140 individuals gathered at the Ferguson Community Center on October 1, celebrating the International Day of the Older Person by attending the 2015 VillAGE Symposium: Empowering Ourselves to Impact Our Diverse Communities. Sponsored by Bilingual International Assistant Services and the St. Louis Minority Advocacy Coalition (MAC), with generous support from the Missouri Office of Minority Health (OMH), the event featured educational, wellness and recreational components as well as community resource information and opportunities to “Make a Difference” through volunteering. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Mike Brewer, OMH Chief Officer Joseph Palm and Ferguson Mayor James Knowles welcomed the lively group of seniors, volunteers and vendors, who next enjoyed Marlene Chertok presenting “Laughter for the Health of It.” Additional highlights included breakout sessions, Loretta M. Davis (“the face of AARP)” speaking on “The Value of Volunteering,” presentations by Mark Smith and Sarah Levinson about our two local Area Agencies on Aging and recognition of three St. Louis area “Seniors Making a Difference.” Most of the 80 active seniors who attended rated the activities as “excellent” and look forward to attending future VillAGE events.
Special thanks to Saint Louis Area Agency on Aging for ensuring healthy meals and great support to the event.
From left to right is Michael Brewer, chief, Bureau of Senior Programs, Julia Ostropolsky, CEO of Bilingual International, and Joseph Palm, Chief of Office of Minority Health MO Department of Health and Senior Services
From left to right: Mary Wang, MPH, Julia Ostropolsky, LCSW, Ellen Sherman, MA Gerontology, Dianne Carty, BA, Mai Lisi, MSW candidate 2016, Bilingual International Assistant Services
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