| Creating a Sense of Belonging Camaraderie filled the air at the recent Nurturing Communities of Care gatherings this spring. Our Equity Community Organizing (ECO) groups in Bombay Beach, Calipatria, Niland and Westmorland hosted gatherings that brought together older adults for dancing, laughing, learning and great conversations. When we applied for this project, we knew that community building would be a major component. However, we soon learned the profound impact of our gatherings. For many older adults, these events marked the first time they participated in a community activity since the pandemic. By design, each gathering is accessible, safe and welcoming for older adults, encouraging participation. As we begin to meet with local organizations to share what we’ve learned through these ECO group gatherings, we aim to reframe older adults in our community as assets and sources of strength, while promoting communal forms of care and ensuring everyone has a lot of fun along the way. The ECO work is supported by a grant from The SCAN Foundation. The SCAN Foundation is dedicated to creating a society in which seniors receive medical treatment and human services that are integrated in the setting most appropriate to their needs. For more information, please visit www.TheSCANFoundation.org # # # Featured image: Enjoying cardio drumming at the Westmorland Senior de Mayo ECO Group event is Leonor Alicia Lara Mendoza of El Centro (left) and Sandra Camargo of Westmorland (right). |
