On May 5, 2022, Congresswoman Doris Matsui visited ACC Senior Services for an update on the Senior Escort Program, which was created by the Sacramento Senior Safety Collaborative in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. ACC is a key partner in the program’s operation. Ms. Matsui represents California’s Sixth Congressional District, which encompasses metropolitan Sacramento. In Washington D.C., she is a leading voice in the effort to enact laws against hate crimes. As a person born in an internment camp in Arizona during World War II, she is keenly aware of how hate and prejudice can be normalized in civil society.
The meeting was attended by Darrick Lam, President and CEO of ACC, Jean Shiomoto, ACC Chair of the Board, Titus Toyama, ACC Board member and representative of the Florin-Sacramento Valley JACL, John Yoshikawa, Vice President of the Adult Buddhist Association and Board member of the Sacramento Chapter of the JACL, Jeri Shikuma, Home and Community Based Program Administrator, and me, the Senior Escort Program Manager.
It was an honor to have Congresswoman Doris Matsui take the time to learn more about our Senior Escort Program and our efforts working with the community to promote safety as well as physical and mental health for seniors and their families. We spoke about the need to address anti-Asian hate, especially in a community that often under-reports and is seen as the “model minority.” Congresswoman Matsui agreed with these concerns and reinforced her support for ACC which goes back decades.
Titus and John are members of the Sacramento Senior Safety Collaborative. They shared their experiences as volunteers for the Senior Escort Program. Jeri spoke about the potential of this program to bridge the gap between generations by connecting high school and college volunteers with seniors of different cultural backgrounds. She also spoke about the valuable training that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) provided to ACC and how we plan to do the same for the greater community. ACC wants to mobilize activism in the young community, just as we did 50 years ago. This is a great opportunity for younger generations to take action on social issues that face underserved communities.
The Congresswoman also mentioned how our program aligns with the Build Back Better Act. Her office stated, “By passing the Build Back Better Act, we are unleashing the potential of American workers and families by giving them the tools they need to succeed. I fought hard to include several provisions that will make meaningful improvements to the lives of Sacramentans. I worked to ensure it makes historic investments to expand access to quality home-based services and care for millions of older adults and people with disabilities.”
The Senior Escort Program will officially launch on September 6, 2022. The Sacramento Senior Safety Collaborative will also be present at this year’s ACC Ohana Walk on September 17 to recruit more volunteers and hand out freebies. There’s no better place to find available volunteers that can walk than a walk-a-thon right? We are finding that this program really benefits from volunteers who enjoy having a good conversation with new people, and who truly are kind to their core. We have seniors who barely get out of their homes unless a volunteer is present, and we know there are many more in the same situation. In order to help more seniors in need, more kind-hearted volunteers are a must.
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