Jane Andersen

Jane Andersen’s nominator described her as a 72 year old bundle of energy who can’t say no to a good cause.  And on reading her exhaustive list of volunteer activities we have to agree!
A tireless volunteer at the Andrus Gerontology Center, Ms. Andersen raises money for gerontology students and fights ageism through community awareness initiatives. She’s also on their executive board where she helps plan programs related to health and meaningful aging.
After her own battle with breast cancer 16 years ago, Ms. Andersen became an active member of the American Cancer Society where she has been a peer counselor, program coordinator, and more recently has become a legislative ambassador, advocating for better legislation to improve access to screening and treatments. And locally, Ms. Andersen is a surrogate parent and advocate for special needs foster children in the Los Angeles public schools. 
Ms. Andersen has found that “quality of life” was the key to making life meaningful even as physical decline is imminent. And she’s found a quality of life by working to promote social justice for the elderly, youth, people with disabilities, and others in need.

Bobbie Bond

Our next awardee was  nominated by three different individuals, and after reading about how much she does on so many fronts we’re convinced there must be two or three Bobbie Bond’s! 
Ms. Bond is a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Aging, and a leader of the Oakland Senior Shuttle—a partnership providing transportation for thousands of seniors who might otherwise go without.  She’s also does community organizing with the Laurel and Redwood heights neighborhoods as chair of the Crime Prevention Council.
And Ms. Bond also created and helps lead the “Feet on the Street” program in several local housing projects, providing group walks and thus new freedom to seniors who might otherwise be too frightened to go outdoors.  And she has taken the lead on many healthy living programs at senior centers in Oakland.  She coordinates an intergenerational lunch program for seniors, working with Youth Uprising at Castlemont High School, a program that trains students to be chefs and caters lunches at local senior centers.
Ms. Bond’s commitment to listening to the seniors in her community and finding ways to make their lives safer, healthier, more fulfilling is why we are thrilled to honor her as a Senior Leader.

Thea Gast

For seniors living in rural areas who aren’t able to drive, independence and quality of life can be severely curtailed with the lack of access to public transportation.  But that’s no longer the case for seniors in Arcata, thanks largely to the work of our next awardee, Thea Gast.
As a member of the California Senior Legislature, member of the Advisory Council of her Area Agency on Aging, and member of the Humboldt County Regional Transportation Citizen Advisory Committee, Mrs. Gast has introduced and supported legislation to provide appropriate transportation options for older adults, and she has planned education events for seniors to become more familiar with bus routes through Senior Bus Days.
Her desire to build community capacity is also seen in the work she’s done to develop active aging fitness classes, a medication management program, a bi-county osteoporosis prevention program, and supportive housing for people with disabilities.
And we have to add that when offered a plane trip down to the senior leaders event, Mrs. Gast politely declined, saying that she’d be taking the train instead.  ”I’m a big advocate for public transportation, you know!” she told Marty.   And we’re big advocates for Thea Gast.

 Ruth Gottstein        

Our next awardee also hales from rural California, and specifically Amador County which has the second highest senior population in the state.At 84, Ruth Gottstein volunteers at a pace that would make most younger people reach for the nearest chair. She is now serving her second 3 year term of the Amador Commission on Aging, serves on the county Domestic Violence Council, and represents seniors and their issues as the County puts forward it’s next general plan.        
Mrs. Gottstein also works with a grassroots project promoting fitness after 50. And in her spare time, she is a member of the Volcano Community Association, the Amador County Council for Smart Growth and the Progressive Women’s Group which is trying to hold media accountable for providing accurate, thorough reporting.        
The former publisher of Volcano Press, Mrs. Gast also now serves as a volunteer advisor to her successor (and son) Adam, and she writes a pro bono column on senior issues for a local paper. And as a firm believer in connecting personal troubles to public issues, Mrs. Gottstein works hard to fight the lack of availability – and the high price – of assistive devices for the hearing impaired. Mrs. Gast’s commitment to social justice issues, especially for seniors, is why we’re thrilled to have her here as a California Senior Leader.

Georgia Lacy 

10% of all the uninsured in Berkeley and Oakland, including many seniors, receive high quality health and medical attention from a wonderful network of clinics known as Lifelong Medical Care.  Our next honoree, Georgia Lacy, was selected in part for her leadership, advocacy, policymaking, and fundraising as Vice Chair of the Board for Lifelong, and her leadership role on the Center’s Diversity Committee. 
Ms. Lacy has also supported healthy aging by volunteering to provide basic preventive health care services to seniors at Down’s Memorial Methodist Church. And in her own Truelight Baptist Church, where she has been a member since childhood, she now assists with their homeless meals program, transportation for seniors with disabilities, and visiting residents in local nursing homes.
Ms. Lacy was chosen for this award because of her very strong and continued advocacy for health care for the elderly and people of all ages.  Whether meeting with local political leaders or providing services to low and middle income African American seniors in Berkeley and Oakland, Ms. Lacy acts on her strong belief that health is a right, not a privilege, and that all seniors should live in an environment that promotes emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.