The Impact of Experience: An Accidental Community Leader

“Dara Salk got me involved.”  Walk into a community meeting, or join a neighborhood improvement project, or visit places where neighbors help in the 47^th Ward of Chicago and there is a good chance someone will tell you, “I’m here because Dara asked me.”

Dara brings people together. She does it with a ferocious energy and urgency. She embodies the word “grassroots.” She makes the community, and not herself, the center of attention. And the work she does always leads to one goal: A stronger community.

How did this happen? Dara leveraged a lifetime of expertise, involvement, and leadership in corporate recruiting, health training, coaching and community involvement. She’s always done community service. Whether it’s volunteering at schools or supporting political candidates or a range of community service initiatives too long to mention. As a mother and a neighbor who has spent 38 years in her community, Dara’s work has been to make a large metropolitan community feel like a small town where neighbors know each other’s names.

In her 60’s, Dara saw an even greater opportunity to make an impact. A young man named Ameya Pawar was offering a fresh, diverse, independent, and inclusive approach to the tired politics of Chicago. She knew this was an opportunity to use her community experience to create positive, long-lasting change. Dara volunteered for Mr. Pawar’s election campaign.

Pawar won the election. It was a win that shocked the city. Pawar, one of City Council’s youngest members, would be representing roughly 55,000 constituents on the NW side of Chicago.

Dara pledged to the new Alderman that she would volunteer a year of her life to assist him in the development of a brand new community service operation. As a member of the powerhouse team assembled by Pawar, Dara brought the voice of experience towards engaging residents of all ages.

As part of the Pawar team, Dara contributed to:

• a new network of block clubs to ensure all are heard;
• a Ward Council to bring local voices to inform Aldermanic decisions;
• a council of community members committed to local schools;
• a network of community gardens; and
• a new approach to aging-in-community – a Senior Council focused on supporting residents to live their best years and remain connected to their community as they age.

Dara created a volunteer corps at the Alderman’s Office that is heavily staffed by older adults. In 2012, her invaluable contribution was recognized as she was hired to serve as the Aldermanic Constituent Services Liaison.

She is also a Founding Board member of Forward Chicago and serves as a leader in this local, non-profit organization that supports residents as they age connecting neighbors, businesses, and local organizations to build a strong foundation for the community.

Most recently, Dara is helping in the development of a new pet and people food pantry.

Dara is an inspirational example of how an experienced, engaged, and connected older adult can transform a community. When Dara gets involved, the community gets stronger.

DFSS Spring 2013 SENIOR LIFE ENRICHMENT GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE

The spring issue of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Service’s Senior Life Enrichment Guide is now available at the alderman’s office, at the department’s regional and satellite senior centers, libraries and many other locations.

Inside the guide, seniors will find information about health and wellness, educational, recreational and many other types of events, trips, classes and lectures, along with schedules and registration details.  Most of these are free or at a nominal cost.

This issue also urges older Chicagoans to “Unleash the Power of Age” –the theme of this year’s Older Americans Month.  By focusing their efforts and influence, Chicago’s nearly 400,000 seniors can greatly enrich their own communities and our entire City.

The contents of the guide are also posted online at www.cityofchicago.org/fss.  Further information about DFSS services and programs is available by calling the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at (312) 744-4016.

Over 25 neighbors came together April 20th to clean up Winnemac Park. Community members of all ages spent about 4 hours picking up trash, pulling weeks, and making the park more beautiful! 3 groups went all around the park to identify Ash trees and get a count as our community prepares for the Emerald Ash Borer and hopes to protect our beautiful greenspaces. If you would like to find out more information about the park and our blocks club Winnemac Park neighbors, visit our site at http://www.winnemac.org.

We even had a student make a video, check it out. Thanks Winnemac Park Neighbors and see you next year!

Tasty, Topical, and Touching – those are just three of the words I would use to describe the Lunch Bunches most recent get-together. We dined at Barba Yianni; a lovely Greek restaurant in the heart of Lincoln Square.  They offer an extensive menu that can accommodate any dietary restrictions. One of us was a vegetarian, another is gluten-free – no problem. The manager, Anas Ihmoud stopped by our table to welcome us and tell us about the live music and dancing, tango no less! Tango lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings, partner not required. Barba Yianni is a wonderful asset to Lincoln Square.

We talked about our community; some of us have lived our whole lives here, others are new residents.

All agree we live in one of the most lively, inclusive, safe neighborhoods in the city.

Getting to know one another, what we enjoy, how we spend our time, what’s important to us, all this and more were discussed. We all look forward to meeting neighbors and conversing over good food at our monthly gatherings.

Please plan to join us on May 16th for our next lunch bunch .

“Never the Same”

By Kathryn Chapman

World War II may seem far away, but the memories of those who lived through it are still vibrant. Jan Thompson, a 28-year broadcast veteran who has produced more than 300 television programs, has drawn upon the memories of participants in one of the most horrific episodes of that war to produce “Never the Same: The Prisoner of War Experience”. Her film depicts the experience of American POWs in WWII Japanese camps largely through their poems, songs, drawings and cartoons, many brought to life through animation. Starved and brutalized, the men meet horror with American ingenuity and gallows humor, all abundantly evident as survivors describe the daily struggle for survival reinforced by soul-saving fantasies, pranks, jokes, and even recipes.

The world premiere of this gripping movie will take place at the Gene Siskel Film Center on April 6^th at 7:45 pm and April 7th at 5:30 pm.  Jan’s own father lived through the experience documented by this film and she spent decades compiling the material (and writing the music) that make up the story.  Narrated by Loretta Swit, actual diary entries made by the prisoners are brought to life by several Hollywood stars, including Ed Asner and Alec Baldwin.  Director Jan Thompson and former POW Jim Collier, who appears in the film, will be present for audience discussion at both screenings.  For more information, go to http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/neverthesame

“Let food be they medicine and medicine be thy food.”

Hippocrates

Blog Post by Randi Kant

On a chilly March afternoon, a small, yet passionate group of people gathered at Sulzer Library to learn about Power Foods.  As the facilitator of this discussion, I wanted to convey the enormous impact that our lifestyle, healthy eating in particular, has on our health and risk of disease.  I also wanted to frame the discussion in the context of what we should eat more of, what we should add to our diets.  This seemed to take a more positive and proactive perspective then the standard what to avoid or eat less of approach.

What was interesting, was that while I provided the objective information, each participant, indeed the group as a whole, brought the material to life.  Everyone contributed their own experiences, suggestions and insight as well as offered support and encouragement for healthy eating.  I think all of us, myself included, got more out of this wellness presentation than we may have initially anticipated.

Our hope is that many more older adults, and in fact, people of all ages, will take advantage of these grass roots opportunities to learn about health and wellness and at the same time, connect with their neighbors and community.

In the meantime, in case you missed it, allow me to present 15 foods that are nutritional powerhouses – each of which offers a variety of amazing health benefits.  How many do you eat on a regular basis?  Can you see fitting them into your diet?

• Oatmeal
• Blueberries
• Salmon
• Walnuts
• Spinach
• Avocado
• Red Grapes
• Apples
• Cherries
• Yogurt
• Beans
• Tomatoes
• Peanut Butter
• Eggs
• White and Green Tea

Now, please plan on joining us for our next Wellness Event, Choose to Stress Less, on April 24 at 6:00pm at Sulzer Library.  You’ll learn important information and valuable skills – all in a fun, social and relaxed atmosphere.  See you there!