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Celebrating Our Centenarians: Ai Tanaka

Ai Tanaka carries herself with the same grace as she did when she performed traditional Japanese dance in her youth.

She was born in Loomis, CA, in November 1918. Her family returned to Japan to take care of her grandparents. Her father had a fish farm there. She worked for the telephone company. 

Ai longed to return to her birthplace in Loomis, but the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 prevented this. When she was 18, she finally returned to the U.S. by ship. “I was sick the whole time,” she says. 

The purpose of the trip was to meet her future husband, Mitsuo Tanaka, a farm laborer. “I picked him myself,” she said but most likely the marriage was arranged by her father who had many friends in the U.S. 

Ai Takana (left) at 18 with her high friend.

The Tanakas had three daughters – Carole, Judy and Rory. During World War II, they were sent to Camp Amache in the southeastern part of Colorado.  “Living in the camp was okay.  I was busy taking care of the kids.”  

After the war, Ai and her family returned to Sacramento. They slept on cots at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento located on O Street until they could find permanent housing. They eventually settled into a home in the Hollywood Park neighborhood.  

Ai’s husband found work as a projectionist, and she continued being a homemaker.  Her daughter Judy Miyao admires her mother’s many talents. “Over the years, she honed her skills in flower arranging and doing traditional Japanese dancing,” she says.

Ai has been blessed with a large, extended family. Per her count, she has maybe 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  Laughing, she says, “I don’t know anymore. There are too many to count!” 

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Celebrating Our Centenarians: Emiko Nakano

Emiko Nakano grew up in Isleton, the second oldest of ten children. Her parents sent her older sister back to Japan to be raised by her grandparents, effectively making Emiko the oldest child in America. Her dad was a farmer, and eventually became a foreman who managed migrant workers.

During Emiko’s youth, the schools she attended were racially segregated. Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese students were sent to “Oriental School” until they reached high school. Emiko was studious and well read. In 1938, Emiko graduated from Rio Vista High School and had her sights on UC Berkeley. She had excellent grades and lots of ambition but could not physically travel to Sacramento or the Bay Area to take the entrance exam due to limited transportation.

Joan of Arc was her hero,  so much so that she adopted “Joan” as her middle name. Emiko’s aspiration to be strong and brave would eventually serve her well during World War II when her family was sent to an internment camp.

Emiko met Mario Masaharu Nakano through a church friend. They got married and had their first child, Tamaye. Then the war broke out, and Emiko’s family and her parents were sent to Tule Lake internment camp. She spent four years there where she gave birth to their second child, Mario Jr.

Like the 120,000 other Japanese sent to internment camps, Emiko led an austere life. They had to deal with cramped living quarters constantly and faced uncertainty about their future.

After the war was over, the Nakano family moved to Hunters Point and later to the Richmond Housing Project in Richmond, CA. Mario Sr. bought Berkeley Bait Shop in the late 1940s. It was a grueling business: The shop opened at 3:00 am to serve fishermen stocking up for their day’s expeditions. Emiko worked long hours while raising their growing family which now had four children: Tamaye, Mario, Steven, and Julie. Today, Emiko has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. 

Meet Up Relaxing Friendship Rest Pensionary Park Concept

Darrick Lam Appointed to Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee

ACC President and CEO Darrick Lam has been appointed to the State-level committee that will develop the roadmap that provides all Californians, regardless of race, economic status or level of support, an opportunity grow old safely, with dignity and independence. 

During his State of the State speech in on February 12, 2019, Governor Newsom said, “It is time for a new Master Plan on Aging. We’ve deferred it for far too long. It must address person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity.” 

Mr. Lam joins 33 other professionals on the newly formed Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The group will help to develop components of the Master Plan, including best practices and data metrics, to guide the work of state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote an age friendly California.

“California is the state with the most number of people who are 65 years and older, totaling 5.1 millions in 2017; this number is estimated to increase to 8.6 million by 2030,” says Mr. Lam.  “I call them the ‘Silver Tsunami.’ They are facing severe shortages in just about everything from healthcare to transportation. It’s interesting, though, that Governor Newsom’s vision for aging adults has been ACC’s vision for decades.”

As a trained social worker and holder of an MBA, Mr. Lam has over 29 years of experience in the field of aging and long-term services and support in both the public and private nonprofit sectors.

Says Board Chair Winston Ashizawa, “Darrick’s appointment makes sense not only because of his experience, but also because the ACC community is a microcosm of everything the Governor has been taking about. We provide skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, transportation, meals, social services, and health and wellness programs.”

In a related development, Governor Newsom and Former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, announced the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force. Both had parents who died from this disease. Says Mr. Lam, “ACC’s construction of Maple Tree Village Memory Care Center could not be more timely. Beyond the physical construction of the facility, we are doing a lot of work on developing programs for residents and their family caregivers.” 

ACC is honored to bring our knowledge and experience to the Committee that will develop governor’s Master Plan on Aging,” says Mr. Ashizawa. “We feel that what has worked for our seniors will also work for other seniors across the State.”

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ACC Job Training Finds a Great Match

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.

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Grand Opening of Jimmie R. Yee Park

By Donna Yee

It is no surprise that the Southgate Recreation and Park District recently named a new park for Jimmie R. Yee on April 27, 2019. It is also no surprise that so many family, friends, and colleagues showed up to honor him.

What is surprising is continuing to learn more about all of the ways that Jimmie has fostered a sense of community and generated goodwill throughout the community.

 During my tenure as CEO at ACC Senior Services, I never had time to ask what Jimmie had “done for us lately” because he was constantly clearing the way for ACC’s building projects, helping families find needed care, and assuring programs that received local funds were accountable and fairly treated by officials.

Yes, he was the County Supervisor for the 2nd District (2007-2015), yes, he was the 53rd Mayor of Sacramento (1999-2000), and yes, he served on the City Council representing the 4th District (1992-1999), a longtime public official who sorted through knotty problems of local government, and (sometimes) the family and business problems of his constituents.

 I say we should keep piling on the accolades and recognition of Jimmie’s talents and accomplishments.  Congratulations again, Jimmie, for so many jobs well done!!

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Big Day of Giving Raises $50,000

Hundreds of donations poured into ACC on May 2nd, Big Day of Giving. All the money went to ACC Programs which offers social services, classes, and transportation for older adults and their caregivers.

“We rely on donations to cover our teaching and staffing costs,” says Program Director Linda Revilla. “I want to thank all of our donor and sponsors for another successful Big Day of Giving.”

Highlights of the day included food, live entertainment, demonstrations, and a craft fair. The ACC Care Center staff dazzled with a special dance number during a segment called “ACC’s Got Talent.” Nami Berg and Darrick Lam graced the dance floor with a perfectly executed waltz. It was matched by a beautifully staged fashion show featuring employees in their native attire.

Winston and Darrick

A Joint Message from the CEO and Board President

In early April, ACC undertook a change in business direction with the Fund Development Department to improve operational efficiencies and donor services. To that end, ACC has appointed Ted Fong as the Interim Director of Development.

 As the Board President and CEO for ACC, we sincerely apologize to our donors and supporters for problems you may have encountered with donation processing and related customer service activities.

Ted is focusing on improving our software configuration, reducing human errors, and getting donor acknowledgement letters out accurately and on time. He has created a bug reporting system to capture errors, omissions, and, yes, complaints. You can submit your case online at tinyurl.com/acc7070, or email Ted at tfong@accsv.org.

Ted is also meeting with the various Board, Standing Committees and Special Event Committees to discuss what we want to see as the ideal donor and volunteer experience at ACC. These findings will inform the long-term direction of Fund Development at ACC and the level of funding the Department requires.

On a lighter note, we would like to thank all the volunteers and donors for supporting our Big Day of Giving 2019 which raised over $50,000 on May 2nd and our 13th Annual Golf Tournament which raised over $30,000 on May 7th. We would thank Maeley Tom who starred in our epic music video “Rollin’ at ACC” and our sponsors who are listed on pages 4 and 16 of this issue.

ACC was also one of the recipients at the 2nd Annual Pride of the Pocket Awards Ceremony which was held on Thursday, May 30th, at the Didion School Park. Nominated by Supervisory Patrick Kennedy, ACC was joined by other awardees which included Pocket-Greenhaven Moms Group; Friends of the Robbie Waters Library; Matsuyama Principal Judy Farina and Teacher Stephanie Berry; Pocket Little League; Lieutanant Paul Freeman; Lane Shapiro; and Friends of the Sacramento River Parkway. ACC’s head of HR Tony Waterford and our Guitar Ensemble also provided entertainment.

Last but not least, the ACC Board of Directors will lead the development of a new Five-Year Strategic Plan for ACC entitled “Honoring the Past; Building for the Future.” Input will be solicited from clients, employees, volunteers, and other community stakeholders to ensure that our plan will become realistic.

Thank you again for your ongoing support to help ACC with our growth and improvement on our operational efficiencies and customer services.

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New Executive Director Joins Meals on Wheels by ACC

Kevin McAllister has joined Meals on Wheels by ACC as its new Executive Director. Kevin was the Executive Director of Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director for California Coalition for Youth where he and his team successfully advocated for $10M to be put into the State budget to support homeless youth in San Francisco, Santa Clara, Los Angeles and San Diego.

“Our search for a new Executive Director yielded over three hundred applications,” says MOW Board President Brian Chin. “Fourteen candidates interviewed for the top position. Kevin stood out because he had been in non-profit leadership positions his entire career. It was important to find someone who had a passion for serving disadvantaged and underserved populations.”

One experience that solidified Kevin’s calling happened while he was a program coordinator at the Solano Family Justice Center. “I saw a lot of bad things happen to people including an elderly client who was a victim of financial abuse by another family member. She lost her house.”

“I’m honored to lead Meals on Wheels by ACC because it serves the most vulnerable members of our community,” says Kevin. “Many of our participants are house-bound and would be much worse off without us. They get very excited when we show up at their door.  We get to know them like family.”

Kevin replaces David Morikawa who led the organization for the past seven-plus years. Today, Meals on Wheels by ACC has 500 volunteers and serves more than 2,000 older adults in their homes and at 20 All Seasons Café sites throughout Sacramento County. Last year, MOW celebrated the delivery of its four millionth meal since taking over the program from Sacramento County in 2010.

Kevin graduated with B.A. in Liberal Arts from CSU Sacramento and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from National University. He enjoys archery, hiking and kayaking.

Behind the scenes of ACC’s amazing crab feed

“There was crab everywhere,” say one diner. “Best crab feed I’ve been too,” said another. “Very crabby,” yet another.

Held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, ACC’s 11th Annual Crab Feed drew more than 800 enthusiastic guests from Sacramento and the Bay Area. They devoured 4,200 pounds of crab and 800 pounds of short ribs, and 300 pounds of rice in a single sitting.

It was so messy, in a good way, that people showed up with latex gloves, towel bibs, and special tools to emancipate the meat from the shell. Their crustacean opponents didn’t stand a chance.

The annual event raised money to support ACC’s educational, housing, and social services for seniors. It was catered by SASF in Elk Grove.

Each diner was given 16-page printed program containing messages from ACC leaders and elected officials in the community. It recognized 2019 Crab Feed Committing for their dedication and hard work:

  • Lori Lee, Co-Chair
  • Debbie Seid, Co-Chair
  • Winston Ashizawa
  • Evelyn Chin
  • Jean Chong
  • Lorna Fong
  • Marcia Matsuda
  • Don Morishita
  • Janet Sakata
  • Jean Shiomoto
  • Sylvia Tang
  • Alfred Yee
  • William Yee

In their joint message, ACC CEO Darrick Lam and ACC President Winston Ashizawa said:

“We want to thank the ACC Crab Feed Committee, co-chaired by Lori Lee and Debbie Seid, for planning this event which took many months, as well as SASF and the 120 volunteers who prepared the food and venue.

There are two reasons why this event is ALWAYS sold out. First, the Dungeness crab on tonight’s menu is simply the best. It’s fresh from the coastal waters of Oregon and Washington. SASF President Don Lee and his culinary magicians are amazing. Their recipe and cooking method should be the gold standard for all
crab feeds!

The second reason is that tonight’s attendees support ACC’s mission. They’re here to say thank you and to feel the love and energy of the ACC family. Many of them attend our education programs. Others have friends and family members who live at ACC and receive great care. Thank you for being here.”

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Darrick Lam: How Governor Gavin Newsom is like the rest of us

Governor Gavin Newsom’s father, Judge William Newsom, died last year at 84 after battling dementia and other health issues. Two months later, in his first State of the State Address, the governor said that California will develop a “Master Plan on Aging.”

The governor cited three challenges for California that ACC addresses head on – the social isolation seniors experience, their transportation needs, and Alzheimer’s. “I’ve had some personal and painful experience with this recently,” he said.

ACC Rides, Meals on Wheels congregant dining, ACC Lifelong Learning are just a few programs that show how ACC has been thinking ahead on these issues. And with ACC Maple Tree Village opening later this year, we will be fully committed to helping people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Our work has another dimension to it that often gets overlooked by policy makers. We help family caregivers, not just their loved ones, through support groups, classes, workshops, and social activities. We strive to improve the quality of life for all family members, not just those 65 and older.

It’s time for a new Master Plan on Aging. It must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity. And we can’t talk about aging without focusing on Alzheimer’s. Governor Gavin Newsom, February 12, 2019

ACC has created an environment that promotes dynamic family interactions with seniors. Families come to our assisted living and skill nursing facilities, spending quality time with their love ones. It’s an organic experience that really defines ACC. If you attended our recent Chinese New Years celebrations, you could have seen just how intergenerational these events were.

Therefore, it appears that Governor Newsom’s approach to health policy was shaped by his father’s story. That’s what makes him like the rest of us. Anyone who has been a caregiver knows what older adults and their caregivers need. You don’t have to be the governor, but we’re glad he’s on board. Rich or poor, famous or not, we all want the same thing for our parents and others who are aging.

Read Governor Newsom’s State of the State speech delivered on February 12, 2019.