Chicagoans are beginning to celebrate a renewed season of community, connection, and fun. Emerging from strict distancing has proved to be ambiguous for some of us. Perhaps our social skills are a bit rusty and our values may have changed—what was important to us before may not matter as much now and vice versa.
We asked various people from the Village community to share what they were going to do next---and in their responses, you may find recognition or inspiration. As you explore your own post-pandemic world, remember that you may feel awkward initially, but will relish the joy and warmth of connecting with friends and acquaintances in person---and even striking up conversations with perfect strangers.
The Village Chicago is looking to the future as well. We are currently shifting from all virtual events to include more outdoor activities—such as walking tours and biking adventures---and some small indoor events for those who are vaccinated. We are also staying connected and engaged with our on-going social and discussion groups on Zoom. For example, you can check out our thought-provoking program on June 10 about the Impact of Ageism on the Future of Work. Have you been affected by age-bias in the workplace? Come and join this lively presentation! If you can’t make it, please look over our weekly events calendar that is filled with fun and interesting things to do at The Village. Normally for members only, please come—just tell them Darcy sent you!
Warm Regards,
Darcy Evon, CEO
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Fresh perspectives from the greater community.
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Inspiring Conversation
A Village Event Recap
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On May 12, 2021, The Village hosted more than 50 members at our traditional Annual Spring Potluck. The event kicked off with a lively and inspiring conversation with Dr. Cheryl Woodson - wife, mother, doctor, businesswoman, educator, and author.
Dr. Woodson acknowledged the adjustment period we are all facing as we emerge from our homes and venture back into the world. She said, “As we look forward to re-engaging it may not be as easy as we imagined. For some it may be reminiscent of PTSD. We need to give ourselves a break! Things are going to be different from ‘the before times.’” She explored the idea that we are being faced with mental health ramifications from the coronavirus lockdown.
Dr. Woodson says, “The answer lies in engaging in ways that make us happy and feel safe; to think of what makes you smile, and do it!” This can be as simple as planning a meal outside, to venturing back to the “Y,” something she has recently done. It is going to be a time of trial and error for all of us. She says, “The best tools we have to emerge from the pandemic are wisdom, resilience, friends and family and all the opportunities to engage that you have through the Village.”
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Thank you to Dr. Woodson for sharing her experience and inspiring us; to the Bridging Generations Board for hosting our breakout rooms/tables; to Chef Frank Kwaitkowski from Lakeview's “Get in the Kitchen!” for the most delicious snack boxes; and to Belmont Village Senior Living of Lincoln Park for the fabulous wine!
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Stories about individuals making - or experiencing - an impact.
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Sweet Home, Chicago
By Niki Fox, Featuring Joe Loundy
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Joe Loundy, Village member since 2013, is one of an army of adventurers who wants to explore different travel destinations as he emerges from the confines of the pandemic. Though eager to travel, he quickly realized after careful planning, booking airfare and hotel accommodations, and dreaming of the adventures, that this new world is going to take some getting used to.
“You can go to O’Hare, and get on planes to different places, only to find out that many of the countries' tour sites and attractions are still closed down. So unless you have personal friends or family to visit, some of the countries whose numbers are vastly improving still have quarantine restrictions for incoming tourists.”
While he is optimistic that vaccinations will increase and cases will decline, Joe isn’t quite ready to go anywhere just yet. International travel will have to wait until the winter months,
and he is focusing his attention on sweet home Chicago.
“Summer here in Chicago is one of the best places to be. Chicago is a wonderful city, with a wonderful climate during summer and fall. There is a lot to be grateful for living here.”
Chicagoans take for granted all that the city has to offer in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Now is the time to be curious about unusual venues, parks, farmer’s markets, and the many festivals and fairs reopening this summer.
And for the winter months? Joe is dreaming about the colonial towns north of Mexico City, in higher altitudes---and, southeast Asia, another great place for winter.
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Back to the Future
By Niki Fox, Featuring Cheryl Cornell
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“Re-emerging from the pandemic can feel a lot like lumbering out of forced hibernation.” says Village member Cheryl Cornell, a corporate and professional training expert who has been home over the last year, her workload reduced to practically nothing, replaced by a huge uptick in Zooming and reading.
“I recently had my family over for dinner and when I got done cooking, I was exhausted. It’s been over a year since I set the table and cooked for this many.”
Like many of us, the usual buzz of social engagements that we felt back in 2019 may now be mixed with a bit of anxiety. We are flexing social muscles that have atrophied behind masks at six feet apart or more.
The art and ordeal of entertaining is different in the real world. Preparing a meal, making yourself totally presentable, as well as your entire home, takes more work than sitting in your comfiest pants and smiling in front of the backdrop to your Zoom room.
“I’m rusty and it's hard rebuilding as it doesn’t feel like I am the same,” says Cheryl. She elaborates that having one or two people on the porch feels very different from having a group in the house.
The home has been its own safe haven, a veritable mask from the outside world. And now we are removing that barrier and physically letting people in. Beyond the awkward nature of addressing mask wearing and social distancing when vaccinated is the question “are we sharing food yet?” In the anticipation and excitement to gather, Cheryl realized that “...conversation stalemates occurred as we didn’t have much to talk about beyond book recommendations and learning of new movies and shows to stream. The fallback of sharing travel experiences also evaporated.” Conversations will pick up again as we accumulate interesting answers to, “What have you been doing lately?” The more we can engage in the world again, the more we will have to share.
“Doing something normal, still feels abnormal; and yet it is such a good feeling,” Cheryl notes.
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Together at Last
By Niki Fox, Featuring Eloise Barron
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The hardest aspect of the pandemic for many has been the separation from family and loved ones.
Eloise Barron has not seen her son and his family, who live in London, for 18 long months. Last December, a new grandson was born at the height of the pandemic. The usual joyful celebration over a new baby had to be filled virtually, by phone and through well curated care packages.
So tremendous excitement abounds when Eloise shares, “After four years in London, our son and his family will be relocating back to Hinsdale, with a job created for him in Chicago.”
Eloise is giddy that the family will arrive at the end of June and come stay with her and husband Tim in Michigan until they move into their new home.
“It will be quite a reunion that after all this time apart, we will be able to be with family, together - openly and freely, to enjoy Michigan in the height of summer,” says Eloise.
The Barrons have been fortunate as their place in Michigan has an abundance of outdoor space---allowing them to social distance with ease. Eloise laughs though at the oddity of bringing one's own individual dishes to outdoor gatherings, not to share as she is accustomed to bringing an appetizer to pass.
“The idea of not sharing was very strange and took some getting used to - and now, so will the resumption of sharing.”
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Read More
Here are some recent articles that shed additional light on emerging from our homes and socializing post pandemic.
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We asked some Village sponsors and friends to tell us what exciting activity they will be doing this summer.
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Lauren Hollasch
Director of Sales and Marketing
Belmont Village Senior Living Lincoln Park
“My joyous thing is that we are finally planning events again! For those that don’t know me, I love to host parties, both personally and professionally! So, I’ll be hosting my housewarming (8+ months later) after purchasing my first condo, and we are hosting our first ‘open to the public’ event at Belmont Village Lincoln Park, our Summer Jazz Series, starting on June 8!”
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Tom Kuczmarski
Co-founder
Chicago Innovation
“In terms of what’s exciting upcoming for me? The week of June 7, I will be teaching a 6 day, virtual course at the Kellogg School of Management. It is an Executive Education program entitled: Leading and Sustaining A Culture of Innovation.”
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Michael Melinger
Owner
Home Instead
“As home care providers, we are seeing dramatic changes happening in the field of aging. With care costs rising, we see the need and opportunity to create an innovative model of care that allows people to effectively 'share care’, where multiple consumers in one neighborhood share the services of an efficiently scheduled caregiver to maximize independence and cost savings beyond the traditional model of in-home care.”
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Callie Elson, RN
Director of Community Relations
Artis Senior Living Lakeview
“We are looking forward to a summer where our residents can explore the city of Chicago again.”
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Here are the headlines that have the Village talking.
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Digital Nomads
From Fast Company
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Special visas. Free Vaccines. Tax breaks. Countries around the world are courting a new class of human capital that wants to mix travel and work forever. Read more.
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Tough Compassion
From Greater Good Magazine
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Can “tough compassion” be the most compassionate approach? Read more.
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Innovation of the Day
From Trend Watching
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“Applying deodorant is such a routine gesture that most people do it without thinking.” Read more about the world’s first deodorant designed for people with upper limb disabilities.
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Exciting news from the Village.
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How to Beat Ageism and Its Impact on the Future of Work
Thursday, June 10, 5:30–7 PM (CDT) via Zoom
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Regardless of your age, ageism in the workplace will someday unexpectedly have a destructive impact on your life unless we solve the problem. Lou Reyes, publisher of Over50tv on YouTube, will talk about how ageism in the workplace is ravaging the lives of people over 50 and how this destructive behavior is impacting you and your future. Lou will discuss non-legal solutions and constructive steps that can enable you to thrive now and in the future. To learn more and RSVP, click here.
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You Are Invited to The Village Annual Meeting
June 14, 5-6 PM (CDT) via Zoom
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There is no better way to learn about The Village Chicago's activities and services than to attend our annual meeting.
We will review the past year’s highlights, talk about plans for the future -- and give away some special prizes! Mark your calendar, and to register, click here.
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Save the Date: Village Chicago Annual Benefit!
September 21, 5-6 PM (CDT) via Zoom
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Join us on September 21 for a fun-filled evening featuring entertainment, friends, and presentation of The Village Chicago Trailblazer Awards. We will also hold a fabulous on-line auction, which will kick off Tuesday, September 14 and run through Monday, September 20. This year’s surprise Trailblazer award winners will be announced soon -- and you won’t want to miss their appearance at the benefit.
Meanwhile, please consider donating some of your treasures to the auction and by all means, save Tuesday, September 21 for a break-through event! For more information on how to donate auction items, please email Susan Wakula at susanw@thevillagechicago.org.
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Finding Purpose and Sharing Your Skills
Giving back and getting involved
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Village committees are what make the Village work. They come up with the ideas and plans that make up the unique combination of social life, activities and services that the Village offers.
Being involved with a committee does not have to mean a long-term commitment and you don’t have to be a Village member. There are myriad opportunities to jump in and help with a specific project, idea or connection. . For example:
- Help find auction items for the benefit
- Help find new sources for prospective members
- Help create collaborations by introducing the Village to organizations with which you are engaged.
- Help plan outdoor activities for the wonderful summer ahead of us.
- Introduce us to influencers you know in the academic, arts or business communities.
If this triggers some ideas, just email info@thevillagechicago.org or call 773.248.8700.
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Registration is required for all events; Zoom links will be sent via email to registered attendees the day before. RSVP to events by emailing celebrate@thevillagechicago.org or visit thevillagechicago.org
- (6/2) Everyone Can Improvise! Now Monthly
- (6/2) Great Books, Great Conversations
- (6/3) Coffee Chat BYOC | Sports
- (6/3) Short Story Intergenerational Discussions
- (6/3) Chicago LGTBQ Alzheimer’s Virtual Community Forum
- (6/5) Saturday Afternoon at the Movies | His House (2020)
- (6/5) Brush Strokes: Paintin' Party | An In-Person Event
- (6/7) Bridging the Racial Divide
- (6/8) Exercise at Home with Jill Stein
- (6/9) Cryptocurency 201 Presented by the Village Men's Group
- (6/9) The Hidden History of the Supreme Court (5–week series)
- (6/9) Front Porch Discussion Group | Post-Pandemic Employment Recovery
- (6/10) Technology Solutions and Memory Care with Adiona Health
- (6/10) How to Beat Ageism and Its Impact on the Future of Work
- (6/14) Annual Members Meeting & Town Hall
- (6/15) What's So Super About SuperAging? Presented by the Chicagoland Villages Collaborative
- (6/16) Death Café: An Informal Conversation About Death & Dying
- (6/16) Wildflower Walk & Talk | An In-Person Event
- (6/16) Lincoln Park Biking Adventure - Endangered Monuments Presented by Life 3.0 | An In-Person Event
- (6/24) Numbers & Pages with MacTutor
- (6/24) Great American Read Book Club | Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- (7/27) Decluttering at Home Presented by the Near North Circle
All events require registration, so be sure to RSVP today! Participants will receive an email confirmation with details for joining via Zoom.
To RSVP for any event, please visit our web calendar or email us at celebrate@thevillagechicago.org!
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Village Member Pastime Groups
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Are you...
Looking for a new career, about to retire, wondering what's next? Seeking companions that share your interests? Searching for a way to utilize your abilities? In need of occasional help? New to Chicago? Worried about changing needs? An adult child with aging parents?
Village members are part of an inclusive, multigenerational community, connected to others and to the resources that support growth and well-being as we navigate life after 50 together.
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Leadership of The Village Chicago
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Board of Directors
Karen Terry,
President
Nancy Felton-Elkins,
Vice President
Charles G. Cooper,
Vice President
Judith Gethner
Vice President
Angie Levenstein,
Secretary
Richard W. Sullivan,
Treasurer
Kathie Kolodgy,
Immediate Past President
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David E. Baker
Donald M. Bell
Patricia Clickener
Thomas C. Eley III
Glen Gabert
Bruce Hunt
Ira Kohlman
Therese Meike
Liz Metzger
Gail C. Moss
Linda Randall
Wally Shah
Lois Stuckey
Janet Walters
Melville Washburn
Joyce Winnecke
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Advisory Council
Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD
Robyn L. Golden, LCSW
Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD
Mary Ann Smith
CEO
Darcy L. Evon
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The Village Chicago is a social network of friendship, engagement and services for people over 50. We support all aspects of well-being through social engagement, an extensive services and referral network, lifelong learning, health and fitness, intergenerational relationships, work and purpose.
2502 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614. 773.248.8700
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