January Magazine for Pasadena Senior Center

Pasadena Senior Center Board of Directors President

From the Executive Director, Akila Gibbs

Christina Fuentes Vice President Martha M. Denzel Treasurer Joan Branin, Ph.D. Secretary Renée Benjamin, Esq. Board Members Andrea Sossin-Bergman Patricia Ann Golson, Esq. Anthony Hou, M.D. Angie O’Brien Theresa M. Pranata, Esq. Abel Ramirez Marsha Rood Kris Stevens, Ph.D. Executive Director Akila Gibbs Advisory Council Becky Thyne , Esq., Chair William Bogaard Gene A. Buchanan Katherine Enney, Ph.D. Margie Gregg Grossman Alice S. Huang, Ph.D. Laura Mosqueda, M.D.

Resilience is not about bouncing back alone; it’s about leaning on others and finding strength together.

I’ve come across this definition of resilience a few times recently, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it. What is resilience? Are some people just born to be more resilient than others? Is resilience something you choose to practice when faced with adversity? Can anyone be resilient? I have witnessed a lot of resilience around the Center in 2025: • Seeing Altadena Senior Center members, whose building was lost in the fires, welcomed and mingling with new friends at the Pasadena Senior Center in January 2025. • Chatting with Mary, 83, whose home burned down in the January fires and who now faces rebuilding alone. Still grieving her husband, whom she lost in 2019, she told me that after losing her home, “your mind takes you to dark places and you lose hope.” Yet she shows up at the Center every day to serve lunch and work out. Recently, she said, “I finally feel like a human. I feel strong and ready to rebuild.” • Observing Marilyn, who has spent 20 years showing up every day to work on puzzles and then take part in the Center’s daily lunch. As someone who lives alone, Marilyn seemed to relish the quiet and steady companionship of a fellow “puzzler.” I would walk by, and she and her puzzle partner that day would be intently working on a puzzle, silently focused on the pieces in front of them, as if their life depended on it! The conclusion I’ve come to is this: resilience doesn’t mean you don’t need help. Part of resilience is knowing what you need to support you during the rough times. With that in mind, I have exciting news: the Center was awarded a grant by the Red Cross to hire an in-house licensed therapist who is specially trained in treating trauma and can provide one-on-one private sessions to our members. This position has been generously funded for two years. The Center can schedule a session or add your name to a waiting list for desired times. I’ve come to see resilience as the way we navigate transitions in our life. It doesn’t mean things get fixed, or that problems go away. It means cultivating a support network and asking for help when you need it. Call us, we’re here for you.

The Pasadena Senior Center is a prized community asset. As a donor supported nonprofit, PSC relies upon private donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorship, and community philanthropy along with fees for membership, classes and facility rentals. It takes this combined effort to ensure that we are able to advance our mission to support older adults today, tomorrow and in years to come since the Center does not receive federal funding for its operations and is not a city-operated facility. As the numbers of seniors and their needs continue to grow, we are doing everything we can to ensure that seniors are able to age vibrantly and with grace and dignity.

A printed version of this issue can be purchased at the Welcome Desk for $1 while supplies last.

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