March 28, 2022
  

Hello community,

As Americans, we come from all over the world, unless we are descendants of people of our First Nations. With all of our diversity, one thing we all share is the form of music we call “jazz.” April is Jazz Appreciation Month throughout the USA.

Jazz came out of the fields where Black people worked as slaves. They created music that let them express themselves in their own inimitable way – whether it was the memories from their African ancestors or some nonsensical little tune to help get through a day of tyrannical work. It wasn’t called jazz then, but all who heard it, knew there was something singular about it. Perhaps it was the freeing cry that arose from an enslaved people.

At the turn of the 20th century in New Orleans, Black people and white people started playing and listening to this ingenious form of music. And people really enjoyed the sounds and rhythms of it! After World War I, jazz could be heard around the world and it became even more diverse with added African and European influences.

Jazz has all the major elements of other types of music…There’s melody, some harmony, and there’s even a rhythm section. But what makes jazz the real deal is that jazz is improvisational music…On any given day, we’ll hear the band members play a tune one-way, and the next day, it will be very different indeed. The musicians are creating and embellishing the music as it goes along – the tune is alive and changing all the time. To me, jazz represents “freedom” because there’s real spontaneity by all who hear (and play) the tunes. Jazz exemplifies freedom from oppression, freedom from forms and structures, and even freedom from pre-existing beliefs of what “should be”.

As LGBTQ people, we can identify with the desire to be freed from societal limitations and rigid systems of thought. Freedom doesn’t always guarantee success, but it does make things easier along the way. Jazz can be one’s spiritual address, surging in liberty. Please take advantage of all the free jazz concerts in the San Mateo County’s library system throughout April. We are fortunate to live where jazz is appreciated and the musicians are top notch. After the confinement of a long pandemic, don’t we all deserve some good jazz?

We are ready to travel again in a safe and healthy way. Come join us to learn about the Rodin sculptures and view the Gordon Parks photography exhibit.

When you register, we can discuss transportation options. Community members 55 are strongly encouraged to attend, the trip is open to all adults.

To R.S.V.P. or ask questions, please contact Ellyn at
ebloomfield@peninsulafamilyservice.org. Last day to RSVP is April 22.

Special May Program & Observance of
Older Americans Month & Mental Health Awareness Month

Please mark your calendars to join us on a gentle walk and historical tour of Coyote Point, on Friday, May 13 from 10:00 am – 1:30 pm.

We will be one of the first groups to see Coyote Point without all the construction barriers, since they have recently been removed. Afterwards, we will enjoy a picnic together.

This event is sponsored by the San Mateo County Pride Center, the San Mateo County Parks Foundation, and Peninsula Family Service.

Why are we walking in May?

Older adults benefit from group walks for many reasons and exercise does not have to be complicated. Walking elevates the heart rate, which then reduces the risks of heart problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart attack. It can also lower the risks of stroke and diabetes. Just a short walk after a meal allows our bodies to digest our meal, as well as to use the increased blood sugar to help strengthen our muscles instead. Walking lubricates the joints, like our knees and back. It can also alleviate some constant pain from arthritis. It helps strengthen the muscles around our joints, putting less pressure on our joints.

Walking is the most common activity recommended for older adults who are challenged with depression and anxiety. The endorphins released from physical activity provide an all-natural mood boost, while reducing anxiety. We can all use a pick-me-up and the endorphins from walking — coupled with the fresh air — encourages less negative thinking and a more positive outlook. Similar to how endorphins from physical activity will boost our moods, being outside and interacting with others can have a positive effect as well.

Do you need another reason to join us on our walk on May 13?

How about having fun with other members of our community, including people we have not seen in a couple of years! May is Older Americans Month and May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Older Americans Month

Every May, the Federal Administration on Aging, part of the Administration for Community Living, leads the United States’ observance of Older Americans Month. For 2022, the theme is “Age My Way”, an opportunity for all of us to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with our communities. We emphasize that we are never too old to take part in activities that can enrich our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The overall objective of Mental Health Awareness Month is to raise awareness of mental health issues around our country and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health, especially in San Mateo County. The Month provides an opportunity for all community members to learn more about the mental health issues our neighbors and family members face, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for older adults in San Mateo County.

For a list of articles that list the benefits of walking, please see this link.

Please RSVP for the hike by May 9th to EBloomfield@peninsulafamilyservice.org

Weekly Workout Classes

Fit Fusion:
A morning cardio class. Every Monday and Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 AM

Chair Yoga:
A class that may be ideal for folks who have limited mobility, are new to yoga or work at a desk for prolonged periods of time. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-10:30 AM

Tai Chi:
A morning class that is both meditative and energizing. Every Friday morning from 9:30-10:30 AM

Contact Ellyn (She/Her) at ebloomfield@peninsulafamilyservice.org for information about joining our weekly workout classes!
Please note: you only have to register for EACH workout class
once in order to attend them all.

LGBTQ Women’s Sharing & Caring Group
Every Friday from 3:00-4:00 PM
Meet interesting people like yourself…Build community and make new friends. Roberta Gonzalez-Gregg facilitates this weekly group. For more information, contact Michele at mepstein@peninsulafamilyservice.org

LGBTQ Women’s Sharing & Caring Group
Friday, April 1 from 3:00-4:00 PM

Fit Fusion

Monday, April 4 at 9:30 AM

Chair Yoga
Tuesday, April 5 at 9:30 AM

Fit Fusion

Wednesday, April 6 at 9:30 AM

LGBTQ Book Club (18 )
Wednesday, April 6 from
4:30-6:00 PM

The book club is a partnership with the San Mateo County Public Library System and San Mateo County Pride Center. It’s open to all members of the community, including allies and friends. This month’s book is, "The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller.

Community members are invited to attend even if they haven't read the book. Come participate in the discussion!

Please consider utilizing SMCL to access an audiobook of the book.

Registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-bookclub

Wednesday, May 4 from
4:30- 6:00 PM

May's bookclub pick is "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett.

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?

Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family

story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing.

Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.

Please consider utilizing SMCL to access an audiobook of the book.

Registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-bookclub

Chair Yoga
Thursday, April 7 at 9:30 AM

Tai Chi
Friday, April 8 at 9:30 AM

Fit Fusion

Monday, April 11 at 9:30 AM

Re-Think Ageing: A Bold New Path to Life at Any Age with Dan Leavitt
Monday, April 11 from 1-2 PM
"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

For more information about the event and information to register, please see this link.

Chair Yoga
Tuesday, April 12 at 9:30 AM

Fit Fusion

Wednesday, April 13 at 9:30 AM

Chair Yoga
Thursday, April 14 at 9:30 AM

Tai Chi
Friday, April 15 at 9:30 AM (Tax Day)

Fit Fusion

Monday, April 18 at 9:30 AM (Patriot's Day)

Get App-y
Monday, April 18 at from 12- 1PM

Have a question about your tablet or laptop? Think your phone may be smarter than you? Join us at Get App-y to freely ask questions and get answers that help you through your tech challenges. Please register in advance to Arlene at aaquino@peninsulafamilyservice.org.

Chair Yoga
Tuesday, April 19 at 9:30 AM

Fit Fusion

Wednesday, April 20 at 9:30 AM

Chair Yoga
Thursday, April 21 at 9:30 AM

Tai Chi
Friday, April 22 at 9:30 AM

Fit Fusion

Monday, April 25 at 9:30 AM

Chair Yoga
Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30 AM

Gay Men's Group (18 )

Tuesday, April 26 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Join the conversation for gay men who want to socialize about common interests, meet new people, and connect during the pandemic. Jeff Fried facilitates the group. For more information, please contact Devon (he/him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org.

Registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-gaymensgroup

Fit Fusion

Wednesday, April 27 at 9:30 AM

Chair Yoga
Thursday, April 28 at 9:30 AM

Tai Chi

Friday, April 29 at 9:30 AM

SPECIAL PROGRAM:
Trip to the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts
Friday, April 29 from 11 AM – 1:30 PM

Please register by April 22 to Ellyn at ebloomfield@peninsulafamilyservice.org

When you register, we can discuss transportation options.

Please see description above.

Why is Jazz Appreciation Month in the Month of April?

Oddly enough, because it happens to be the birth month of many great jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Herbie Hancock.

In community,

Ellyn Bloomfield (she/her)

Older Adult Program Coordinator

San Mateo County Pride Center