HELLO!  I’ll be back to you soon with news of the happy problem and more of the frighteningly random thoughts from my brain that you all seem to love(!), but FIRST!

We’re very excited to announce this years’ winner of the Maribel Garcia Community Spirit Award – Cornell Senior Joran Sequeira.

Joran Sequeira

The Maribel Garcia Community Spirit Fund awards one Cornell student each year for making “a remarkable contribution to the spirit of humanity.”  Our goal is to honor our late friend by “thanking” those who creatively invest emotion, respect, and learning in the community of Ithaca, immediately around them, and from there out into the world community.  Previous recipients include Ding Kong (‘07) who created cooking classes for inner-city kids in an effort to promote self-empowerment and healthy lifestyles, and Jessica Houle (‘08) who worked with low-income families in the area’s mobile home parks to bring education, environmental awareness, and the arts to the residents, and thus build a strong feeling of pride and possibility within those communities.

In thinking about our late friend Maribel and the indelible, unique spirit she projected in life, which still remains now after her death, we are happy to present the 2009 Maribel Garcia Community Spirit Award to Cornell senior Joran Sequeira.  Joran has brought her vision and leadership to the Cornell Elderly Partnership (CEP), working passionately to dissolve the stereotypes and stigmas placed on the elderly and to promote better understanding, respect, and appreciation for this important segment of the human population.  

She has also worked to improve quality of life for the elderly, applying for and receiving the Greatest Generation Grant which she used to purchase games, arts and crafts, books, musical instruments, and even a Nintendo Wii for the residents of Lakeside Nursing Home.

(Joran tells us that “bowling” and “boxing” are their favorite games!)

We believe that the strong foundation Joran has built, and the personal effect she has had on many elderly residents of Ithaca, as well as her fellow students working with the CEP, will carry forward into the future, enriching more communities and more lives.  We present Joran Sequeira this award as a big “thank you” from us, for honoring our friend’s memory through her good works.

Recently, we were able to ask Joran some questions about her experience and motivation.

MGCSF: The Maribel Garcia Community Spirit Fund is excited to present you with our third-ever annual award.  Can you describe the work you’ve been doing in the community around Cornell and Ithaca?

JORAN SEQUEIRA: Since my freshman year, I’ve been volunteering for two hours a week, every week, with the Cornell Elderly Partnership.  It’s a student run organization that visits nursing homes every Friday in the academic year.  We usually visit lower-income nursing homes such as Lakeside Nursing Home.  Through grants and funding, we have been able to provide Lakeside with several indoor and outdoor gardens, games, manicuring items, knitting materials and one of our proudest purchases, a Nintendo Wii. We also engage other Cornell organizations by bringing in Cornell performance groups (a cappella, ballroom dance, juggling) to perform there. When Lakeside was threatened to close down, CEP petitioned the NY State Dept by writing letters and involving Susan Murphy and David Skorton.

CEP also responds to seniors in the Ithaca community.  Ex-Men’s Ice Hockey coach, Ned Harkness contacted us about spending time with him, so the Executive Board had a few dinners with him. We sometimes get emails about active Ithaca seniors looking for volunteers, and the response from CEP volunteers is always great.

As President for 2 years, I’ve been responsible for coordinating all these projects and more.

CEP volunteers outside Barnes Hall on the Cornell Campus, ready for another visit to Lakeside!

 

MGCSF: Is there anything that particularly inspired or motivated you to get involved with these programs?

JORAN SEQUEIRA: I volunteered at a local assisted living facility in high school and noticed that I loved interacting with older adults.  I just had the knack for it, so I wanted to continue that in college.  Once I got here, I’ve tried to take a more activist role through CEP.  Ageism is a big problem in society and growing older has so many negative stereotypes associated with it.  I want more people, especially students, to realize the benefits from interacting with such a great cohort and remove that stigma of old people.  With so many citizens crossing the 65-years old mark, we need young adults to know how to work with them.

The residents at Lakeside and the dedicated CEP volunteers motivate me each week.  We all share the same passion for promoting mutual relationships between students and older adults through our volunteerism.  Our volunteers, many of them premed, learn about bedside manner and how to communicate with those who are terminally ill or even those who are healthily aging.

CEP volunteers enjoy knitting with Lakeside residents

 

MGCSF: Can you give us a little background information on yourself? Where did you grow up?  What are some of your interests?  What’s your major at Cornell?  Do you have any particular plans after you graduate?

JORAN SEQUEIRA: I am from Mine Hill, NJ.  My major is Human Biology, Health and Society in the College of Human Ecology.  I enjoy singing a lot and have been involved in The CallbaXX, an all-female a cappella group for most of my time here.  I also enjoy random adventures like skydiving and whitewater rafting.

Most of my friends know me as a “list person”.  I’ve almost finished the “161 Things To Do Before You Graduate List” (but there are some things on there I won’t do…lol).  After graduation, I’m off to UNC-Chapel Hill!  I’m doing a 2-year Masters in Health Administration program within the School of Public Health.  We’ll see where that leads…maybe something in long-term care management.

Joran and her a cappella group, CalibaXX, perform for the residents at Lakeside.

 

MGCSF: What’s been the biggest challenge so far in the community work you’re doing?

JORAN SEQUEIRA: Probably getting the general student body to understand how rewarding it is to work with older adults and how satisfying it is to start your weekend off with a visit.  Most people think that volunteering at a nursing home is a one-sided service, but many of our volunteers come back with stories and great experiences that help them grow in character.  I know it has for me. In addition, people need to understand the biological and social aspects of aging and learn to respect and accept older adults for what they are.

Cornell volunteers visit Lakeside and help decorate for their Harvest Festival

Another challenge is helping our new volunteers get used to the nursing home environment.  It is very intimidating to start a conversation with a stranger and more so to keep the person engaged. But, I think CEP has done a good job now in orienting new members and helping with topics/tips in conversation.

During a Gardening activity, Joran helps Lakeside resident Nami make a pine cone bird feeder.

 

MGCSF: What have been the rewards?

JORAN SEQUEIRA: CEP has grown so much since my freshman year.  From only 8 people per visit in 2005 to 30 people per visit in 2009.  Honestly, it is truly rewarding to see how dedicated the volunteers are and to see the smiles on the residents’ faces as they play the Wii, talk to someone, enjoy a performance, play a word game.

Residents and volunteers play Wii Bowling!

I also think service learning is a big part of volunteering, so CEP has tied up with the Gerontology Certificate Program in bringing in speakers and gerontologists to educate us on issues in aging  After listening to a talk by Dr. Elaine Wethington, we re-started our One-on-One program where volunteers are matched up with residents at risk for social isolation.  After listening to Dr. Bill Thomas (creator of Eden Alternative), I try not to use the word “elderly” anymore but rather “older adults,” and hope to play a role in making long-term care less institutionalized and more like a place people feel at home.  I hope more students take part in the Certificate program and go beyond experiential learning in aging.

My favorite moments in CEP are my visits to a woman named Lillian Wooden. She is 93 years old and still feisty as ever.  Every week we talk about something from her days hunting (she killed a 12-pt deer once, uncommon for a woman of her day) to her married life to her current life and difficulties. She likes to ask questions and learn more. I bring her picture books on cities and wonders around the world and she listens to my Cornell experiences and even learned how to use my video camera! Lillian is quite the character and I see a lot of myself in her.

Joran and her friend Lillian

I can’t believe that the four years have passed by so quickly and how much CEP has advanced over these past few years.  With such a strong, passionate, and responsible executive board, I know that the Cornell Elderly Partnership will continue to thrive in the future.  I’m so grateful for all the encouragement and support the Public Service Center has given me in expanding the program!

 

Thanks, Joran!  And MANY THANKS to all of the wonderful donors we’ve had over the last three years.  The Maribel Garcia Community Spirit Fund is not underwritten or endowed, so we rely solely on your contributions to keep it going.  If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit http://psc.cornell.edu/maribel.  You can also read more about the Fund, the previous winners, and our late friend Maribel who made such a difference in the lives of so many!

And again, stick around for a few more days and I’ll be getting the May/June happy problem bloggy newslettery thingy out for your reading (and time-killing, — ahem – time-WASTING) enjoyment!

love,
Sam