Hello Empowered Aging Community,
It has been an incredibly busy and productive time for us, and I wanted to personally share some of the recent achievements that highlight the power of our collective advocacy and the strength of our partnerships. From securing vital funding, to engaging in the community, to welcoming a key public official to join us and tour a local long term care facility, we are making meaningful progress in our mission to champion the rights and dignity of older adults.
A Grant to Empower the Next Generation of MSWs
We are thrilled to announce a meaningful investment in our MSW Internship Program: a grant from the Kaiser Hospital Fund for Community Benefit Programs at the East Bay Community Foundation. This grant is a tremendous vote of confidence in our work and a significant boost for our agency overall, and it will allow us to expand our capacity to train the next generation of social work professionals. These Master of Social Work (MSW) interns are on the front lines, providing direct services and advocacy to seniors and their families. This contribution from the Kaiser Hospital Fund will not only strengthen our program but also help us cultivate a diverse and well-prepared workforce dedicated to the complex needs of our aging population.
Congressmember DeSaulnier Sees Our Mission in Action
We were honored to welcome Congressmember Mark DeSaulnier to our office for an in-depth look at our Ombudsman Program. Congressmember DeSaulnier, a long-time advocate for community based support services,, spent time with our team to understand, firsthand, the critical work our ombudsmen do.
Our ombudsman program serves as a lifeline for residents in long-term care facilities, acting as an independent voice for their rights, health, and well-being. By visiting us, the Congressman gained valuable insight into the day-to-day challenges and successes of our work. His visit reaffirms the vital role of our program and underscores the importance of public officials taking a personal interest in the well-being of their most vulnerable constituents.
Through it all – from the boots on the ground protection of the rights of older and dependent adults to the advocacy at every level of government office – our challenges remain, but so does our dedication. We are stretched thin in capacity, but we are always searching for ways to expand our reach. Every resource fair we attend, every presentation we make, every new volunteer and donor we build relationships with, every piece of legislation we invest time in understanding, every opportunity we take to advocate for better and more equitable treatment of seniors in need; with everything we do and everything we are, we will stand strong in support of our mission. If you would like to support our work and the people we serve by volunteering or becoming a donor, please reach out. We would love to talk!
Our recent and ongoing victories are a testament to the hard work of our staff, the dedication of our volunteers and interns, and the unwavering support of our community partners. Empowered Aging remains committed to fighting for a world where every senior lives with dignity, respect, and the knowledge that their voice matters.
Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Warmly,
Susannah Meyer
Executive Director, Empowered Aging