Seeing the Village Through New Eyes

After one month as CEO of The Village Chicago, what are the most exciting things you have discovered?

Darcy: "The most exciting discovery is the people—a community of interesting, highly intelligent and capable individuals who are committed to forging a better future for older adults. Members are talented and diverse in terms of their life stories, travels, careers and aspirations. The office team and the board members have an unrelenting commitment to building strong support networks and serving members and their evolving needs. Our partners like Chicago Innovation and thought leaders like Marc Freedman are also helping us to implement more integrated networks of older and younger adults that benefit entire communities. And I am discovering the many ways the Village harnesses all this vigor to support community well-being."

What was it about the Village that made you want to be part of it?

Darcy: "I have always been drawn to organizations that fill a fundamental need in the community, and that promise tangible, measurable results. With the Village there are two aspects to this. One is the Village’s capacity to support older adults and their families; and the other is the opportunity to engage the Village community in addressing societal issues of the city such as the social isolation experienced by both older and young adults. By marshaling the strengths of the older community, a population that is frequently pushed aside, and by integrating them into a diverse community, we can change the narrative on aging."

What are some of your near-term goals?

Darcy: "Some important future initiatives will be to provide more substantial resources and education for families who are managing memory loss and care; establishing meaningful volunteer opportunities for members; helping with career transitions and working to change the narrative on aging. We also need to increase investment in the Village and its programs from donors and partners to extend our reach and better serve older adults and their families. We need to get the message out that the Village is an organization in which every single dollar invested leads to significant and sustainable results that improves people’s lives and strengthens the fabric of Chicago."

Committed to Community: Rick Stuckey

By Bruce Hunt

“I joined the Village before there was a Village.” Living next to one of the founding families, Mike and Judy Spock, meant that Rick got in on some of the early conversations about what the Village might look like. He was on the Village Board for several years and helped shape the way technology is used by the organization as co-chair (with Marcia Opp) of the Technology Committee that set up the original systems. Technology is still an arena he gets excited about.

The Stuckey BBQ is a Village legend. Originally Rick Stuckey and his wife Lois offered to provide a backyard barbecue for a few folks. That was 8 years ago and the event now is always wait-listed and in recent years, has been offered twice to meet member demand. Rick tells the story with a lilt of surprise in his voice.

Along with Larry Damron, Rick also organizes the popular monthly Men’s Group . Picking the topics for these programs is a balancing act between advance planning and emerging topics. He seems to welcome that kind of challenge. He’s an interesting fellow and gets excited about a lot of things. As a long time member of the Sierra Club, he has acted upon his concern for the environment, and can speak about such things as the politics of climate change and the complexities of campaigns to resist pipelines. He even got arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience for blocking access to the State Department to protest the Keystone XL pipeline.

Closer to the neighborhood, he is hopeful about the promise of the Village’s new Green Team . Their next event on the proposed North Branch Park and Nature Preserve is  tonight , March 6. Guest speakers include Richard Wilson, the architect of the park, Christina Granfield, Executive Director of NBPNP, and Judy Mansueto, a volunteer with NBPNP. Attendees will learn about the exciting vision of the park, the status of the project and what you can do to help make it a reality. There's still time to register for this program— click here for details!

Rick is a regular attendee at the College of Complexes , celebrating the occasional brilliant notion that emerges from this “weird” institution. 

Rick Stuckey is a man of ideas, searching at the boundaries.

Rick and Lois Stuckey

Strong Support Networks: Allies*

*Allies are Village volunteers who help members to be informed and feel confident in their healthcare decisions.

Member Barbara Sciacchitano (Shock–uh-TAHN-oh) wanted to volunteer and brought to the Ally Program the counseling skills she had acquired throughout her career as a college professor. After training, office team member Sarah Brunner paired Barbara up with Joy Marks and introduced the two at Joy’s apartment where she was in the process of moving to Brookdale.

Barbara found Joy stressed and in the midst of making many difficult decisions (Give up the piano? The organ? Both?). She was also experiencing a variety of symptoms and had multiple doctor appointments and tests. Barbara organized and scheduled appointments, accompanied Joy to them, took notes and prompted her to ask questions.

 

The good news is that all the tests were negative and Joy is now much better. She has moved and returned to working two afternoons a week. She says “Barbara was a godsend. She helped me make appointments and made sure I got there. Because of her I felt safe. We have now become friends— have had dinner together and are planning more.” 

The Ally program is just one of the programs that makes the Village unique, with members, all aged 50+, contributing gifts and skills to support each other and to strengthen our communities. 

By the way, Joy kept the organ.

Integrating Networks of Old and Young:

Celebrating the Launch of Ageless Innovators

On March 5, Chicago Innovation and The Village Chicago celebrated the launch of Chicago's first intergenerational co-mentoring program dubbed "Ageless Innovators." Tom Kuczmarski, Co-Founder of Chicago Innovation commented, “Whether it is learning how to use the latest technology, growing your network, or understanding how to scale a start-up, you’re never too old—or young—to grow and learn from others.”

This program takes a unique reciprocal approach in that all the participants are mentors. Each pair of participants are separated by at least one generation and matched based on their interests, goals and work history with the objective of learning about specific topics from one another. Avery Stone Fish, Ageless Innovators Program Manager says, “We believe that cultivating this community of intergenerational innovators will help build organizational and technical skills, while addressing social issues such as ageism in the workplace.”

Ageless Innovators was made possible by a generous grant from The Retirement Research Foundation, one of the nation's leading foundations supporting research and programs on older adults.

Avery Stone Fish announcing the first round of Ageless Innovator Mentors

The Bridging Generations Board

Ageism isn’t only about older adults—think of all those millennial stereotypes. In January we introduced The Village’s Bridging Generations Board, a group of young people who, through meaningful connections among generations, are actively seeking to dispel preconceptions, and destroy the barriers that segregate us by age.

Activities Update

"The Bridgers" as they are affectionately called, have already held an inter- generational book discussion about Marc Freedman’s How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations . This discussion was a hit and so they are planning another in April. Also on the way is an intimate inter-generational dinner in early March; the possibility of a Trivia Night, and a community volunteer project when the weather gets nicer. Several Bridgers are also serving in the first cohort of the Ageless Innovators program. Just people, being together, sharing interests, building community.

Artis Senior Living Lakeview

The Village Chicago is proud and pleased to have Artis Senior Living as a sponsor and partner. The partnership is off to a great start with Village members attending several Artis programs on dementia and memory care and Artis generously providing hospitality at two major Village events.

In early February, Artis hosted Lakeview Circle and other Village members at a presentation by Dr. Sherrie All, "Brain Destiny: Everyday Choices to Lower Your Risk for Dementia and Change Your Life." The event included a tour of the facility and lunch. Former Village board member Mary Ann Schwartz said afterward, “I know I speak for everyone who attended when I say we look forward to future programs and we are delighted that Artis Senior Living is now in our neighborhood.”

Artis is the newest facility in Chicago dedicated truly to memory care. Residents will be able to move in late March. Artis’ new building is designed as “neighborhoods” for Memory Care and can accommodate 96 residents. They will also have 40 apartments in assisted living. The facility features ample, attractive gathering places for exercise, dining, activities, educational and cultural programs, recreation, TV shows and movies (complete with a popcorn machine!)—and even well-equipped barber shop and hair salon.  

Artis’ philosophy is person-centered care. They have programs in place to create the best environment for residents, such as providing care partners with insight into each patient’s life history, interests, hobbies and experiences. 

On February 28, Artis’ Director of Community Relations, Amy Keefner and director of Marketing Nancy Arnold, along with other Artis leadership and staff, welcomed Village representatives to a very well-attended grand opening event.

Ms. Keefner said, “We are getting great feedback from the guests --- doctors, social workers, geriatric care managers and the community—they are all excited about the community and what it promises for memory care.” 

The Village Chicago 10 ^th Anniversary

Celebration and Benefit!

June 4, 2019