EngAGE

Yes, we celebrate ‘Make Your Own Pizza Day’. Using ingredients from our food pantry, residents made pizza dough and sauce, and added their preferred toppings.  We created 11 pizzas for residents to take home and bake. It was such a great turnout that we ended up using all of our ingredients!  

Cooking together addresses holistic community health needs by fighting food insecurity, reducing social isolation, and improving dietary habits. By pooling resources and skills in a communal setting, community kitchens and culinary programs foster resilience, boost mental well-being, and empower individuals with lasting life skills.

Connected communities are healthier communities. 🌍 Support programs that unite generations, foster growth, and create lasting impact. Together, we thrive. 💪

This year EngAGE has advanced a robust portfolio of intergenerational programming to deepen connections across generations. Expanding diverse and culturally responsive intergen programming within affordable housing communities empowers all generations creatively, socially, and practically in shared experiences & mutual learning.❤️

As part of the Beginner’s Jewelry Making class, the residents will participate in a Paying It Forward exercise.

These workshops continue to be a welcoming environment offering hands-on creativity and connection every month. This class supports fine motor skills, memory, and cognitive function while offering a calming and therapeutic creative outlet.

Residents will proudly donate their beautiful bracelets and journals for this PAY IT FORWARD cause to women in Homeless Shelters and Domestic Violence Shelters. Los Angeles inspires us to do more to support others within our communities.

Paying it forward with handmade gifts supports the giver by triggering a neurological “warm glow” that boosts happiness and social connection. The act of creating and gifting reduces stress, fosters a sense of purpose, and strengthens relationships by showing the recipient that they are uniquely valued.

The Psychological & Social Benefits:
1. The “Helper’s High”: The act of giving triggers the brain’s reward center, releasing dopamine and oxytocin. This produces a genuine feeling of pleasure and reduces stress.
2. Stronger Relationships: Investing time and energy into a craft demonstrates deep care and thoughtfulness, strengthening emotional bonds and mutual trust.
3. Enhanced Empathy: Crafting a gift for someone requires you to think specifically about their tastes, needs, and personality, which naturally expands your capacity for empathy.

At EngAGE, we’re transforming senior housing into vibrant centers of connection and personal growth. 🌟

Support free wellness workshops that reduce isolation and inspire purpose. Donate today to help build healthier, happier lives! 💛

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At EngAGE, residents bring their technology questions to the tech support staff, who help them navigate their devices and solve individual problems. Many take notes and practice what they learned. Some just come to talk with their neighbors and enjoy a cup of tea and a snack.

EngAGE Technology Workshops provide personal one-on-one sessions to support individual resident needs.

Resident Louise opened her first email account during these workshops. She is pictured here making her first online shopping purchase, while resident George enjoys the company of his neighbors and sips tea. Resident Emilia engages in conversation with her neighbors so she can practice her English.

Technology classes empower aging adults to maintain independence, stay socially connected, and improve their overall well-being. By bridging the digital divide, these programs directly help seniors overcome isolation, manage healthcare from home, and keep their minds active.

Key Benefits of Tech Classes for Aging Adults
1. Combats Social Isolation: Classes teach older adults how to use video calls, social media, and messaging apps to easily stay in touch with family, friends, and support networks.
2. Fosters Independence: Mastering online grocery delivery, rideshares (like Uber or Lyft), and banking allows seniors to manage their daily lives and errands safely without relying on others.
3. Improves Healthcare Management: Instruction on using patient portals and telehealth apps enables seniors to attend virtual doctor visits, order prescriptions, and monitor their health remotely.
4. Boosts Cognitive Health: Learning entirely new digital skills provides vital mental stimulation, which research shows helps improve memory and reduces the long-term risk of cognitive decline.
5. Ensures Personal Safety: Training on how to use wearable health monitors, emergency response devices, and smart home systems gives seniors—and their caregivers—peace of mind.

Join EngAGE in healthy aging workshops like these by Donating and/or Volunteering.

Lifelong Learning @ EngAGE truly comes to life at EngAGE. Our Instructors create a welcoming space where non-English-speaking residents can grow and learn a new language. This dedicated group meets twice a month to build confidence, strengthen conversational skills, and connect with one another. More than just a class, it’s a supportive environment where learning fosters independence, connection, and new opportunities. Whether it’s , , or , EngAGE offers space for everyone to thrive!

ESL classes empower aging adults by boosting cognitive health, fostering social connection, and enhancing daily independence. They provide the practical communication tools needed to navigate everyday tasks, such as understanding directions, interacting with healthcare providers, and shopping with confidence.

1. Brain Health & Cognitive Resilience: Learning a new language acts as a mental workout that stimulates the brain. Research shows that acquiring a second language increases cognitive reserve, which can foster healthier aging and potentially delay the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Increased Daily Independence: For non-native speakers, language barriers can make routine errands stressful. ESL classes teach functional English, how to introduce oneself, ask for prices, and request assistanc, making it easier for seniors to safely and confidently access essential community resources and medical services without relying on family members.

3. Social Connection & Reduced Isolation: Social isolation is a major concern for aging adults, but classroom environments create a natural hub for regular social interaction. Building friendships with peers and discussing practical, shared experiences combats loneliness and helps prevent depression.

4. A Sense of Purpose & Accomplishment: Engaging in lifelong learning offers a profound sense of achievement and self-worth. Attending class provides a healthy, goal-oriented routine that empowers seniors and combats the feelings of insignificance that can sometimes accompany the aging process

Residents rediscovered their passion for painting through the many cross-generational art projects with local students, calling it "life-changing." 🎨

Intergenerational art workshops bridge the generation gap by fostering mutual learning, empathy, and emotional growth.

For older adults, these workshops combat severe isolation and loneliness and other health issues. Connecting with younger generations through these workshops improves cognitive function and provides a renewed sense of purpose. 🌟

For youth, collaborating with seniors on creative projects reduces ageist stereotypes, builds self-esteem and confidence, and provides access to valuable skills. 🤸

Residents have enjoyed their Book Club for many years. Whether it’s virtual or in person, they get the opportunity to share their thoughts and hear others’ perspectives. The books are typically fiction ranging from Literary & Contemporary, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and of course, Romance & Mysteries. EngAGE book clubs offer opportutnies for building deeper relationships. 

Book clubs help older adults by fighting isolation through regular social interaction, providing deep intellectual stimulation that supports memory, and offering a sense of purpose and routine. These reading groups keep the mind sharp while fostering valuable community connections.
Specific ways book clubs benefit aging adults include:

Counters Isolation: As retirees transition to new life phases, social circles can shrink. Book clubs offer structured, anchor-based conversations that make it easier to form genuine friendships without the pressure of typical social mixers.

Boosts Brain Health: Reading and debating storylines exercises critical thinking, working memory, and language skills. Research suggests this type of active, sustained cognitive engagement can help lower the risk of cognitive decline.

Provides a Sense of Purpose: Preparing for monthly or weekly meetings gives members concrete intellectual goals. Completing books and sharing personal insights offers a rewarding feeling of accomplishment.Improves 

Emotional Well-being: Immersing oneself in literature and discussing diverse themes acts as a healthy mental escape, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

We’re Hiring! 📣 CFAA Program Assistant – Salem

The Community for All Ages (CFAA) Program Assistant reports directly to the EngAGE Northwest Executive Director and collaborates with the CFAA Program Director, upper management team, and national Program Directors to support innovative community programming.

This role helps develop and facilitate on-site programs focused on wellness, creativity, lifelong learning, and community building while promoting healthy aging and intergenerational connection in affordable housing communities.

Responsibilities include:
• Developing and facilitating classes, workshops, events & celebrations
• Connecting residents with local resources and support services
• Recruiting volunteers, entertainers & partner organizations
• Managing schedules, contracts, budgets & monthly reports
• Collaborating with property management and the EngAGE team
• Monitoring program success and supporting resident well-being

Qualifications:
✔ Strong communication & interpersonal skills
✔ Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment
✔ Experience with older adults, youth, or low-income communities preferred
✔ Knowledge of Excel & Word
✔ Bilingual skills are a plus

Requirements:
• Valid Oregon driver’s license, insurance & good driving record
• Must be an Oregon resident

Apply today!
🔗 https://www.engageforlife.org/job-opportunities