ASHBY VILLAGE INC
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Mission Statement
Ashby Village is a vibrant community built by and for older adults from different backgrounds and lived experiences. We're dedicated to the neighborly practice of helping each other stay connected and navigate life’s curves to make aging easier, enriching and fun! With the support of volunteers that span five generations, we're living with purpose and self-determination in the diverse, multi-generational neighborhoods we call home. Together, we're committed to building an inclusive membership organization and culture that advances access to practical services, support, and social programs for older adults from all backgrounds and economic means. We're transforming how we age. Members of our thriving village community live in the East Bay Area of Northern California in Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland, and Richmond.
About This Cause
We are a unique organization built by and for older adults who wanted to create ways for people to connect with each other and to engage in meaningful activities and volunteerism. The medical profession has adopted the term social care for those services or supports that are out of the realm of medical care but are critical to maintain the health and safety of their patients. These services and supports are also referred to as the social determinants of health. Social care is at the heart of what Ashby Village provides. Ashby Village works to improve the quality of life and expand choices at all stages of aging, empowering older adults to remain active and in charge of their lives as they age. By connecting older adults with each other and with an extensive and trained volunteer pool, screened service providers and local agencies, Ashby Village is an antidote to social isolation, an epidemic made even more stark during the pandemic shut-downs. Since 2010, Ashby Village has delivered its services and programs and grown its vibrant volunteer network with support from a few paid staff. Ashby Village supports its work through membership dues, individual and corporate donations, and grant funding. The Ashby Village It Takes a Village Fund was established early in our founding to reduce financial barriers to membership through needs-based fee assistance so that older adults of all means can enjoy the benefits of Ashby Village. In large part through our trained volunteer corps, our members have access to a broad range of services that help them age in their own homes: transportation, light home repairs, grocery shopping, decluttering assistance, light gardening, pet care, walking and phone buddies, MedPals who accompany members to medical appointments, and more. Our volunteer technology team helps members navigate the internet and solve a wide range of technology and device issues so they can stay connected virtually – this was an especially vital support during the pandemic. Our five generations of volunteers are recruited from all of the communities we serve. Our rigorous volunteer screening and training program assures our members that the support they receive is appropriate, consistent, professional and safe. A specialized group of retired professionals provide volunteer assistance to members who are facing crises or life changes. Our members also have access to vetted contractors as well as professional providers recommended by other members and volunteers. Ashby Village has many interest groups formed by members themselves, including film and book discussions, science and ideas, walking and hiking, writing, fitness, lunch meet-ups, the Elder Action advocacy group, painting and photography, an educational and cultural events planning group, and support groups for those with low vision and hearing loss, and support groups specifically for those over age 80 and 90 and those providing caregiving to a loved one. Through our website, monthly Village Voices newsletter, a weekly set of curated events, and public event promotion email announcements, members, volunteers and our greater community of roughly 3,500 supporters stay up to date on the activities, events and new developments taking place at Ashby Village. Our more than 400 members live in their own homes and are as actively engaged in the Ashby Village community as they want to be -- about a quarter are active volunteers themselves. We have eight geographically based Neighborhood Groups in Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland, and Richmond that provide ways for people to connect with their nearby neighbors. Ashby Village also partners with local senior centers, senior-focused organizations and businesses, and low-income older adult living communities to share services, hold volunteer service days, promote healthy aging events and programming, and more.