All posts by : Dave Lin

Kaley Wong had been out of work for 10 years when she decided she wanted to make a change in her life. Tired of being at home and wanting to help support her family, Kaley enrolled in the ACC’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in order to find a regular job. When ACC started SCSEP in February of 2017, Kaley was assigned as a clerk at a Goodwill Store.

While the work there kept her busy and she learned a great deal about retail, Kaley was looking for something that was a better fit not only for her language skills (she is bilingual in English and Cantonese), but focused more on caregiving.  The ACC SCSEP staff worked with her to redefine her job career goals and found a match for Kaley at our own Care Center in Activities. 

Kaley began her assignment in April of 2018. This turned out to be a great match. The Care Center needed help with keeping their residents active and stimulated, and her ability to communicate in Cantonese really helped her bond with many of the clients there.  Kaley helps clients with entertainment, physical activities and socializing.

As the months passed, Kaley developed great relationships with the residents and they soon came to really look forward to and enjoy their time with her.  Kaley really also appreciated being able to use her native language to help as well.  Eleven months later, the ACC Care Center decided to make Kaley a permanent member of their Activities staff, and both Kaley and management could not be happier. Activity Director Debbie Williams described Kaley as an easy person to train because she was already a perfect fit for the role, especially given her language ability. Add to that the fact that the clients really love Kaley, hiring her was an easy decision to make.

Kaley is grateful for the opportunity that SCSEP offered her and would like all older people to know that even though it may be challenging, you can find work again and you just have to stay positive.

For many leaders and staff members of ACC, supporting the organization’s mission of serving older adults is more than just a job, but an opportunity to develop fulfilling careers and find enrichment in enhancing and preserving the quality of life for the community’s seniors and their families.

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Tony Waterford is one such person at ACC who strives to go above and beyond his duties to represent and support the organization’s mission and vision. Leading ACC’s Human Resources Department, Waterford describes his position as one that allows him to “serve as a strategic partner adept at leading change in support of a growing and changing company and be a leader and champion for a healthy, safe, and engaged workforce.”

Tony discusses a leadership tool with Chia Moua and David Lin

Although his day-to-day job duties keep him busy, Waterford finds the time to show his commitment to the community’s seniors in a variety of ways. With a talent and interest in singing and dancing, Waterford often performs at major ACC events like the Big Day of Giving party every May, and emcees the annual Care Center Fundraiser in September.  At these events, he enjoys singing hits from a variety of genres that include country, disco, and pop. Tony also hosts ACC’s annual staff holiday party, and gives concerts for ACC Care Center residents and visitors every month.

“Having the opportunity to perform at Care Center concerts and ACC fundraising events is a ‘bonus’ for me,” he said. “When I was a child, my three siblings and I dreamed of becoming professional entertainers. While my parents supported our dreams, they emphasized the importance of getting a good education, and I was ultimately groomed to become an HR professional and entertainer. Their advice paid off!”

Originally from Chicago, Waterford’s early beginnings include an interest in aviation, and he became a cadet in the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. However, over time, he developed a new found passion for community health and public administration, which led him to complete a Masters of Arts degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and go on to a fulfilling career in human resources.

Now approaching his ninth year at ACC, Waterford has seen how much the organization has changed over the last decade, and why a strong team of leadership, staff, and volunteers is important to its success. “I am amazed and excited about the continued growth of ACC and Meals on Wheels by ACC (MoW),” he said. “I am very fortunate to be part of an organization that embraces change, champions diversity, and celebrates success.”

Tony and Maeley Tom put on a Christmas show with special guest Darrick lam at ACC Care Center last December

According to Waterford, the combined workforce of ACC and MoW has grown over 50 percent since 2010, and will continue to grow as ACC prepares for its grand opening of ACC Maple Tree Village, an assisted living and memory care center slated to open later this year.

With this projected growth, Waterford will continue to work towards building and supporting a workforce that truly desires to enhance the quality of life for seniors and their caregivers and families. “To serve our community and have an impact on the quality of life of seniors is precious,” he said. “I think that many of our employees and volunteers have chosen careers (not jobs) at ACC and MoW, and as Confucius says, ‘Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ That says it all for me.”

If you type “Pickleball Sacramento” in Google’s search bar, it may come as no surprise that the first result in the Google Maps directory is ACC Senior Services. This may be because ACC is home to some of the first ever pickleball courts in Sacramento, and also a popular gathering place for longtime and beginner players alike.

“We get people from everywhere vacationing or visiting Sacramento calling to ask where they can play pickleball,” said Program Director Linda Revilla. We went from three to four courts just to keep up with the demand. There are even people in their 80’s and 90’s playing.”

Revilla believes the sport is popular in the community because it allows players to get good exercise, meet new friends, and learn a fun new hobby.

Revilla shared a personal example of pickleball’s ability to attract new enthusiasts: “My friends played pickleball once and they went out that night and bought pickleball equipment. They were hooked after the first time.”

Program Assistant Anna Su agrees, and admits she occasionally takes breaks to see pickleball matches. “Sometimes I go outside to watch the players because it’s fun to watch,” she said. “People get addicted to it!”

With features similar to tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, the pickleball craze shows no signs of slowing down.

With features similar to tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, the pickleball craze shows no signs of slowing down. Although the sport was created in 1965, a 2018 AARP report states that pickleball is one of America’s fastest growing sports, and found that players experienced positive health benefits like lower levels of depression and improved blood pressure.

Throughout Sacramento and many parts of the country, it’s common to see municipal tennis courts alternatively used as pickleball courts, just by making simple temporary changes to the lines or nets.

Despite its current popularity, pickleball has only been at ACC for a few years and will begin its fifth season this March. Sunny Jung, Heman Lee, and Jeannie Fong were among the first volunteers to help establish pickleball at ACC, and have seen the impact it has made on the ACC community.

In 2015, Jung, Lee, Fong, and a few other dedicated volunteers were instrumental in helping ACC receive a grant from the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) to build its first courts. Led by an all-volunteer effort, ACC’s pickleball courts were ready for action once lines were painted, equipment was purchased, and clinics were organized.

Clinics are especially important because they introduce new and interested people to the sport, and the instructors strongly emphasize that pickleball is more about enjoying oneself than being competitive. “Our focus has always been to teach people how to play the game, socialize, and have fun, said Jung, who organizes and leads many of the clinics alongside Gary Elias Berg, another longtime player. “Even if you played little to no sports growing up, it’s a very easy game to learn. You can learn to play in a matter of minutes.” Jung adds that pickleball is not an intimidating or high-impact sport, especially because the average game only lasts about ten to fifteen minutes. “You may find pickleball is less stressful on your body,” he said.

To usher in the new season, the next ACC Pickleball clinic will take place on March 15, 2019, at 12:30 p.m in the ACC Community Room. The clinic will provide an overview and brief history of the sport, and attendees will get a chance to see tutorials and have one-on-one time with skilled pickleball players.

But for those who cannot make the clinic, new players are always welcome on the court. Drop-in sessions are on Wednesday and Friday mornings beginning March 20, and only cost $3 for three hours, which covers equipment on loan. Session schedules are dependent on weather, so it’s important to call ACC Programs on rainy days to check whether times are subject to change. There will also be a pickleball tournament at ACC’s Big Day of Giving Party on May 2, 2019, where players will showcase their skills on the courts.

Jung and Fong encourage others try pickleball because along with physical fitness, new friendships and great team camaraderie are bonuses. “We have potlucks and socials,” said Fong. “It’s just a very social group. You meet people who will leave an imprint in your heart for life.”

For more information on ACC Pickleball, including schedules and clinics, contact ACC Programs at (916) 393-9026. To donate to ACC Pickleball, please write a check to “ACC Pickleball” and mail it to ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831. Donations to ACC Pickleball go towards maintenance and repairs of ACC’s pickleball courts and equipment.

​Picketball Terminology

From www.pickleballportal.com

Ace: A serve that is not returned by the opponent. Point is won on serve without being returned.

Dink Shot: A soft that arcs over the net and falls into the opposing non-volley zone.

Doubles: Pickleball game played between 4 people (2 on each team). Teams can be men, women or mixed doubles.

Overhead Shot: Any shot hit where the paddle starts high above your head and drives downward, similar to the motion of a tennis serve.​

Serve: An underhand stroke used to put the pickleball into play. Serving team has two attempts to serve the point. ​Paddle must contact the ball under the server’s waist level.

Volley: Hitting the ball in the air before the ball has a chance to bounce onto the pickleball court.

Kitchen: The non-volley zone on either side of the net. If you are standing in the kitchen, you must let the ball bounce before hitting it.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of Art & Barbara Tom, the ACC Senior Services Capital Campaign is 67% of the way towards the $3 million goal. Their $500,000 matching gift and the $500,000 raised from hundreds of other households raised $1,000,000.  The campaign pledges and gifts to date total $2,018,819 and 97% of the pledges to date have been fulfilled.

The $1 million contributed through the matching gift remains dedicated to the ACC Care Center transformation project.  ACC is currently engaged with the Fox Group in a market study the results of which will guide the decision making for the future of skilled nursing care at the ACC Care Center. To date, Capital Campaign gifts have helped renovate the ACC Senior Services campus at 7334 Park City Drive, funded the conversion of the assisted living units at Greenhaven Terrace and helped pave the way for Maple Tree Village.

Thanks to everyone – all 2,491 gifts and pledge donors – who have supported the Capital Campaign through each of the phases since its launch in 2013.   The promise of assisted living and memory care at Maple Tree Village will be fulfilled in the next year followed  by the vision for the ACC Care Center.

ACC is the Sacramento County office for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a federally-funded program specifically targeting older adults who seek employment assistance and job training.

Operating under the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), SCSEP assists program participants who receive on-the-job training and career development at host agencies, which include other nonprofits and government offices. SCSEP Program Manager Dave Lin said, “We have had a very steady interest in SCSEP,” he said. “We usually have about 100 people on our waiting list at any given time.”

While there are currently over 50 host agencies that work with SCSEP participants, Lin states that there are unique challenges that affect older adults finding successful employment. Among these barriers is the lack of transportation. For many seniors, simply getting to a job site or interview is a hurdle that can hinder finding work.

According to a 2009 report released by the National Coalition for the Homeless, 25 percent of homeless people cite lack of transportation as a major barrier to finding employment. A similar 2015 AARP study determined that even in metropolitan cities with populations of 250,000 to 1 million people, 61 percent of seniors have poor access to reliable transportation.

ACC Program Director David Lin conducts quarterly training for SCSEP participants.

SCSEP hopes that providing bus passes for program participants will help them get to their respective host agencies or interviews, and reduce the stress that often comes with job hunting. Lin also hopes that the program will continue to help older adults develop valuable work skills. “What I would like to see is an increase in the number of participants we are able to serve,” he said.

How to help: A $50 donation would provide one monthly bus pass to a SCSEP participant and help him or her get to a job training site or interview. To donate, please make checks payable to ACC Senior Services and write “SCSEP donation” on the check memo or mailing envelope. You can mail your donation to ACC or donate online at www.accsv.org, where you can also find more information about the SCSEP program.

On Nov. 6, 2018, ACC volunteer Carol Ichiho was recognized at the 2018 Heroes of Human Services Awards, a ceremony honoring those who have shown outstanding commitment to the community through advocacy and service. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Human Services Coordinating Council hosted this event, and Board Supervisor Patrick Kennedy (District 2) personally presented the award to Ms. Ichiho.

As a volunteer at ACC for over 12 years, Ms. Ichiho credits ACC’s positive environment and fellow volunteers and staff as reasons for her ongoing dedication to ACC. She said, “I’m surrounded by friendly and happy people and that’s what keeps me coming back.”