County leaders seeking input at May 14 Virtual Senior Town Hall

Winters and rural residents will have an opportunity to ask elected official questions and contribute ideas on how to best to implement the California Master Plan for Aging to create an age-friendly community on May 14. Sheila A. Allen, Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance executive director, said the The Virtual Senior Town Hall series is a follow up about what action items can now be taken locally to reach the county’s age-friendly goals. All ages are invited to participate because everyone has a role in age-friendly communities. Older community members are encouraged to attend in order to speak to their city’s specific needs. Allen said it’s important for local residents to participate at their community’s event and give their input so local elected officials and the Winters Senior Commission on Aging can meet their needs in a way that they define them. City Manager Kathleen Trepa said Winters is a diverse community and nurturing the bonds between the different subsets within our community enrich all of our lives. “Promoting an age friendly environment that brings people together benefits everyone. And for seniors, ensuring that they are still connected socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally improves quality of life,” said Trepa. “And those benefits ripple through the rest of the community.” Trepa said we have much to learn from our elders, as well as from younger generations who bring in fresh, new perspectives. “I think bringing people together with diverse perspectives and experiences helps increase understanding; it builds community; it creates connections that perhaps we hadn’t thought about. The creativity, collaboration and spirit of mutual aid in Winters really shines when we work together,” Trepa said. Each of the town hall events will be held virtually via Zoom and run from 10 a.m. to noon. A call-in option and Spanish translation are also available. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of elected officials, provide their input and discuss a vision for an age-friendly community. Yolo residents may attend any of the town hall events, regardless of which city they live in live. However, each town hall will be focused on how to implement an age-friendly community in that specific city. Winters and Rural Yolo The Winters and Rural Senior Town Hall will be held on Friday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The elected officials will include Supervisor Don Saylor and Mayor Wade Cowan. To join on Zoom, use the following link: https://tinyurl.com/kjfunscn. Registration is encouraged, but is not required to attend. West Sacramento The West Sacramento Senior Town Hall will be held on Friday, May 21 and features elected officials Supervisor Oscar Villegas and Mayor Martha Guerrero. To join on Zoom, use the following link: https://tinyurl.com/kjfunscn. To register for either of the town hall events visit https://www.yolohealthyaging.org/events. The Virtual Senior Town Hall series will include updates from elected officials on aging from their level of government, followed by the opportunity for attendees to ask the elected officials questions. The Five Bold Goals of the Master Plan for Aging will also be reviewed, and a follow up on the 2019 senior town halls. Attendees will also break out to have smaller group discussions on how best to implement these goals in each community. For more information, or to register without a computer, contact Sheila Allen at 530-757-5583 or Sheila.allen@yolohealthyaging.org. The town hall series are co-sponsored by Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance, the Yolo County Commission on Aging and Adult Services and local aging and senior commissions and supported through a grant from The SCAN Foundation https://www.thescanfoundation.org/.