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Upcoming Special Events
Messages from Nature: SPIRIT ANIMALS
A spirit animal is a teacher or messenger that comes in the form of an animal and has a personal relationship to an individual. We identify our spirit animal, using poetry, music, song, mythology, storytelling, constellations, & visual images. Community members, family, friends, volunteers, & Creative Aging SF members invited to this intergenerational event. Dr. Sally Gelardin, Facilitator
Start Date 07-06-2019
End Date 07-06-2019
Start Time 11:00 AM
End Time 12:00 PM
Location: Aegis Corte Madera
5555 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera 94925
Email sgelardin@gmail.com
Inaugural Gallery Opening: Ruths' Table
Join Ruth’s Table on July 11th, 6 – 9 pm for the opening of the gallery exhibition, “Beyond the Warp and Weft: The Enduring Legacy of the Bauhaus”.
This is the inaugural exhibition in our new Ruth's Table gallery. We are excited to share this beautiful and creative space with you. Ruth's Table fosters opportunities for people of all ages to engage in creative expression.
Curated by Hanna Regev, "Beyond the War and Weft" explores the far-reaching impact of the Bauhaus ideas in the contemporary textile and weaving field. The exhibition presents a stylistically diverse selection of works from 17 artists that combine hand weaving, textile, sound, science, sculpture and site-specific installation. You’ll see innovative uses of materials, digital technology, and interdisciplinary strategies. It’s going to be a truly amazing show.
For more information visit and to learn more about our programs: https://www.ruthstable.org/current-exhibition
7-11-2019
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
3160 21st Street
San Francisco
Website https://www.ruthstable.org/
Email contact@ruthstable.org
Phone Number (415) 642-1000
IOA Summer Film & Lecture # 1 My Love Affair With The Brain
Monday, July 15th , 2019 4-6 p.m.
Location: 3575 Geary Blvd., SF, CA 94118
Registration/Information: https://ioaloveaffairwithbrain.eventbrite.com
My Love Affair With The Brain is a 56-minute, multiple-award-winning 2017 PBS documentary that brings the viewer right into the heart of science and into a deeper understanding of one's own brain. Critically acclaimed, extensively tested for educational use from 5th grade through Nobel Prize winners, this film is an intimate and inspirational portrait of one of the founders of modern neuroscience, Dr. Marian Diamond. As one of the founders of modern neuroscience, it's no exaggeration to say that Dr. Diamond changed science and society at large in dramatic ways, over the course of her career. Her groundbreaking work is all the more remarkable because it began during an era when so few women entered science at all. My Love Affair with the Brain provides an excellent introduction to the brain, to science and the scientific method itself, to the essence of teaching and education, and to the pleasures of a life well-lived in science. Directors: Catherine Ryan and Gary Wimberg. Executive Producer: Tyson Lindo. Narrated by "Big Bang Theory" actress & neuroscientist, Mayim Bialik, PhD.
As a result of attending this program, participants will be able to:
· - Explain why Dr. Marian Diamond describes the brain as “the most complex mass of protoplasm on this earth and, perhaps in our galaxy.”
· - Identify two potential influences which cause brain plasticity to extend well into older adulthood
· - Define the “use it or lose it” theory
· - State the five factors crucial to brain development at any age: diet, exercise, challenge, newness and — perhaps surprising for a laboratory researcher — love
Why We Need Heroes
We need heroes, whether real or fictional. Heroes are role models who inspire us to combat adversity with feats of ingenuity, bravery, or strength. What other functions do heroes provide for society? Drawing on Greek mythology and Carl Jung's hero archetypes, Dr. Sally Gelardin career and life transitions educator, shares storytelling techniques to assist us in working through life's ups and downs.
Date: 07-22-2019, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Address: Corte Madera Library
707 Meadowsweet Drive
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Rethinking Memory Loss
Our highly practical workshop offers both a depth understanding of memory loss and in the moment exercises that promote communication skills. Family members as well as professionals have found the session helpful and comforting.
Saturday, July 27, 2018 9:30am-3:00pm
Piedmont Adult School in Oakland
To register and for more information: click here
IOA Summer Film & Lecture # 2 Grow Old Along with Me---The Poetry of Aging
Monday, July 29 , 2019 4-6 p.m.
Location: 3575 Geary Blvd., SF, CA 94118
Registration/Information: https://ioagrowoldwithme.eventbrite.com
This original, 57-minute PBS special, Grow Old Along with Me---The Poetry of Aging, is hosted by renowned thespians, Julie Harris and Richard Kiley (with James Earl Jones, Hume Cronyn, Leni Sonnenfeld, Frederick and Claske Franck, Shirley Verrett, and Buddhist nun Pema Chodron), wherein aging experiences are shared through the process of reciting poetry, which becomes wonderfully accessible through the sharing of the creative elders' personal hopes, fears, and insights. These well-loved artists and teachers reassure us that the work of achieving authenticity in later years is within our reach. With grounded honesty, these older adults address their imagination, intimacy, aloneness, acceptance of the reality of death, and the blessings of peace and nature as they grow older–-with hope. Their insights on the process and effects of aging show us how to adapt gracefully to the changes taking place in our bodies, in our relationships, and in the very circumstances of our lives. This film won a Cine Golden Eagle Award. Directors: Anne Macksoud and John Ankele.
As a result of attending this program, participants will be able to:
· - Employ at least three techniques towards the exploration of valuable creative aging
· - Identify at least two ways in which all older adults are similar
· - Recognize at least 4 areas of diversity within the older-adult population
· - Define the term "positive aging," offering three hallmarks attributed to this term
· - Acknowledge that the phenomenon of aging is a part of life, a normal stage in human development
9th Annual Legacy Film Festival on Aging
September 20-22, 2019, San Francisco
email: info@legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org
website: www.legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org
Movie Moments at the Vogue:
A Dementia Inclusive Initiative Bridging Film and Community
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Vogue Theater
3290 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115
This a one-of-a-kind film experience is designed specifically for people living with dementia and their care partners. Short, iconic film clips will be shown, interspersed with audience discussion and reminiscence, guided by moderators.
Cost: Free. Complimentary popcorn and refreshments!
Advanced registration is required. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Rachel Main 415.463.8505 creativeagingsf@gmail.com
Recurring Events
Healing Circle
Smith Center will be offering an online Healing Circle via Zoom in the spring of 2019 with David “Lucky” Goff and Wendy Miller. Those who have been most gravely tested by life have the most loss, and potentially the most to gain. Yet it is in how we respond to these conditions - which come in many complex and subtle forms such as grief, illness, injury, injustice, war, and other unknown heartbreaks - that defines us and defines our life.
This bi-monthly circle is an opportunity to create a cyberspace community, connecting with others as we learn to grow through the hardships we have experienced in life, not in spite of them, but because of them. Healing becomes a by-product from our shared culture of community, connection, and mystery. In such a community, our flames of creativity can be lit, as we discover ourselves as more sensitized and adaptive human beings.
To sign up, call David “Lucky” Goff at
Start Date 02-22-2019
End Date 06-21-2019
Phone Number (707) 291-0438
Artful Discoveries at the de Young
Artful Discoveries tours are open to people with a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, who acknowledge their diagnosis and whose symptoms are mild. Care partners are invited to attend along with a person living with dementia.
The Early-Stage Social Engagement Program offers a fun and comfortable way for people living in the early stage of Alzheimer's or other dementia to get out, get active and get connected with one another.
This program is free, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. No walk-ins permitted.
de Young Museum
San Francisco CA
Website alzpowerpurpose.org
Email vsouza@alz.org
Phone Number (408) 372-9976
Artful Discoveries at the Legion of Honor
Artful Discoveries tours are open to people with a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, who acknowledge their diagnosis and whose symptoms are mild. Care partners are invited to attend along with a person living with dementia.
The Early-Stage Social Engagement Program offers a fun and comfortable way for people living in the early stage of Alzheimer's or other dementia to get out, get active and get connected with one another.
This program is free, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. No walk-ins permitted.
Legion of Honor Museum
San Francisco, CA
Website: alzpowerpurpose.org
Email: vsouza@alz.org
Phone Number(408) 372-9976
Creative Insights: Art and Alzheimer's at the CJM
Join us for special tours for people with early-stage dementia and their care partners, offered in partnership with the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Creative Insights tours are offered in conjunction with current exhibitions, and are interactive, offering opportunities for dialogue and meaningful interaction. These tours are free, but pre-screening is required and space is limited. Contact Vanessa Souza, Early Stage Program Coordinator, for more information or to register.
San Francisco, CA
vsouza@alz.org
(408) 372-9976
Thrive Alive in West Marin
Bi-monthly sessions from 1-3 pm
Join the community in an interactive, science-based program that will improve brain wellness and increase longevity. Research shows that socialization, music, learning something new, relaxing, moving and connecting improve our health and well-being.
Sliding scale donation per session: $10-$25
St Columba's Inverness
https://www.stcolumbasinverness.org/thrive-alive
For more information, contact Kathleen Downey, 978-895-5763
Death & Dying Series @ SF Library
100 Larkin St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Contact Janet Tom at SF Public Library. Janet.tom@gmail.com
All programs begin at 5:30 pm and are free, at the Latino/Hispanic Room downstairs in the Lower Level of the SF Main Library.
June 6 - Last wishes: Start the Conversation Now!
July 9 - Sitting with the Dying: Rituals and Resources
July 16 - At the Threshold of Death: Words and Song
August 13 - Talking to Children about Death
September 10 - Grieving a Pet's Death - Before and After
Messages from Nature: SPIRIT ANIMALS
A spirit animal is a teacher or messenger that comes in the form of an animal and has a personal relationship to an individual. We identify our spirit animal, using poetry, music, song, mythology, storytelling, constellations, & visual images. Community members, family, friends, volunteers, & Creative Aging SF members invited to this intergenerational event. Dr. Sally Gelardin, Facilitator
Start Date 07-06-2019
End Date 07-06-2019
Start Time 11:00 AM
End Time 12:00 PM
Location: Aegis Corte Madera
5555 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera 94925
Email sgelardin@gmail.com
Inaugural Gallery Opening: Ruths' Table
Join Ruth’s Table on July 11th, 6 – 9 pm for the opening of the gallery exhibition, “Beyond the Warp and Weft: The Enduring Legacy of the Bauhaus”.
This is the inaugural exhibition in our new Ruth's Table gallery. We are excited to share this beautiful and creative space with you. Ruth's Table fosters opportunities for people of all ages to engage in creative expression.
Curated by Hanna Regev, "Beyond the War and Weft" explores the far-reaching impact of the Bauhaus ideas in the contemporary textile and weaving field. The exhibition presents a stylistically diverse selection of works from 17 artists that combine hand weaving, textile, sound, science, sculpture and site-specific installation. You’ll see innovative uses of materials, digital technology, and interdisciplinary strategies. It’s going to be a truly amazing show.
For more information visit and to learn more about our programs: https://www.ruthstable.org/current-exhibition
7-11-2019
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
3160 21st Street
San Francisco
Website https://www.ruthstable.org/
Email contact@ruthstable.org
Phone Number (415) 642-1000
IOA Summer Film & Lecture # 1 My Love Affair With The Brain
Monday, July 15th , 2019 4-6 p.m.
Location: 3575 Geary Blvd., SF, CA 94118
Registration/Information: https://ioaloveaffairwithbrain.eventbrite.com
My Love Affair With The Brain is a 56-minute, multiple-award-winning 2017 PBS documentary that brings the viewer right into the heart of science and into a deeper understanding of one's own brain. Critically acclaimed, extensively tested for educational use from 5th grade through Nobel Prize winners, this film is an intimate and inspirational portrait of one of the founders of modern neuroscience, Dr. Marian Diamond. As one of the founders of modern neuroscience, it's no exaggeration to say that Dr. Diamond changed science and society at large in dramatic ways, over the course of her career. Her groundbreaking work is all the more remarkable because it began during an era when so few women entered science at all. My Love Affair with the Brain provides an excellent introduction to the brain, to science and the scientific method itself, to the essence of teaching and education, and to the pleasures of a life well-lived in science. Directors: Catherine Ryan and Gary Wimberg. Executive Producer: Tyson Lindo. Narrated by "Big Bang Theory" actress & neuroscientist, Mayim Bialik, PhD.
As a result of attending this program, participants will be able to:
· - Explain why Dr. Marian Diamond describes the brain as “the most complex mass of protoplasm on this earth and, perhaps in our galaxy.”
· - Identify two potential influences which cause brain plasticity to extend well into older adulthood
· - Define the “use it or lose it” theory
· - State the five factors crucial to brain development at any age: diet, exercise, challenge, newness and — perhaps surprising for a laboratory researcher — love
Why We Need Heroes
We need heroes, whether real or fictional. Heroes are role models who inspire us to combat adversity with feats of ingenuity, bravery, or strength. What other functions do heroes provide for society? Drawing on Greek mythology and Carl Jung's hero archetypes, Dr. Sally Gelardin career and life transitions educator, shares storytelling techniques to assist us in working through life's ups and downs.
Date: 07-22-2019, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Address: Corte Madera Library
707 Meadowsweet Drive
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Rethinking Memory Loss
Our highly practical workshop offers both a depth understanding of memory loss and in the moment exercises that promote communication skills. Family members as well as professionals have found the session helpful and comforting.
Saturday, July 27, 2018 9:30am-3:00pm
Piedmont Adult School in Oakland
To register and for more information: click here
IOA Summer Film & Lecture # 2 Grow Old Along with Me---The Poetry of Aging
Monday, July 29 , 2019 4-6 p.m.
Location: 3575 Geary Blvd., SF, CA 94118
Registration/Information: https://ioagrowoldwithme.eventbrite.com
This original, 57-minute PBS special, Grow Old Along with Me---The Poetry of Aging, is hosted by renowned thespians, Julie Harris and Richard Kiley (with James Earl Jones, Hume Cronyn, Leni Sonnenfeld, Frederick and Claske Franck, Shirley Verrett, and Buddhist nun Pema Chodron), wherein aging experiences are shared through the process of reciting poetry, which becomes wonderfully accessible through the sharing of the creative elders' personal hopes, fears, and insights. These well-loved artists and teachers reassure us that the work of achieving authenticity in later years is within our reach. With grounded honesty, these older adults address their imagination, intimacy, aloneness, acceptance of the reality of death, and the blessings of peace and nature as they grow older–-with hope. Their insights on the process and effects of aging show us how to adapt gracefully to the changes taking place in our bodies, in our relationships, and in the very circumstances of our lives. This film won a Cine Golden Eagle Award. Directors: Anne Macksoud and John Ankele.
As a result of attending this program, participants will be able to:
· - Employ at least three techniques towards the exploration of valuable creative aging
· - Identify at least two ways in which all older adults are similar
· - Recognize at least 4 areas of diversity within the older-adult population
· - Define the term "positive aging," offering three hallmarks attributed to this term
· - Acknowledge that the phenomenon of aging is a part of life, a normal stage in human development
9th Annual Legacy Film Festival on Aging
September 20-22, 2019, San Francisco
email: info@legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org
website: www.legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org
Movie Moments at the Vogue:
A Dementia Inclusive Initiative Bridging Film and Community
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Vogue Theater
3290 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115
This a one-of-a-kind film experience is designed specifically for people living with dementia and their care partners. Short, iconic film clips will be shown, interspersed with audience discussion and reminiscence, guided by moderators.
Cost: Free. Complimentary popcorn and refreshments!
Advanced registration is required. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Rachel Main 415.463.8505 creativeagingsf@gmail.com
Recurring Events
Healing Circle
Smith Center will be offering an online Healing Circle via Zoom in the spring of 2019 with David “Lucky” Goff and Wendy Miller. Those who have been most gravely tested by life have the most loss, and potentially the most to gain. Yet it is in how we respond to these conditions - which come in many complex and subtle forms such as grief, illness, injury, injustice, war, and other unknown heartbreaks - that defines us and defines our life.
This bi-monthly circle is an opportunity to create a cyberspace community, connecting with others as we learn to grow through the hardships we have experienced in life, not in spite of them, but because of them. Healing becomes a by-product from our shared culture of community, connection, and mystery. In such a community, our flames of creativity can be lit, as we discover ourselves as more sensitized and adaptive human beings.
To sign up, call David “Lucky” Goff at
Start Date 02-22-2019
End Date 06-21-2019
Phone Number (707) 291-0438
Artful Discoveries at the de Young
Artful Discoveries tours are open to people with a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, who acknowledge their diagnosis and whose symptoms are mild. Care partners are invited to attend along with a person living with dementia.
The Early-Stage Social Engagement Program offers a fun and comfortable way for people living in the early stage of Alzheimer's or other dementia to get out, get active and get connected with one another.
This program is free, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. No walk-ins permitted.
de Young Museum
San Francisco CA
Website alzpowerpurpose.org
Email vsouza@alz.org
Phone Number (408) 372-9976
Artful Discoveries at the Legion of Honor
Artful Discoveries tours are open to people with a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, who acknowledge their diagnosis and whose symptoms are mild. Care partners are invited to attend along with a person living with dementia.
The Early-Stage Social Engagement Program offers a fun and comfortable way for people living in the early stage of Alzheimer's or other dementia to get out, get active and get connected with one another.
This program is free, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. No walk-ins permitted.
Legion of Honor Museum
San Francisco, CA
Website: alzpowerpurpose.org
Email: vsouza@alz.org
Phone Number(408) 372-9976
Creative Insights: Art and Alzheimer's at the CJM
Join us for special tours for people with early-stage dementia and their care partners, offered in partnership with the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Creative Insights tours are offered in conjunction with current exhibitions, and are interactive, offering opportunities for dialogue and meaningful interaction. These tours are free, but pre-screening is required and space is limited. Contact Vanessa Souza, Early Stage Program Coordinator, for more information or to register.
San Francisco, CA
vsouza@alz.org
(408) 372-9976
Thrive Alive in West Marin
Bi-monthly sessions from 1-3 pm
Join the community in an interactive, science-based program that will improve brain wellness and increase longevity. Research shows that socialization, music, learning something new, relaxing, moving and connecting improve our health and well-being.
Sliding scale donation per session: $10-$25
St Columba's Inverness
https://www.stcolumbasinverness.org/thrive-alive
For more information, contact Kathleen Downey, 978-895-5763
Death & Dying Series @ SF Library
100 Larkin St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Contact Janet Tom at SF Public Library. Janet.tom@gmail.com
All programs begin at 5:30 pm and are free, at the Latino/Hispanic Room downstairs in the Lower Level of the SF Main Library.
June 6 - Last wishes: Start the Conversation Now!
July 9 - Sitting with the Dying: Rituals and Resources
July 16 - At the Threshold of Death: Words and Song
August 13 - Talking to Children about Death
September 10 - Grieving a Pet's Death - Before and After