Today LCS took a trip to the LGBTQ Center located in one of San Diego’s most diverse neighborhoods Hillcrest. During the 1970’s Hillcrest’s LGBTQ community and locals unified through neighborhood organizations that advocated for inclusitivity, diversity, LGBTQ rights, and public engagement. The Center represents one of active organizations who advocated for resources in their community. It provides direct program services to the LGBT community, including men, women, youth, seniors, families, LGBT Latino community members and their families, and those living with HIV. The center provide communal services, government resources, auditorium, computer lab, lounge area, open community space, volunteer services, cross cultural services, and educational programs.
One of the long term volunteers in the center Nick grew up with his parents and grandparents in the same household. His memories of his grandparents were storytelling about their historical life events. Nick was able to value history through his grandparents storytelling. He believed that by living with his grandparents was an enrichment to his childhood along with his siblings. He was curious about how often the current younger generation communicate with their grandparents. This was an interesting question, even though not many people have the opportunity to live with their grandparents or don’t know much about them. It’s never too late to learn more about from your family members, and a great opportunity to start now. Nick also emphasized the importance of developing a relationship with grandparents and people should continue to stay in touch with family. This sheds light to the reading how family relationships are adaptive resources for people to grow, develop, and cope from life events. For example, black families provide support combating racism, individual level discrimination, and negative imagery. People who face this social challenges and seek help from their family members will be able to overcome obstacles and stand up for themselves. Through this example represents how family can help through challenging life moments. On the other hand, I wonder that there are parents in the world who have difficulty accepting their child’s identity. How would people with less accepting families cope with life challenging events. There have been cases where families are less accepting. In the center the community members have a place where they can call home and connect with other individuals. Even Though, many people are not related, however, they are able to form friendships through their hardships.
Next, the class participated in a collaborative activity WHO’s 8 key framework of health and well-being in age-friendly communities. During the discussion, a community leader senior expressed his concerns about the new bike program. He also expressed distress and fear from skateboarders or bikers that quickly pass by seniors. The community member emphasized how seniors with vision and hearing disabilities don’t feel safe and feel afraid of fast passerbys skating past them. He addressed the audience that there is a growing need to educate the public to understand seniors needs. The goal is to create safer walkable sidewalks and for individuals who utilize bike transport services to be considerate of the people with disabilities. This brings to attention to address safety concerns for seniors. Busy roads can cause difficulty for individuals who use wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers. Seniors need to be acknowledged and have empathy for the challenges they face in the daily basis. We gave a suggestion in hope that the city will look into implementing strategic methods for traffic control in busy type roads and more visible signs for crosswalks. Even though the bike share is open to the city market and have implemented convenience for people to travel around the neighborhood. However, there have been too many bike shares that block passageways in sidewalks , consequently can be a potential hazard for human traffic. By listening from seniors from the LGBTQ center we acknowledged that seniors feel need more visibility. The acknowledgement that skaters or fast passersby need to keep in mind for the safety of the pedestrians especially seniors who are walking around the area.
Overall, the trip to the LGBTQ center was an informative and educational learning experience. Also, is important to pay attention people near you and be kind to them. There will be people who have multiple layers of challenges that we may not know. It’s important to keep in mind and reflect on how not everyone will be able to solve everyone’s problems. Particularly individuals who have a troubled history need care and support. By engaging with seniors and understand more about their expressed concerns of the issues they are currently facing. Helps people gain more information in how we can combat those issues, through an intergenerational activity that gathers people of all ages together and come up with creative solutions. Through this group activity offers constructive feedback in what parts of the community needs improvement and how we can educate the public about senior visibility and inclusiveness.
One of the long term volunteers in the center Nick grew up with his parents and grandparents in the same household. His memories of his grandparents were storytelling about their historical life events. Nick was able to value history through his grandparents storytelling. He believed that by living with his grandparents was an enrichment to his childhood along with his siblings. He was curious about how often the current younger generation communicate with their grandparents. This was an interesting question, even though not many people have the opportunity to live with their grandparents or don’t know much about them. It’s never too late to learn more about from your family members, and a great opportunity to start now. Nick also emphasized the importance of developing a relationship with grandparents and people should continue to stay in touch with family. This sheds light to the reading how family relationships are adaptive resources for people to grow, develop, and cope from life events. For example, black families provide support combating racism, individual level discrimination, and negative imagery. People who face this social challenges and seek help from their family members will be able to overcome obstacles and stand up for themselves. Through this example represents how family can help through challenging life moments. On the other hand, I wonder that there are parents in the world who have difficulty accepting their child’s identity. How would people with less accepting families cope with life challenging events. There have been cases where families are less accepting. In the center the community members have a place where they can call home and connect with other individuals. Even Though, many people are not related, however, they are able to form friendships through their hardships.
Next, the class participated in a collaborative activity WHO’s 8 key framework of health and well-being in age-friendly communities. During the discussion, a community leader senior expressed his concerns about the new bike program. He also expressed distress and fear from skateboarders or bikers that quickly pass by seniors. The community member emphasized how seniors with vision and hearing disabilities don’t feel safe and feel afraid of fast passerbys skating past them. He addressed the audience that there is a growing need to educate the public to understand seniors needs. The goal is to create safer walkable sidewalks and for individuals who utilize bike transport services to be considerate of the people with disabilities. This brings to attention to address safety concerns for seniors. Busy roads can cause difficulty for individuals who use wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers. Seniors need to be acknowledged and have empathy for the challenges they face in the daily basis. We gave a suggestion in hope that the city will look into implementing strategic methods for traffic control in busy type roads and more visible signs for crosswalks. Even though the bike share is open to the city market and have implemented convenience for people to travel around the neighborhood. However, there have been too many bike shares that block passageways in sidewalks , consequently can be a potential hazard for human traffic. By listening from seniors from the LGBTQ center we acknowledged that seniors feel need more visibility. The acknowledgement that skaters or fast passersby need to keep in mind for the safety of the pedestrians especially seniors who are walking around the area.
Overall, the trip to the LGBTQ center was an informative and educational learning experience. Also, is important to pay attention people near you and be kind to them. There will be people who have multiple layers of challenges that we may not know. It’s important to keep in mind and reflect on how not everyone will be able to solve everyone’s problems. Particularly individuals who have a troubled history need care and support. By engaging with seniors and understand more about their expressed concerns of the issues they are currently facing. Helps people gain more information in how we can combat those issues, through an intergenerational activity that gathers people of all ages together and come up with creative solutions. Through this group activity offers constructive feedback in what parts of the community needs improvement and how we can educate the public about senior visibility and inclusiveness.