming Villagers and guests with her friendly, positive demeanor. Her interest in working with older adults and willingness to learn and support various programs has already been an asset in the few short weeks since she joined Pasadena Village as our newest intern.”

Mary’s life isn’t all work and no play. She loves the freedom of expression she finds through dance, especially modern and hip hop dance. “I find the most joy when I am ‘housing,’ a sub-genre of hip hop. House dance is characterized by highly energetic and fluid movement, quick footwork, and its overall groovy style. And I love K-Pop music because it’s so fast and catchy for freeform dancing.” She credits Michael Pollan’s book, In Defense of Food, for playing a key role in her decision to be vegetarian.

With more than 90 applications for the internship, the final decision to choose Mary will undoubtedly turn out to be a wonderful boon for the Village. Lorrie Gray, a Village Board Director and participant in interviewing candidates said, “Mary has expressed an intention to pursue a career in social work. Her interest in this field will align well with the  mission of the Village.”

Over the next few months, we will have the opportunity to learn from Mary as Mary learns from us, making her time at Pasadena Village meaningful and productive.