Earlier this month, the Biden Administration announced it is extending FEMA reimbursements for Project Roomkey (PRK) through the end of the year. This will alter current close dates and we hope to keep existing Roomkey sites open longer and our Agency is working on a plan for extension requests. The County is currently operating the following Project Roomkey sites:
- Radisson Hotel in Oakland
- Quality Inn in Oakland
- Inn by the Coliseum in Oakland
- Rodeway Inn in Berkeley
We are thankful for continuing support to provide safe and secure respite for our unhoused community members.
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September is my favorite month of the year because it's when the United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County - in valued, longstanding partnership with the Oakland Zoo and my office - throw the Healthy Living Festival!
Started in 2006 as a modest community event at Lake Merritt to encourage fun and healthy physical activity for seniors, the Healthy Living Festival has grown into a can't miss occasion for advocates, healthcare providers, local community centers, political leaders, and of course Alameda County seniors and those who love them!
While I'm eager for the day when we can once again enjoy an open air spectacle with booths, bands, and the infamous chicken dance, I value the importance of keeping ourselves and each other safe during the continued pandemic. For many, getting vaccinated, tested, and staying social in a safe way has been a challenge. In response, this year's Healthy Living Festival - held on September 30th from 9am-1pm - will be a drive thru event that makes getting a Covid test or vaccine easy, provides a healthy meal and swag bag to those who register, and gives us all a chance to gather together while following safe protocol. Our lives and the lives of those we love are worth it!
I hope to see you there!
Register online here. Find more event details following the Save The Date flyer below.
For questions about registration or to receive a form via email, please contact Austin Bruckner at austin.bruckner@acgov.org or call 510.272.6694.
For more information about the Healthy Living Festival event, please contact United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County at 510.729.0852.
In the spirit of gearing up for Healthy Living Festival month, I've gathered a few key websites, advocacy opportunities, and important information for seniors (and those who love them!).
- First and foremost is the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging website hosted by Alameda County Social Services Agency. It features links to resources and a calendar of events, including upcoming dates for the next Advisory Commission on Aging meeting (September 13th!). To learn more about meetings, agenda items, etc., please contact Jennifer Stephens-Pierre, Director, Area Agency on Aging, 510-577-1966 or jspierre@acgov.org. Make your voice heard!
- Find community and empowerment with other passionate aging advocates at Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County because as they like to say..."Aging is something we all have in common"!
- The Alameda County Community Food Bank goes beyond ensuring that all Alameda County residents and agencies have food resources because food is a human right - they know how challenging it can be to age in place in the Bay Area, and focus on meeting the unique needs of seniors and aging adults in a variety of ways. Check them out here and learn more about ACCFB's commitment.
- While few people greet the idea of seeking out legal aid with enthusiasm, it's good to know where to look when you need it and half the battle is finding a team that is genuinely on your side. Legal Assistance for Seniors has been serving Alameda County since 1976 when it was founded by 3 women committed to protecting the legal rights of seniors. Find out more about their history here.
- Paying attention to the mental health of ourselves and those we love is always important and has become even more significant in the past year. Crisis Support Services of Alameda County is more than a 24/7 crisis line - it offers free education, events, and other opportunities to explore mental health self care and crisis prevention for seniors and older adults. Learn more here.
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During these times of increased isolation due to Covid, it is especially important to check in with our elders so we can recognize and act on any signs of abuse.
Alameda County Social Services has put together these PSA's to illustrate common instances and signs of Financial Abuse and Self-Neglect as well as how to utilize Ombudsman Services.
Please take a moment to watch these important messages and be sure to help keep your family, neighbors and friends safe and healthy.
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Don't miss the latest installment of The People's Health Briefing. In it, Roots Community Health Center CEO and founder Dr. Noha Aboelata breaks down the impact of COVID19 on Alameda County, Oakland and East Oakland in particular.
View all installments of "The People's Health Briefing" here in the "All Videos" section.
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Most Tuesdays, the Board of Supervisors holds a Regular Meeting during which the public is allowed to speak to the Board on agenda items representing decisions made about our communities.
While we might not always agree on the best path forward, I am fond of saying that reasonable people will disagree, and that I get some of my best ideas from my constituency base. I am honored to serve on the Board as a County Supervisor and take the ideas, concerns, and feedback of the public very seriously.
Please consider tuning into these meeting and encouraging your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. We are stronger as a County when we are connected to one another, and engaged with the civic process.
The meeting calendar, including links to the agenda when it is available, can be found here.
The links to the livestream broadcast of the meetings can be found here.
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