The California Senior Leaders Program

Funded by The California Wellness Foundation, the California Senior Leaders Program began in 2002 as a means of shining a spotlight on the often invisible volunteer and community advocate roles of California’s rapidly growing senior population.

The program is intergenerational, as Senior Leader participants are linked with Berkeley public health graduate students who will continue to check in with them over the next 15 months, learning from their experiences and stories, and arranging technical assistance where possible to aid the seniors with their community building or healthy aging projects.  “The intergenerational component of the program is one of its biggest assets,” said Julia Caplan, a former director of the project. “Listening to and learning from the experiences of these older adults is an essential part of building strong communities that respect people of all ages.”

Thus far, the program has honored four cohorts: the classes of 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2010.  Each cohort consists of around 30 Senior Leaders who have very diverse backgrounds and experiences from all over California.   

UC Professor Meredith Minkler, who developed the Senior Leaders Program, points out that it is solidly based in research. “Not only have seniors been called our only expanding natural resource,” she says, “but we have strong scientific studies showing that active engagement with life is one of the most important contributors to a healthy old age.  A project like this one can both honor seniors for their invaluable contributions and, by supporting them in this work, hopefully contribute to their own healthy aging as well.”  By showing appreciation to these individuals, the program works to inspire others to recognize and appreciate the diverse roles all older Californians hold in the state’s communities and neighborhoods.

The California Senior Leaders Alliance

The California Senior Leaders Alliance (CSLA) was created in 2008 by Senior Leaders as a grassroots, policy-focused network through which Senior Leaders can work collectively on pressing issues facing California’s seniors and their families.  The Alliance’s self-proclaimed mission is “To promote, advocate for and contribute to the health and well-being of seniors, their families and communities statewide, through a diverse and grassroots coalition of California Senior Leaders.”  Policy priorities are Economic Security, Health Care Reform and Transportation, and Senior Leaders are invited to an annual advocacy in Sacramento to make their voices heard on these issues.

 To learn more, please click on the California Senior Leaders Alliance tab on the left.