Executive Director Gaines describes the formation of the Ashby Village at Davis Senior Center, March 25, 2014

Building the Community of Villages in CA

SevenPonds Interviews Executive Director

Ashby Village recently launched an initiative to expand its presence on Facebook. In just five months, the social media team garnered over 250 supporters or "likes" for its page! The Ashby Village Facebook page regularly posts articles and media links that are relevant to active aging. Past posts have brought to light some of the social and cultural trends among older demographics, resources for LGBT seniors, recent changes in Medicare, and community innovations that support independent living among older adults. On occasion, Ashby Village will also make announcements about community-wide events open to all members and volunteers. If you are on Facebook take a look at our Ashby Village Facebook page, and please LIKE US! 

Board/PLT Retreat Highlights

The long-discussed Ashby Village Board Retreat was held on February 1st.  Members of the Board, the Program Leadership Team and staff attended. Facilitated by Mariana Moore, the group's focus was to look at the role of the board, its current structure and priorities. As an organization like Ashby Village matures, the board is shifting its focus from start-up and "hands on" to governance. In our case, the completion of both the business and marketing plans pointed to taking this next step in board development. It's exciting to come to this stage and to reflect on our organizational growth and maturity.

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BERKELEY BOARD FELLOWS: Brandi Howard and Casey Lord

By Mary Graham

Casey Lord and Brandi Howard, our two Berkeley Board Fellows, may have very different backgrounds, but they share a passion for working with nonprofits. Casey was born in England and has a degree in Mathematics from York University. She spent years working in and directing nonprofits in India and Great Britain, particularly with the "financials" and governance of organizations, before being accepted into the MBA program at the Haas School of Business. Casey's future plans include exploring how using mobile phones to make payments might help lift people out of poverty in developing countries. Brandi is the mother of four. She was born in the Bay Area and spent many years as a Doula (Birthing Coach).  Brandi went to Merritt College and U.C. Berkeley, graduating with a degree in African American studies with an emphasis on Women's Health. She is interested in the organizational development of nonprofits, especially in Maternal and Child Health, and is studying for a Master's degree in the School of Social Welfare on the Planning and Management Track. Brandi is Chair of the Maternal and Child Health Subcommittee for Alameda County's Public Health Commission.

Casey Lord and Brandi Howard

These talented young women came to the Village through the U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership Program. The Village applied for help in moving from a working board to a more formal governance structure, and Brandi and Casey were matched as intern volunteers. Casey says, "On an individual basis, Ashby Village Board members create an amazing atmosphere. Together, the Board creates an air of momentum facing really important challenges." The interns sit on the Board as nonvoting members. Brandi says, "I caught the Ashby Village bug!" Both agree that a healthy organization starts with a working board and then moves to a more formal governance structure that focuses on strategic and big picture issues. Casey says, "As part of this transition, Ashby Village will recruit more Board members." As both the Board and the Village grow, Brandi and Casey emphasize that a top priority is maintaining passion for the mission of the Village, which is embodied in the collaborative, supportive, deeply respectful atmosphere they experience on the Board. They look forward to seeing more new leaders step forward to help with this exciting transition.

It was so great meeting you and attending the party for Ashby Village members and staff last month! I can't say enough about how wonderful Ashby Village has been for my Mom. She seems to really feel connected to a community that has some meaning for her--it gives real, significant support both directly through the terrific volunteers and through the very existence of the program.

Submitted by Member Betsy's daughter, Alyssa

Once again I have to give a cheer for our volunteers. First there was wonderful Priscilla, who hemmed some clothes. Priscilla did a wonderful job, and the best part was we've discovered that we both sing in the new BCCO Women's Chorus, in the same section. Then yesterday Mark came and like a magician fixed the leak in our tub faucet, which had suddenly begun to drip gallons of water (which we saved in pails) in a day----very disturbing in these drought times. This morning, there wasn't a single drop. It's wonderful to have a community of people offering their skills to each other as well as learning and having fun together. In the process we realize that we're all neighbors.

Submitted by Member Kathy

Volunteer Michael met with us at the Berkeley Historical Society on Saturday. He saw the exhibit, and we talked at length about how to reproduce it on our website. He is so skilled and knowledgeable and knew exactly what the project is about and how to set it up. We are so grateful and excited that all this historic material that took years to research and put into a public exhibit will become available for viewing and searches for the future. Thanks for your help connecting us with Michael through Ashby Village. 

Submitted by Member Anna

Shadi (like all other volunteers) is so filled with good spirit and unbounded generosity, and we are all so lucky to have her at Ashby Village.
Submitted by Member Sue

I didn't originally join Ashby Village for the activities - I have more than enough activities to do and also I'm still working. But I've found that I've enjoyed the Ashby Village events so much, and especially enjoyed the people so much, that now I go out of my way to participate in activities whenever I can.

Submitted by Member Celeste

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MedPals - Medical note takers who help patients keep the information straight

USA Today, Susan Jaffe (Kaiser Health News)

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Volunteer support given to members in the last quarter

Our caring, talented and enthusiastic service volunteers have answered a variety of member calls for assistance and service requests including:

• Teaching how to navigate Facebook
• Creating a reproduction of an exhibit on website
• Giving a ride to the theater
• Lifting and replanting a 7' rubber tree
• Walking a 90 lb. dog
• Organizing and assessing the value of a coin collection
• Playing Scrabble

Organizational volunteers needed to support Ashby Village's vision and mission include:

• Answering office phones
• Serving as committee and team members
• Conducting surveys
• Writing and editing
• Setting up and taking down for events
• Project assistant to the Executive Director
• Outreach ambassadors
• Member support team participants
• Newsletter Editor
• Grant writer

Volunteers are needed in so many ways! Please consider joining us to provide your valued and needed support to our members, our organization and the larger community.

It Takes a Village: Seniors Thrive While Living at Home

Mary-Carroll Potter, 78, raised four children in Hollin Hills, near Mount Vernon, but they are spread out across the world, from Portland, Ore., to Cape Town, South Africa. Although she's been invited to move closer to them, she prefers to remain in the neighborhood that has been her home for 50 years, even if it means continuing to live alone. Thanks to a phenomenon that has swept through the Washington area at an astonishing rate in recent years, she's been able to do so. Potter is a member of Mount Vernon at Home, a "senior village" that coordinates volunteers to provide older residents with services that help them live independently. Read the article here.

Aljazeera America

Ann Pliska lives in a cabin built by her father in the mountains of New Hampshire. But she can hardly keep the wood-burning stove fed, or the snow shoveled. "It's been tough getting older because things start happening," said the 63-year-old, who broke her collarbone five years ago. "I felt myself not able to do everything I used to be able to do." Pliska isn't sick or disabled; she's simply aging. And the winters here show no mercy to the elderly. For Pliska, simple tasks like keeping the pipes from freezing are overwhelming. Watch the video on Monadnock at Home which serves seven different towns surrounding Mount Monadnock in western New Hampshire here.

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Program Leadership Team Chairs