From the Desk of Charmaine Brent, Director of Programs & Services
Charmaine Brent, Ki’ev Harris, Monica Kirkland
As the Director of Programs & Services at Empowered Aging, I witness my team spend their days on the front lines, advocating for the rights and dignity of residents in long-term care facilities. The challenges they face are often complex and personal, but we know our impact can be multiplied when we work in concert with partners who have a shared vision. Their tireless work reminds me that while our impact is significant at the individual level, it becomes even more powerful when paired with partners who share our vision for systemic change.
That’s why it was a distinct pleasure to welcome Monica Kirkland, State Policy Director with the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County, to our office. Her visit was more than just a meet-and-greet; it was an opportunity to connect our on-the-ground work with the broader state policy and advocacy landscape. Monica and I are no strangers; we’ve stood together at Board of Supervisors hearings advocating for increased funding for seniors, and I often see her at events like Justice in Aging’s annual fundraiser. Her visit to Empowered Aging, however, created a unique opportunity to directly connect the daily experiences of our Ombudsman team with the broader statewide advocacy landscape.
In our discussions of the most pressing issues we’ve seen in our daily work: the rising costs of care, staffing shortages, and the critical need for a dignified quality of life for all residents. She was able to hear firsthand accounts from our Alameda Program Manager, Ki’ev Harris about the challenges he and his team encounter during a ride along, providing her with the kind of real-world insights that simply cannot be captured in a report.
This type of partnership is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Here’s why our collaboration with the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County is so vital:
- Amplifying Voices: Our ombudsmen are skilled at giving residents a voice, but the Senior Services Coalition takes those voices and amplifies them at the state level. They translate our direct service observations into compelling policy arguments, helping to shape the very laws that govern long-term care.
- Connecting the Dots: We can see the immediate effects of a policy on a resident’s life. The Coalition, in turn, helps us understand the legislative process and how to effectively advocate for change. This symbiotic relationship ensures that our day-to-day work directly informs systemic change.
- Building a Stronger Network: The Coalition unites over 40 member organizations—including Empowered Aging—to create a powerful and influential voice for seniors. This collaborative approach allows us to pool our knowledge and resources, making our collective advocacy far more effective than any of us could be alone.
Our work is fundamentally about a simple promise: that every senior has the right to age with dignity and respect. Thanks to our partnership with the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County and the tireless work of leaders like Monica Kirkland, we can be confident that our efforts are not only making a difference in the lives of individuals but also helping to shape a more just and equitable future for all.
To learn more about the critical work of our partners at the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County, please visit their website. Together, we are building a stronger safety net for our seniors.