Article for West Pasadena Residents Association Magazine – Fall Edition

ZOOM: THE SILVER LINING OF COVID

In an era of masks, social distancing, hospitalizations and worse, a website most people never heard of before has brought loved ones, friends and others together worldwide.

The Pasadena Senior Center took advantage of Zoom as early as March 2020 when fee-based classes went virtual. By June 2020 nearly everything was presented via Zoom to members and nonmembers, regardless of their cities of residence. Many activities are free and some are fee-based.

"I have taken French classes, creative writing and even a live conversation with one of my heroes, Rosie Casals," said PSC member Martha Easley. "These Zoom offerings pulled me out of the loneliness and doldrums of isolation. I hope Zoom will continue to be part of the senior center even after it fully opens again."

PSC's Zoom activities have gone national and even international! The center keeps track of locations from which participants log in, and they include cities all over the U.S. plus Australia, Canada, France, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Romania and the U.K. There's power in word of mouth! Even instructors and other presenters and moderators have signed in from locations far and wide.

Sam Eisenstein, a retired instructor with the English Department at Los Angeles Community College, is the instructor for PSC's free Virtual Writers Club every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon via Zoom.

"The group shares personal experiences, fiction and non-fiction, from long lives full of fascinating events," he said. "No subject is out of bounds. The group always responds with interest and compassion. No creative writing experience is necessary."

Annie Laskey, director of events at the Pasadena Senior Center and the person responsible for much of the Zoom programming, says the plan for the future is to offer more hybrid activities – online via Zoom and onsite at the center.

Even though most activities are available to nonmembers as well as members, membership at PSC will keep you young at heart when you discover all the discounts on fee-based classes and activities, including The Masters Series, free membership to Armory Center for the Arts and much more. For more information visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org/membership.

For more information about PSC's Zoom offerings or to register for activities, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Online Events or call 626-795-4331; for more information about activities onsite at the center, which has reopened its doors on a limited basis, visit the website and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then At the Center or call the phone number.

If you're 50 or older, stay active and join the fun! Whether you're interested in just about any activity from astronomy to Zumba Gold, you'll find it presented live by the Pasadena Senior Center via Zoom.