As Ashby Village grows into a larger organization, it’s important that the Board be transparent and open, encouraging our members, volunteers and greater community to understand who we are and how we’re organized. Below is an overview of the Board of Directors, the first of many articles intended to provide a more in-depth look at Ashby Village leaders and infrastructure. Stay tuned!

Ashby Village Board of Directors: Who We Are and How We Operate

Our History

Our Village is lucky to have a dedicated and talented Board of Directors. Just as Ashby Village has grown from an idea hatched by neighbors over coffee, our Board has evolved over time. When we started over 10 years ago, our Board of Directors was an active founding Board. We had one paid staff, an interim Executive Director. Everyone was involved in programming, staffing, and events. Since that time, we have evolved from a founding board to more of an institutional board, one with a more formal structure and a focus on policy and the long-term financial health of our Village.

Our membership

For a list of Ashby Village Board members click here .

The Executive Director and a representative of the Program Leadership Team sit on the board.

Over 10 years ago, when Ashby Village was just starting, our Board of Directors was an active founding Board. Everyone was involved in programming, staffing, and events. Since that time, we have evolved from a founding board to more of an institutional board, like any other nonprofit board of directors. Where once we were involved in the day-to-day activities of Ashby Village, we are now focused instead on policy and the financial health of our Village.  

Our Work

The Board of Directors is responsible for governing Ashby Village, ensuring the Village has the necessary financial and human resources, and establishing key policies. Our Board charter lists the following responsibilities:

Our Structure

We currently have 12 Board members, 9 of whom are Ashby Village members. We can have up to 15 members, and our nominating committee is active in recruiting new members, especially those with experience in fundraising and the wider Aging community. Board meetings are held monthly. The Board Minutes are available to anyone who requests them from the Executive Director. Much of our work is accomplished at the committee level:

*The Finance and Development Committees are open to any members of the community who have relevant experience and interest in participating.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]

I am very pleased with my clearer yard and with the sense of possibility that this new space gives me. Thank you very much.



~AV Member Charlotte Shoemaker

Window Washing

Wednesday May 1, 2019

10:00am-2:30pm

For this event, volunteers will meet to wash the windows of two members' homes, one after another! 

Come and join us! Light lunch provided. RSVP

Elder Action is an Ashby Village interest group that advocates for social justice issues. We believe we can make our voices heard regarding local, state and national issues, but we also have determined that we can be most effective at dealing with statewide legislative initiatives and ballot measures. Our three areas of focus are revision of Proposition 13; expansion of low-income housing opportunities (specifically for the growing number of newly homeless elders); and the statewide expansion of health care coverage.

Because the revision of Proposition 13 is a concrete proposition with a clear deadline, and massive financial implications for the state, we have decided to focus most of our attention at this time on this very important reform of the California tax code.

Read the full presentation of Elder Action 

Some of Ashby Village's most successful events have come to the us by way of member and volunteer recommendations and offers - in other words, they came from you!

Are you interested in sharing your subject matter expertise, or artistic and musical talents, or do you know someone who may be willing to share theirs?

Contact Sigrid, our Volunteer Events Coordinator, with the info!

Would you like your event or notice to appear in the Village Voices Newsletter? Use this simple form to submit your material. 

It takes us time to prepare each issue! Remember that the DEADLINE for each newsletter is the 15th of the previous month. Late submissions are not guaranteed placement in the next newsletter.

On April 3rd, Dr. Michelle Dhanak, MD- Geriatrician talked about the value of consulting with a Geriatic specialist.

As we age, she explained, we often develop more “conditions”. Health matters become more complicated as a result of a variety of functions – physical, emotional, social and spiritual. It’s not just about “age”. A Geriatrician looks at how the older patient is functioning today and the current relevance of each medication. As a person ages, this results in a layering on of medications and often on a prescription cascade.

Doctor Dhanak offered one example of a “prescription cascade”:

> One pill can increase urination.

> Another pill might be prescribed to reduce urination.

> A drug might be prescribed for gout.

> Ibuprofen might be prescribed which may result in an increase in blood pressure.

> A pill is then prescribed to reduce blood pressure.

Read the story

Some elders shrink into frustrated invisibility. At 6’8”, with white beard and flashing dark eyes, Dr. Harry Edwards doesn’t enter a room unnoticed. Yet from his first words, until our last standing ovation, it was the world-famous, pioneer sports sociologist’s powerful stories that caught and kept our attention on April 7 at the Ashby Village Arts & Culture Series at Berkeley’s Northbrae Church Sanctuary.        

His profound presentation was a fast-paced, riveting ball game. Interspersed with mesmerizing, three-point shots of history, it gave many of us new ways to understand our world. No article could do it justice. For the beautiful, powerful experience, please watch the video (link to video), including his replies to our questions. Short of that, here’s a recap.       

“When I was growing up, pro-sports were seen as a refuge. Society’s problems had no place at the game. Or did they?” Dr. Edwards, the leading authority on the intersection of race, sports and society, quickly upended that myth. He showed us how sports are infused with society’s cultural and political issues, and how that affects our political and social climate.       

As founder of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, he’s best known for inspiring the “most well-known sports image of the 20th century”, the Black Power salute by U.S. athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. On Sunday 4/7, he introduced us to four intergenerational waves of black athletes prompted to activism within and beyond the sports arena.

Read the story

A friend of Ashby Village is looking for an interim rental as first step in relocating from Benicia to the East Bay to be close to her kids and grandkids who are part of the Ashby Village family. 

For more information contact Jady at [email protected], or call her at 760-271-3328

Berkeley Broadway Singers Spring 2019 concerts will take place on Saturday, May 4th at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 5th at 4:00pm.



Both concerts are free and will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley at 1 Lawson Road in Kensington.

Note from Martin's son Max

Martin Friedman died April 1 and he went as he wished: at home, without pain, in the arms of his children. Martin enjoyed being a member of Ashby Village and I often heard about his participation in activities, or accompanied him to some when I was in town. We are very grateful.

Martin lived his final chapter exactly as he wanted, brain cancer notwithstanding: at home, with frequent visits and calls from many friends, and always accompanied by at least one child (and often a grandchild or two). He read the entirety of Dostoyevsky's  The Idiot  for one last meeting of his book group, which he hosted, and he made sure to thoroughly indulge his sweet tooth. We were left with two kinds of ice cream, a box of chocolates, fresh rugelach, and some delicious lemon cheesecake.  We miss him so very, very much, but we know he will always be with us, and with all who treasured his erudition, curiosity, wit, generosity, and compassion.