We are now accepting nominations for our 2012 Senior Leader cohort!

As in past years, we will select 30 senior leaders from the statewide pool of nominees. The program begins with an exciting two-day recognition and training event at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in Oakland’s Historic Jack London Square in February 2012. This event is followed by periodic networking and idea-sharing opportunities, including regional reunions with other Senior Leaders from past and present cohorts. In addition to receipt of a plaque and a $500 check to a relevant organization in support of each senior’s work, awardees will receive training in areas such as media advocacy and fundraising. There is also a 15-month follow-up period during which time a graduate student makes bi-monthly informal telephone contacts with each Senior Leader to check in, discuss her/his community work and to offer limited technical assistance as appropriate. 

Awardees will be strongly encouraged to join the California Senior Leaders Alliance, through which they may work with other Senior Leaders to promote statewide policies that benefit elders and their families and communities.  Because of this program addition, we especially seek nominees who show a commitment to social justice and an interest in educating legislators and engaging in ongoing statewide policy work with other award recipients.

Award Criteria:

• Nominees must be at least 60 years old.
• Nominees must fulfill their work in a volunteer capacity.  It is fine if they receive a small stipend for their work, but this award is not for regular paid employees.
• Nominees may contribute to healthy aging and community building in any number of ways (for example, convening and leading a coalition to improve senior health care; playing a leadership role in a neighborhood effort to address violence or environmental hazards; organizing a chronic disease health management group; serving as a spiritual healer).
• Nominees must be engaged in community work on at least two levels, e.g. one-on-one work and neighborhood work, or small group efforts and work on local, state, or national policy. 
• Nominees for the Senior Leaders program should show a commitment to social justice, including the idea that all people deserve equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities.
• We especially seek nominees who enhance the diversity of our group, including low-income seniors, seniors of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors, and those living in rural areas, as well as those who have experience working or volunteering in multi-cultural environment.

Ready to nominate? Please complete the following and send to us by November 4, 2011. 

1.  Person being nominated: 

Name:                                                                                                                                                 

Address:                                                                                                                                             

Telephone:                                                         Email (if applicable):                                                

Community or setting in which she or he volunteers:                                                                                                

Age (check one):   60-64____     65-70____     71-74____     75-80____     81-84____     85+____

Race/Ethnicity:        African American____        Asian/Pacific Islander____        Caucasian____                        Hispanic____        Native American____        Other (please specify)_______________

Educational level (if known):            High School _____     College _____     Post Graduate _____

Former occupation (if known):                                                                                  

English proficiency: _________________________________________________

2.  Nominator’s Contact Information: 

Name:                                                                                                                                                 

Address:                                                                                                                                             

Telephone:                                                                               Fax:                                                    

Email:                                                                         

Title and organization:                                                                                                                       

How do you know this nominee? ___________________________________________________ 

3.  Letter of Support:  Please use a separate sheet of paper to tell us briefly about this individual and how he or she meets the criteria for this award.  Include how the individual’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to social justice, and any thoughts you have on how this individual’s participation might enhance our program.  Please keep your comments to 2-3 paragraphs. 

Please return by mail, email or fax by Friday, November 4, 2011 to: 

Analilia Garcia, Project Director

California Senior Leaders Program                             Fax: (510) 643-8236

School of Public Health #7360                                   Email: CalSeniorLeaders@gmail.com

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA 94720-7360

Questions?

Please contact Analilia Garcia or Meena Nair at (510) 643-0969 or CalSeniorLeaders@gmail.com