Posts in category: blog

By Ted Fong

Maeley Tom’s new book “I’m Not Who You Think I Am” is aptly titled. Residents at ACC Care Center know Maeley as a skilled vocalist whose performances have brought them immense joy over the years. Yet behind her smooth, jazzy voice is her other voice that, for  decades, transformed California politics. Those who know her as a politico will find her personal story and innermost thoughts fascinating.

Maeley Tom is a trailblazer who spent her career bringing Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA) into the political process. Getting them elected. Getting them appointed. And she did so while serving at the highest levels of State government, working on presidential campaigns, and more. 

Maeley was the Chief Administrative Officer of the California State Assembly and Chief of Staff to the President of the State Senate, David Roberti. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed her to serve on the Women’s Business Ownership Commission. She was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee during Bill Clinton’s presidency at the invitation of DNC Chairman Ron Brown. In every decade since the 70s, Maeley shattered a new glass ceiling, bringing others with her. 

Her new book reveals how she brought together people with power, money, and influence. Often, she was doing the influencing.

Maeley explains how her upbringing, like her political career, was anything but traditional. Her parents were famous Chinese opera stars who were not able to raise her. They sent her to live with a French Basque woman in the Richmond District. At age 16, Maeley was self sufficient and financially independent.

After graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in Social Welfare, Maeley recalls, “I looked forward to a profession where I would be able to help people in need, as I had been helped during my times of need.” If she only knew what lay ahead.

A master storyteller, Maeley describes her political journey from the very beginning, spanning from Sacramento to Washington, D.C. As a woman and ethnic minority, she plowed through many challenges that faced her. Fortunately, she was good at reading people, understanding their doubts and prejudices, and connecting with them in a positive way. Maeley learned very quickly how politics worked as her star rose.

As a high governmental appointee, Maeley was in a unique position to build an APIA political movement. Elected officials and grassroots organizations alike followed her drumbeat. In her book, page after page, name after name, Maeley recounts the details. She also expresses her gratitude to just about every collaborator she could remember. 

One person she brings up repeatedly is Georgette Imura, who she says, “shared my passion and vision of change.” Maeley and Georgette stepped up to be the “face that took the risks” to promote the APIA political agenda. In a first, they formed the Asian Pacific Legislative Staff Caucus at the state Capitol. Current ACC Board member Joyce Iseri was in this group.

Throughout her book, Maeley describes situations where people misjudged her or were downright prejudiced. Her story about interviewing for a top job with State Assembly Rules Committee Chairman Lou Papan is a good example. It fit a certain pattern. Once people found out who she really was (hence the title of the book), whom she was connected with, and what her capabilities were, they changed their views about her. Many became allies. 

Maeley details the Clinton fundraising scandal and how much she suffered at the hands of congressional investigators and the press looking for high-value targets with Asian ties. It was the low point in her career. But key people stood up for her. Close friends mended her spirits and got her past this crisis.

Maeley says her husband Ron Tom was “the source of stability in the family,” especially during this difficult time and others, like her mother’s passing and her bout with cancer. Ron and Maeley have been married for 50 years and have a daughter, Stephanie.

Maeley participated in this year’s Big Day of Giving at ACC. When asked what her most satisfying achievement was, she said it was mentoring others, so they have the same opportunities that she had. It is no accident that the word “mentor” appears 22 times in her book. As the only child of absentee parents, Maeley writes, “I totally relied on mentors and role models to help me navigate my own life.”

While Maeley is still involved in various public causes, she continues to use the musical gifts she inherited from her parents to enrich the lives of seniors at ACC. One time, after receiving a lengthy introduction at an ACC performance, she told the audience, “These titles mean very little to me, because I am here to sing for you. It’s just me, you, and the music.” In that moment, nothing else mattered to her.

By Scott Okamoto

From 1909 until 2010 the Courtland Library operated out of personal homes and living rooms in the community of Courtland. The Courtland Library was 100 years old in 2010 and for the last 67 years, the library had been run by volunteers. For 23 years of that hundred, it was a county run library. 

In 1992, the country library administration did not renew the lease on the building that housed the Courtland Library (next to the post office). Administration allowed the library to keep its existing collection of books and the River Delta Unified School District gave space on the Courtland Elementary School grounds for the volunteer library to continue. 

From 1993 until 2003, the library was kept open by volunteers. Nonie Wetzel spearheaded the movement to keep the library doors open, where she spent countless hours sorting and shelving books. Nonie and other community members worked tirelessly to keep the library operating. Nonie, having been a teacher for 29 years herself, knew the value and importance of books. She strongly believed that the children of Courtland and their parents deserved easy access to a community library. 

As a fruit of their efforts, on May 1, 2003, the official opening of the new Courtland Library was celebrated. The new library was a collaborative effort of the Sacramento Public Library and the River Delta Unified School District. The new building that houses the library was made possible through a grant of $200,000 by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. Nonie was elated to maintain an accessible location for the community of Courtland where she lived. 

Members of the community felt strongly that the library was still in existence only because of Nonie’s leadership and the efforts of her fellow volunteers. County Supervisor Don Notolli, the Sacramento Public Library and the River Delta School District were approached by members of the community for permission to rename the library in Nonie’s honor. The request was approved unanimously and on August 21, 2016 a renaming ceremony was held and the library is now officially known as “Nonie Wetzel Courtland Community Library”. 

Nonie was born in Alturas, CA, but was raised in Portland Oregon. Nonie’s mother was a homemaker and worked in her family owned restaurant. Her father was a laborer and worked in the lumber mills. She said that her parents always prompted her and her brothers to “go to school and get a good education.” They encouraged Nonie to attend college and follow her dreams of becoming a teacher. 

Nonie moved to Yreka, CA, where she graduated high school. Shortly thereafter, she met and married her husband, and they lived together in Eugene, Oregon. Their move to Sacramento enabled Nonie to attend California State University and graduate with her degree in Childhood Development and Education. Their eventual move to Courtland was sight unseen. “My husband got a job in Courtland, which we had never visited, but it allowed me to go to California State, so we were off,” she said. 

Following college graduation, Nonie started a family and welcomed their two children, a daughter who was a successful attorney, and a son who became a successful landscape designer. 

Nonie and her husband both continued their careers as teachers while raising two children. Nonie taught Consumer and Homemaking Education while her husband taught Science. She affectionately added, “I was a good teacher, but he was excellent!” Nonie left teaching when her daughter passed away from cancer and her husband needed her at home. Later she would become a consultant for the State Department of Education. 

Nonie now calls ACC Maple Tree Village home and is excited to once again start a library from the ground up. Nonie says that she would “love to see a variety of books…including a good fiction section.” She says that with the help and generosity of book readers in the community, “the library will build itself overtime. There are a lot of generous people out there.” ACC Maple Tree Village is now accepting donations of current books in new or gently used condition to begin their community library accessible for residents and staff. Under the guidance of Nonie, ACC Maple Tree Village’s Resident Library is sure to share the love and appreciation of books for years to come! 

They were at the right place at the right time. ACC Rides driver Hoa Tran was following Meals on Wheels driver George Spatta in early May, assisting in meal deliveries. On that day, a senior did not answer his door. Following the “welfare check” protocol, the drivers looked through windows to check on the occupant. The residence was dark, but Hoa saw the senior lying flat on his back on the floor, banging with his cane trying to get attention. Hoa called 911. 

George and Hoa waited at the residence until emergency personnel arrived and broke into the house through a back door. The drivers made sure the senior was in good hands with the emergency personnel before they continued on their meal delivery route. 

Every few weeks, ACC Rides drivers help deliver 3 weeks’ worth of meals to clients. The drivers work as a team, making between 40-70 deliveries per day. 

On commending Hoa, Michelle Bustamante, Meals on Wheels program operations manager, says, “I, too, wish to express my gratitude for your assistance yesterday. George shared with me that due to your keen eyes and ears, that participant was found alive. Though nutritious meals are very important to our participants, you were part of the most important aspect of our program, the welfare check. You are a life saver in the true sense of the word. When we say ‘we are more than just a meal,’ this is exactly what we mean. Thank you, Hoa!”

Kevin McAllister, tMeals on Wheels executive director, also shared his thanks, “Thank you for conducting a welfare check and for calling 911 for our home-delivered meal program participant. Moreover, I appreciate all of the support you’ve provided our team over the last few months. We have an incredible team!”

Hoa said that he was just happy they were delivering meals to that senior that day. “We don’t know how long he was on the floor, probably one night or longer. He didn’t have much clothes on and was very, very cold. If we hadn’t found him that day, it could have been ‘game over.’” 

Always modest, Hoa replied to the accolades, “I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

This year, 2020, is the year of the Census in the United States.  Every person living in the United States is counted.  The number of people living in each state, county and city determines the distribution of Federal resources and funding for programs and services.  

Due to the pandemic and the current political climate, completing the Census is more challenging than usual.  Fortunately, the deadline for completing the Census is Oct. 31, 2020, and Sacramento County has approximately 67% completed. 

Sacramento is a unique county; it has urban areas, such as the City of Sacramento, Elk Grove and Folsom, to rural areas, such as Isleton and Wilton. Each person being counted in each area is important because it determines the amount of Federal funding allocated to our area for hospitals, roads, transportation, emergency grants, education, etc. For older adults, the Census count determines funding for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and housing assistance. For our children, the Census determines funding for early childhood programs such as Head Start, free or reduced-price lunches at school, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. It is critical that everyone in every part of Sacramento County is counted! 

As of May 4, 2020, only 27.66% of the AAPI population in Sacramento County completed the Census. When filling out the Census, count every single individual in the household, from newborns to older adults. Everyone. The person filling out the Census form does not have to be related to everyone living in the household.  Sometimes, people will only report certain family members, because they think being a relative is a requirement and blended families or mixed-immigration status families do not qualify. Everyone living in the home counts in the Census.  We need your help to get the word out about the Census and ensure everyone is counted.

To make sure people are completing the Census, the Census Bureau usually sends out workers who walk door-to-door and ask people to complete the Census. This year, the Census Bureau is prioritizing the health and safety of the public and its employees and will not require any interaction with the public.  The Census workers will NOT ring doorbells or collect data through interpersonal conversation.

Instead, a Census worker may leave a questionnaire at the front door with instructions on how to respond.  It will give a helpful reminder that there are three ways to be counted:

• Online at 2020census.gov
• Call toll-free (4:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. PST) at (844) 330-2020
• Return the paper form in the provided
  envelope

If people complete their Census form promptly, they can avoid having a worker visit their home.  Anyone who attempts to talk to you about completing the Census may be a scammer; they’re only supposed to leave information.

If anyone thinks the person at the door is a scammer, he or she should notify the local police. People may also call 1-800-923-8282 to access help in 13 different languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Japanese. Organizations throughout Sacramento are ready to provide translation or interpretation services to anyone who may need help completing the survey.  You may call ACC Senior Services at (916) 394-6399 ext. 121, if you would like help completing the Census.

By Yee Moua, Social Services Manager, ACC Care Center

Despite the stress that COVID-19 put on ACC, the ACC Care Center brought laughter and high spirits to their residents and their family members by holding a series of parades around Mother’s Day. The parades were held on May 8th, 10th and 11th. We had the challenging task of abiding by strict coronavirus guidelines to keep residents safe, while giving each resident’s family members the opportunity to participate. 

Since the second week of March, all the nursing homes throughout the state of California, including ACC Care Center, have enforced the shelter-in-place and COVID-19 mitigations. As seen throughout the nation, there were breakouts in skilled nursing facilities and announcements that senior citizens are identified as an at-risk group. The primary purpose for the shelter-in-place is to protect the senior residents from potential exposure to COVID-19. Through this challenging time, so-called nonessential visitors, including family members, are not permitted to come into the facility.  

ACC Care Center follows the strict guidelines issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and CDPH (California Department of Public Health). Special circumstances are required for those family who may visit. For example, family may visit upon review from administration when the resident has actively declined in condition (non-related to COVID-19) or is receiving hospice care. As for our residents and their family members who could not visit, precious time passed without actual physical visitations. The ACC Care Center team brainstormed ideas to meet the psychosocial needs of the residents and also follow the COVID-19 guidelines.

For instance, the Beauty Shop was converted to a video conference room where families can arrange for Skype video calls with residents. Special window visits are permitted upon arrangements with management. Consistent assignment was implemented between each neighborhood lane (unit) for infection control purposes, yet establishing continued rapport of caregivers and frontline staff. The Activities department implemented special activities which are individualized to each resident, provided room visits for socializations while residents and staff wore face masks and practiced social distancing. 

After nearly seven weeks without seeing their families and loved ones, the ACC Care Center staff organized Family Drive-through Parades. ACC Care Center Administrator Tamara Kario commented that “in the midst of this pandemic, the goal of hosting these parades is to bridge our residents with their families while still maintaining social distancing.”  The parades were held on multiple days to accommodate the residents and their family members. Invitations went out two weeks prior to the parades, allowing family members time to RSVP. This allowed each resident to take part on a particular day and time and reunited residents with their loved ones from a distance. 

The cars were decorated in colorful balloons, had signs with positive messages, streamers, and window paint. The residents, families and staff showed their enthusiasm in the parade. Some memorable moments were when family members waved cheerfully through the moon roof of a car and the therapy team loaded staff onto a pick-up truck bed to cheer on the crowd. For the residents, family members made heartwarming messages and banners in different languages. Music, water, and drinks were provided to residents. The residents also enjoyed throwing water balloons at the staff cars and the ACC company truck. Participants also used noisemakers and honked their cars, which pumped up the energy of the audience. 

The turnout was astounding during all three days and everyone was in high spirits. Many residents and family members smiled, laughed, and cried tears of joy when they saw each other. Even though it was from a distance, it was emotional yet reassuring seeing their loved ones were safe and being able to talk to one another. Through experiencing these drive-through parades, it was assuring for residents and families to physically see their loved ones.  

The ACC Care Center staff was very supportive of these parades. Every department collaborated to make these parades special. The staff also enjoyed the festivities of the parades along with the residents and the family members. Even during these challenging times, the ACC Care Center continues to make every effort to not only keep the residents safe but also happy.

The answer is: We will continue to provide services.  While at this writing we do not have in-person services, we are working on how to make that happen. All departments are consulting Department of Public Health guidelines and developing new policies and procedures that ensure safety and social distancing. We need to hear your ideas. Please complete the survey below.

Utilities Education & Assist-ance Program. Susan Sarinas is still assisting people with utility bills. With so many people unemployed and worrying about payments, Susan has been extra busy. ACC’s contract to provide this free service was renewed as of June 1. This program is for everyone, not just seniors, so be sure to contact her at ssarinas@accsv.org or 916-393-9026 x 339 to see how she can help lower your Internet or TV bill as well as phone or PG&E bill. 

Bridge to Healthy Families Caregiver Support Program led by Soojin Yoo, MSW, works with family caregivers via phone, email, US mail, and Zoom. She has been maintaining our support groups by email, and they are now transitioning to using Zoom. Soojin also plans to teach a “Powerful Tools for Caregiver” series in the near future. Will it be online? Maybe. Email her for more information syoo@accsv.org.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Staffers Jeri, Peggy, and Haroon are also busy providing service remotely. Our participants must prove their program eligibility annually and complete education/development tasks biannually. Providing documentation is difficult for seniors without smart phones, computers, and copying machines and who don’t have cars.  Staff are doing their best to overcome these challenges. Expect changes to the office as the team plans on installing plexiglass or other barriers and making other social distancing changes.

Lifelong Learning & Well-ness Program (LLWP) is the community program that has been hit the hardest as most everything has paused. We do have one meditation class online and are planning a yoga class. The pickleball group may be our first activity to return to ACC.  Susan will have a Zoom session with instructors to discuss changes to classes. LLWP is in the same category as “community centers” in the phases of re-opening California. 

ACC Rides has re-started “essential rides” to grocery stores and medical appointments. Of course, we utilize strict safety measures. Everyone must wear PPE (personal protective equipment). Vehicles are sanitized after every ride and each evening, and these safety measures take time. Because we have some drivers on leave and no volunteers, we cannot provide transportation at our pre-COVID capacity—for now. However, staff have been busy. They contacted 3,000+ riders in the database for a wellness check. They help Meals on Wheels and Great Plates deliver food. Two drivers recently went above and beyond. In addition to Hoa Tran saving a senior’s life (see article on page 6), a driver, Keng Thor, put out a vehicle fire on 1-5. Kudos to our hero drivers!

By Darrick Lam,
President and CEO,
ACC Senior Services

Black lives matter. The senseless killing of George Floyd and others by the police shows that bigotry and discrimination against African Americans will keep growing unless we step outside of our comfort zone and take real action. 

I’ve talked to many ACC employees who are outraged, hurt, and threatened by this latest round of police brutality, especially those who have experienced unbridled prejudice in the past.  I believe ACC needs to explore ways to break its silence and join the worldwide community to condemn the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other African Americans. We cannot continue to tolerate the deaths that have shocked the nation’s conscience or the bigotry and discrimination that foster it.  

Today, many people, including victims of violence, are afraid to call the police, fearing that more harm than good will result. As a trained social worker, I agree with the view that policing alone cannot solve the underlying causes of social problems.  

Thousands of protesters marched in downtown Sacramento on June 6, 2020. More than 750 cities in U.S. held protests since the killing of George Floyd. 

You might wonder what this has to do with our mission to care for seniors. Seniors, too, can be victims of discrimination, violence, and abuse. If we focus only on what we consider “our business,” then it becomes easier for destructive forces to divide and harm us. When our neighbors are fighting for social justice, we must step in and support their fight to be treated with the same dignity and respect due to every person. Protests around the world in the wake of Mr. Floyd’s death are a catalyst for populist change and we have an opportunity to be part of this change.

I fully agree with an article published by TIME Magazine on June 9^th that “lasting change won’t happen without actively deconstructing our beliefs about race…in order to make social and economic change in a society rife with institutional racism, it’s not enough to not be racist, but rather people need to be actively anti-racist. For many people learning how to be a helpful ally, the best place to start is educating themselves and listening.” 

We often use our own culture and values as a measuring stick to determine how and why we treat people the way we do. We forget to ask ourselves, “How does this person want to be treated, not based on my values and culture, but theirs?” Or, “Do I even know their culture and values well enough to know if I’m treating them with respect?” These questions are the basis of ethical human interaction. We all need to learn, to grow, and to fully appreciate other people. 

We can begin our fight for social justice by asking ourselves these questions:  

• How can we help African Americans and other communities of color obtain justice? 
• What can we do to reduce implicit biases, racial injustice, and inequality in our institutions, not just law enforcement? 
• How can we protect the rights of all our citizens regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, age, or country of origin? 
• What can we do to invest in our community to educate our young and old, fight racism, and give would-be victims new life-changing opportunities?

It’s time for ACC to take real action and join our neighbors in support of causes that address racial violence in this country.  Please let me know if you would like to join me in this long overdue fight for social justice. For those who are interested in a dialogue, please email your comments or questions to info@accsv.org.