We wrapped up our final class of Winter quarter with a class potluck! It was great seeing some students cooking up traditional recipes for us all to try. We additionally held discussion about our West Center Prom. It was overall an amazing experience that brought smiles to all in attendance; however, it felt a bit rushed due to miscommunication with West Center staff. It felt like there was no real time to enjoy the moment as every item on the agenda was rushed in a structured manner. Hopefully, the next cohort will be allotted more time to enjoy this event. All students went around and shared something that had the greatest impact on them from this quarter. Everyone seemed to have similar memories and experiences they wanted to share. We all mentioned to some degree how the struggles of the elder population are not talked about nearly enough. I did not consider viewing the built environment through a lens of elder accessibility until we did our NAP projects. I’m so grateful for that experience because now I am much more aware of how our built environment can inhibit access for people with disabilities. I’ve shared what I’ve learned with my friends outside of the class and it has seemed to peak their interests as well. The housing tour also had great impact on me as we witnessed first-hand the struggle of the elderly population that is living at or below the federal poverty line in securing housing. I feel this is also an issue that is not talked about nearly enough. And seeing Casa de Manana in comparison to the other housing options just really made this issue hit home for a lot of us. Raising awareness to this issue is the first step in making any real progress or change, and the Life Course Scholar Program has definitely made me and my peers more aware and wanting to take action. We wrapped up class by beginning discussion on what we want to do for our HAP projects next quarter. I have settled into a group that wants to put together an intergenerational walk/marathon that is currently called Walks of All Life. We’ve begun discussion as to possible venues, fundraising options, music and entertainment, and outreach to get people to attend this event. I’m very much looking forward to seeing this project come to life.
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Tanveer MoundiWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
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