The "Wise Elder" Changemaker Award
The "Wise Elder” Changemaker Award celebrates the life work and current accomplishments of exceptional San Diegans who are 65 years or older. The UCSD Life Course Scholars program welcomes nominations of individuals who have had a significant impact on people, land, communities, and movements for justice, equity, sustainability, health, healing, and inclusion across our region. Their change-making work may be through the arts, advocacy, activism, organizing, cultivation, care and repair, bridge-building, paradigm-shifting, community healing, wisdom-sharing, and (re)connection with cultural traditions and the living world around us.
The First Annual
Wise Elder Changemaker Awardees
have been selected!
Congratulations to:
Alice Yee
Diane Moss
Bruce Carron
Makeda "Dread" Cheatom
Randy Edmonds
Read more about the wonderful work these wise elders
have contributed to their communities below!
Wise Elder Changemaker Awardees
have been selected!
Congratulations to:
Alice Yee
Diane Moss
Bruce Carron
Makeda "Dread" Cheatom
Randy Edmonds
Read more about the wonderful work these wise elders
have contributed to their communities below!
The 2022 Inaugural "Wise Elder" Changemaker Awardees
Alice yee: Pathbreaker for women's Rights
"Yee moved into administration, becoming dean of women at Central Washington University. Link to story from La Jolla Light from last year:
101-Year-Old La Jollan Alice Yee is a "Change Agent" for Life |
"Alice has been instrumental in many people's lives over the years. She was the Dean of Women at University of Oregon in her career. In retirement, Alice is an active part of the Crones Counsel and the Women League of Voters amongst other women's rights organizations. One of her most remarkable recent achievements was organizing the women of her retirement community to take the community bus to the 2017 Women's March in Downtown San Diego at the age of 98. Alice continues to mentor women and students one-on-one and sets an example of a vibrant life after 100 for her peers and mentees. Daily she attends discussions and lectures with her neighbors, takes long walks to keep healthy and active, and writes for her community newsletter. Everyone that encounters Alice feels truly seen, loved, encouraged, and inspired!"
~ Nominator, Veronicah Cohen A few of Alice's many accomplishments:
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Diane moss: Food justice Leader
"Diane Moss or Ms. Moss as I call her, is responsible for the most beautiful addition to chollas view. Her tireless work in creating a healthier world through the Mt. Hope community garden should be examined as it is a source of pride and inspiration for me and other community members. Growing up a few blocks from the garden and experiencing the historical lack of access to fresh organic produce, I can’t explain how appreciative we all are, to see Ms. Moss’ continued work. The progress made, turning neglected individually managed plant beds into one of the most beautiful community gardens in San Diego, lush with fresh organic deliciousness, it just makes me proud to help as a member of this community." ~ Nominator, Anthony Avalos A few of Diane's many accomplishments:
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Moss's mission is to make food accessible in food deserts like Mt. Hope. She went so far as to change the city's laws to break ground on the Mt. Hope Community Garden back in 2011. |
Bruce Carron: Strident Advocate for unhoused Seniors
A few of Bruce's many accomplishments:
Bruce's Story- After a medical crisis caused Bruce to lose his job and his home, Bruce spent two years living on the streets. When he connected with Paul Downey of Serving Seniors he gained access to transitional housing which eventually led to permanent housing in a rich, supportive community. Since that time, Bruce speaks up and advocates passionately on behalf of unhoused seniors, the fastest growing population of people experiencing homelessness in this city and across the country. "I believe everyone is entitled to a clean, safe environment to call home." ~Bruce Carron |
Mr. Bruce Carron is a champion and advocate for older adults who have experienced homelessness and is passionate about the need for senior focused permanent supportive housing, such as Talmadge Gateway. Mr. Carron was one of the first residents at Talmadge Gateway, and routinely conducts tours of the facility with policy makers and funders, sharing how it is designed to specifically meet the needs of older adults. As a Veteran, Mr. Carron brings his experience as an unsheltered homeless Veteran who now is stably housed at Talmadge to advocate at all levels throughout San Diego of the effectiveness of investing in housing for older adults. Mr. Carron's voice has helped elevate the need to address the rising number of older adults who are unsheltered throughout San Diego. Bruce Carron has been a fierce advocate for seniors living on our streets and in housing. He hosts regular tours of his Senior Housing at Talmadge and has hosted Nathan Fletcher, Councilmember LeCava, and soon will be hosting Mayor Gloria and Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. In addition, he serves on the board of directors at Townspeople, The Senior Advisory Committee at Saint Paul's Pace, He is a member of Lived Experience Advisers and The HEAL Network both of who advocate for the unsheltered population in general and Seniors Living on Our Streets. Bruce's efforts advocating are widely recognized and his speeches in front of community groups have led to more supportive housing solutions in the City of San Diego. |
Makeda "Dread" Cheatom: Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
"Makeda Cheatom is the founding director of the World Beat Center and Children’s EthnoBotany Peace Garden in Balboa Park. World Beat Center is a community haven that lifts up Black brilliance while celebrating global cultural diversity. At World Beat Center, people enjoy programs centering love, peace, and connection through music, dance, poetry, storytelling, visual art, spiritual healing, nature, activism, food, gardening, and ethnobotany. Makeda has persisted in her community-building mission, despite racism and attempted intimidation. San Diego is a better, more loving place because of Makeda." ~ Nominator, Nan Renner Her many, many accomplishments: "Makeda Cheatom is Executive Director and Founder of the WorldBeat Cultural Center for 30 years. She has produced programs and presented artists from wide cultural genres represented within the cultural center. Makeda has received numerous awards for her service to the community. Most notably and recently, Makeda Cheatom was recognized by the Women’s Museum of California as a Cultural Competent Bridge Builder and in 2012 she was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame. Other awards Makeda has received include: Channel 10 Leadership Award, Project Concern International, the Palava Tree for Arts & Culture, Water For Africa Foundation, International Rescue Committee, among many others. She has received dozens of other important awards from the State of California and the San Diego Community. Makeda is the founder of her own radio show, Reggae Makossa, broadcast on Fusion Radio 102.5 FM. She has been on the air for over 25 years. She produces her own television show WorldBeat Live, which is broadcast on numerous community television networks throughout the county. Makeda “Dread” Cheatom is dedicated, committed and determined to raise world consciousness through music, dance, and the arts. She promotes unity in diversity while teaching world peace." ~ WorldBeat Cultural Center |
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Randy Edmonds: Tireless Native American Indian Activist
Mr. Edmonds is a well-known American Indian traditional speaker about Native American History, Culture and Traditions. |
"Mr. Randy Edmonds, 87 (Kiowa/Caddo) Tribal Nations, has been a true inspiration to all Native Americans across Indian Country. KPBS shared, “Edmonds says he grew up as an Indian, and always was. And he says he still does “Indian things” now. This didn’t come easy, though. Early in his life, he was sent to a boarding school where, he says, “they wanted to make us white people.” After high school, he moved from his reservation in Oklahoma as part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Relocation Program. Through the federal program, American Indians living on reservations were moved to urban areas such as Los Angeles, where Edmonds went and were given trade jobs or education. Later, Mr. Edmonds continued his work “for the people” by founding the Indian Human Resource Center in San Diego, California, for Urban Native Americans who left the reservation to develop self-sufficiency and determination among the Native community. And throughout his career, he served on many advisory boards representing American Indians — from city to federal levels. His ambition has always been to help those close to him stay connected to their Indigenous roots. Mr. Edmonds is also a world-renown Powwow MC across Turtle Island. He also did the narration for the movie “Crow the Legend,” and he won an Emmy in 2019. Mr. Edmonds is our elder, whom we hold in the highest esteem for all the work he has done in Indian Country and has a significant influence on our community and youth by spreading his “Good Medicine” through storytelling with our youth and teaching them about our history in which they do not teach the truth in schools. Mr. Edmonds continues to bring healing to all Indigenous communities across Indian Country by encouraging, motivating, and uplifting our youth, families, and elders. We honor you, Randy, and we are grateful for the legacy you have started for all Indian people." ~Nominator(s), Wellness Team, San Diego American Indian Health Center |