JCA Insights, December 2024

Driver Finds Kitten Under the Hood of JCA Bus

When we say that JCA’s bus engines purr, we had something else in mind! On the morning of December 23, a bus driver heard a noise under the hood. Another driver, affectionately known as DVD and pictured left, took the bus to our garage and they dug it out. It was hard to find, as it was stuck behind and above the glove compartment. The kitten was warmed up, fed and taken home by one of our mechanics. What a lovely holiday gift.

You are invited to attend the 10th Kensington Clubs Art Show from 2 – 3:30 p.m. on January 12. The exhibition includes artworks from the three Kensington Clubs locations all through the terrace level at 12320 Parklawn Dr. Enjoy live music by Ed Kean and refreshments for all! RSVP to kcreceptionist@accessjca.org.

JCA’s Employment Programs — Career Gateway/CareerTech and Virtual 50+ Employment Expos — were recognized by Montgomery County’s Commission on Aging with the Austin Heyman Community for a Lifetime Award for 2024.

JCA’s Employment Programs received this honor to recognize the work that JCA and our staff have “done to provide a full array of employment services to older adults in Montgomery County.”

The Commission on Aging wrote the following:

“The CoA seeks to enable older adults in Montgomery County to live quality lives, regardless of their abilities, income levels, and backgrounds. The JCA Employment Programs, are being recognized with this Community for a Lifetime Award because it helps to achieve this vision. We believe that the JCA is a partner, innovator, and leader in providing employment services in the County. The Programs are an important part of the work being done by many people, organizations, communities, associations, and agencies in the County, to meet the sustained interests and needs of our older adult residents’ sustained interests and needs.”

JCA FY24 By the Numbers

What a year it has been at JCA! In the past year, Kensington Clubs expanded sessions for people with early-stage memory loss in White Oak and Germantown, and the number of people served grew 36% from the prior year. JCA’s Virtual 50+ Employment Expos joined with Howard County’s Department of Aging to offer the first Howard County employment expo for older adults with 630 registrants and more than a dozen employers. Calls for information and referrals to the JCA Senior HelpLine increased by 37% from the prior year and participants in JCA’s employment programs for older adults increased by 47%.

JCA’s outstanding services continue to foster independence, build social connections, and help older adults thrive and age in place. This past year the number of people served reached 9,193. We anticipate we will continue to see increasing demand for JCA’s services this coming year and in the years to come.

Gerard Etienne Joins JCA Staff

Gerard Etienne has joined the JCA staff as Senior Director, Center for Information Services.

Gerard has worked as a consultant for the majority of his career, first as a mechanical engineer and later as a management consultant for both small and large companies in the private sector, focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, and improving

customer relationships. He found his passion, however, to be in mission-driven work. Prior to joining JCA, he was Director of the Vocational Services Program at Interfaith Works, a program for which he was dedicated volunteer for 7 years. Gerard has a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park. He and his wife are avid soccer fans, and live in Silver Spring with their dog, Doug.

Next 50 Initiative Grant

The Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) is thrilled to announce that its Career Gateway and CareerTech programs have received funding from the Next50 Foundation, a Colorado-based national organization dedicated to fostering a society that values aging and empowers individuals to thrive in later life. This recognition underscores JCA’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for older adults to enhance their economic stability and quality of life.

JCA’s Career Gateway is a five-day job search and skills training program tailored for professionals aged 50 and older who are re-entering the workforce or transitioning to new careers. The CareerTech program equips participants with essential digital literacy skills to excel in today’s technology-driven job market. This grant will enable JCA to offer an additional session of the Career Gateway, a scholarship fund to help those attending Career Gateway and CareerTech, and full-day Becoming a Cyber Savvy 50+ Jobseeker workshop that integrates cutting-edge AI tools for job searching and interviewing.

“Next50’s investment allows us to empower older job seekers with critical, practical skills to navigate a rapidly evolving job market,” said Jodie Rasch, Director of JCA Employment Programs. “From mastering AI-driven job search tools to leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and understanding online safety, our Cyber Savvy program prepares participants to thrive in the digital workplace. By teaching older adults how to optimize their online presence and engage with modern hiring practices, we’re helping them stay competitive and financially secure while aging in place.”

L’Chaim Chorale Seeks Volunteers

JCA Interages® invites students to join the L’Chaim (“to life”) Chorale and make joyful music across the generations! The chorale will be comprised of student volunteers and members of the JCA’s Kensington Clubs, a social day program for older adults diagnosed with early-stage memory loss. Songs will be chosen from a variety of genres, including musical theater, spirituals, and Jewish music.

Looking ahead to the new year, JCA’s mission—to provide programs and services to help older adults and their families and build bridges across generations—has never been more critical. We anticipate the demand for the essential services we provide will continue to grow, as more and more people turn to us for help along their aging journey. With our dedicated team of staff and volunteers, and the generous support of our donors, JCA is poised to meet the changing needs of older adults in the region and provide them with the essential services and connections they need to thrive.

Please consider making a gift to sustain JCA’s work today and into the future. Your donation today helps us start the New Year strong.

In December, the JCA blog highlighted a number of articles from the Washington Post. An opinion piece by Daniel Pink, an author and speechwriter, suggested a expanded national service program for seniors age 65+—AmeriCorps Senior. This idea fits nicely with JCA’s volunteer programs.

An elaborate scheme to defraud a local woman of her life savings was detailed in a series by Michelle Singletary, the Post’s personal finance columnist. The series summarized steps you can take to protect yourself.

Rounding out the month was a list from the National Council on Aging of exercise programs promoting senior fitness. Many of the programs are approved for people with arthritis.

If you are a caregiver for an older adult, or you know one, check out the KC Blog as well.

.

Abbey Alpern in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Arden Baker in memory of Dr. Ellen S. Baker
Susan Beck in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Robyn Bernitt in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Charles Bernstein in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Rachel Blitz in honor of Elaine Looney
Evelyn Block in memory of Fred Block
Edward Bloom in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Rachel Berdansky in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Donna Cafritz in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Julie Cantor-Weinberg in honor of Fred Cantor
CapTech Consulting in honor of Women at CapTech ERG
Cathy Certner in honor of Lynn Fanaroff & Joyce Schneider
Howard & Nancy Cooper in memory of Barbara Sorota
David Elfin in honor of Natalie Brenner
David Fanaroff in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Josh Fanaroff in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Julie Fox in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Linda Goldsmith & Howard Berger in honor of Greg Harris & Sara Roark
Dorothy Gordon in memory of Meyer Gordon
Stacy Gorin in honor of Lynn Fanaroff & Joyce Schneider
Sherri & Larry Gotts in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Holly Gross in honor of Collen Kemp & Joyce Schneider
Sheila Grossman in memory of Jennie Neustadt
Meryl Gudelsky in honor of Seena Gudelsky & Lynn Fanaroff
Jenna Hawk in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Kelley Hawk in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Steve & Gail Hubberman in memory of Martin Kirsch
Carey & Richard Joseph in memory of William Lucas

Colleen Kemp in honor of Karen Miller, Lily Groh, Gail Goldfarb, Dova Boyars, Ish Odai-Afotey, Susan Harris, Joyce Schneider, Meryl Trachtman, Colette Heyman, Mary Anne Darling
Lisa Kenigsberg in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Lisa Kirsch in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Debbie & Terry Korth in memory of Martin Kirsch
Richard & Carey Joseph in honor of the birth of Great Granddaughter Mara
Eileen King in memory of John and Margaret Quirk
Barbara Luria in honor of Lynn Fanaroff & Joyce Schneider
Martin Lewis in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Randy Margolis in memory of Dr. Carl Margolis
Lori Marks in honor of Joyce Schneider
Arnold & Helen Mintz in memory of Herb Mintz & in honor of Bobbe Mintz
Kevin Moss in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Julie Murray in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Helen Niederman in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Ivye Pazornik in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Geraldine Quinlan in honor of Dr. Fred Cantor
Hilary Raizon in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Linda Reiff in honor of Florence Rosen
Jenn, Jon & Noah Schneider in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Joyce Schneider in honor of Lynn Fanaroff & the dedicated Kensington Club Staff
Ronald & Leslie Schreiber Mi Miriam (Micki) Smith
Donald Siegel in honor of Bette S. Siegel
Karen Simon in honor of Lynn Fanaroff & Joyce Schneider
Cindy Stark in honor of Lynn Fanaroff
Rivka Yerushalmi in honor of Sergio & Simone Leifert