About Us

 

Mission Statement

Our mission is to enrich the lives of seniors, children, and their families throughout our diverse community.

Vision Statement

We envision communities which embrace healthy aging and child development with families enriched through intergenerational relationships.

History

Founded in 1978, ONEgeneration began as a modest and focused storefront senior center initiated, operated, and directed by visionary volunteers. As demographics changed and senior life-spans increased, ONEgeneration expanded and evolved to meet the continuum of our seniors’ needs at dynamic senior enrichment centers, day health care center, and in their own homes.

A dramatic shift in our mission took place in 1994, when we added a child care program. This highlighted our commitment to intergenerational (adult daycare and childcare in a shared setting) services and programs that intertwine human needs for both giving and receiving in meaningful, daily contact. This philosophy has become our guiding value, as well as what is unique and most highly celebrated at ONEgeneration.

What Does Intergenerational Mean?

Intergenerational refers to the selection and coordination of activities that enrich multiple generations. When ONEgeneration’s seniors and children join in activities, seniors recall favorite songs, games, and projects of their pasts as they share their skills, patience, and expertise with pre-schoolers. When older adults tutor young people, they bring critical one-on-one attention to the youths’ skill building, while the young people make seniors more comfortable with new technologies. This reciprocity builds mutual respect and a sense of community, providing children and adults with diverse role models. The extraordinary relationships formed last throughout our participants’ lives.

Those We Serve

Throughout the West San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, ONEgeneration serves:

  • Seniors, particularly low-income, homebound, and medically frail elderly
  • Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia
  • Individuals with long term illnesses such as Cancer, HIV/AIDS or Parkinson’s Disease
  • Individuals who have suffered a stroke
  • Caregivers for the elderly or very young
  • Infants and children ages 6 weeks – 6 years
  • At-risk youth, including foster children and teen parents
  • Developmentally disabled youth and adults

Program participants reflect the diversity of the San Fernando Valley communities, including recent immigrants of multiple ethnicities and racial groups, who speak languages ranging from Armenian, Farsi, and Yiddish to Spanish, Tagalog, and Mandarin. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are drawn to our intergenerational approach.

Board of Directors 2011-2012

OFFICERS

Jim Esterle, Chair
Retired Executive, Management Consultant
 
Joe Jotkowitz, Vice Chair
Founder/Executive Director
The Executive Advisory, LLC

Alan Gottlieb, Secretary
President
Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.
 
David Rutt, Treasurer
Principal, Dorfman & Rutt
 
 
MEMBERS     
Krista Alexander Bowers
 
Cathy Cousineau
Director of Human Resources
Kaiser- Woodland Hills 
 
Kathryn Greene
Regional Vice President, Operations
Silverado Senior Living
 
Nathanial Hutton
Consultant with Oaasis in the CATCH Healthy Habits Program
 
Anthony Nguyen, MD, MBA
Senior Vice President & Medical Director
Anthem Blue Cross
  
Gloria Pollack,
Community Leader
 
Hal Wurtzel*
Independent Consultant
 
 
Tracie Zimmerman, Esq. 
Attorney, Law Offices of Rifenbark & Wolf
 
Stuart D. Zimring, Esq.*
Principal, Law Offices of Stuart D. Zimring
 
Judy Hamilton-Cantu
CEO
ONEgeneration
 
 
In Memoriam
Harry Vickman 
 
*Past Chairman

 
 
 
Honorary Board Members
 
Karl Boeckmann, Galpin Motors, Inc., Chair
Ed Begley, Jr., Actor & Environmentalist
Rachelle Carson Begley, Actress
Bob Blumenfield, CA Assembly Member
Bud Brown, Hamer Toyota
Rickey Gelb, Gelb Group: A Family of Companies
Michel Moore, LAPD Chief Deputy
Alex Padilla, CA State Senator
Fran Pavley, CA State Senator
Marion Ross, Actress
Nicollette Sheridan, Actress
Brad Sherman, U.S. Congressperson
Fred Simmons, Trustee, Edelstein Foundation
Greig Smith, LA City Council Member
Stuart Waldman, VICA CEO
Fred Willard, Actor
Mary Willard, Playwright
Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor
Ruth Ziegler, Ruth/Alan Ziegler Foundation
Dennis P. Zine, Council Member