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Blog archive

April 2025

March 2025

About Senior Solutions
03/28/2025

Building a Bridge With Journey House, A Home Base for Former Foster Youth
03/28/2025

Come for the Knitting, Stay for the Conversation... and the Cookies
03/28/2025

Creating Safe and Smart Spaces with Home Technology
03/28/2025

Finding Joy in My Role on The Pasadena Village Board
03/28/2025

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
03/28/2025

Managing Anxiety
03/28/2025

Message from Our President: Keeping Pasadena Village Strong Together
03/28/2025

My Favorite Easter Gift
03/28/2025

The Hidden History of Black Women in WWII
03/28/2025

Urinary Tract Infection – Watch Out!
03/28/2025

Volunteer Coordinator and Blade-Runner
03/28/2025

Continuing Commitment to Combating Racism
03/26/2025

Goodbye and Keep Cold by Robert Frost
03/13/2025

What The Living Do by Marie Howe
03/13/2025

Racism is Not Genetic
03/11/2025

Bill Gould, The First
03/07/2025

THIS IS A CHAPTER, NOT MY WHOLE STORY
03/07/2025

Dramatic Flair: Villagers Share their Digital Art
03/03/2025

Empowering Senior LGBTQ+ Caregivers
03/03/2025

A Life Never Anticipated
03/02/2025

Eaton Fire Changes Life
03/02/2025

February 2025

Commemorating Black History Month 2025
02/28/2025

Transportation at the Pasadena Village
02/28/2025

A Look at Proposition 19
02/27/2025

Behind the Scenes: Understanding the Pasadena Village Board and Its Role
02/27/2025

Beyond and Within the Village: The Power of One
02/27/2025

Celebrating Black Voices
02/27/2025

Creatively Supporting Our Village Community
02/27/2025

Decluttering: More Than The Name Implies
02/27/2025

Hidden Gems of Forest Lawn Museum
02/27/2025

LA River Walk
02/27/2025

Message from the President
02/27/2025

Phoenix Rising
02/27/2025

1619 Conversations with West African Art
02/25/2025

The Party Line
02/24/2025

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski
02/17/2025

Dreams by Langston Hughes
02/17/2025

Haiku - Four by Fritzie
02/17/2025

Haikus - Nine by Virginia
02/17/2025

Wind and Fire
02/17/2025

Partnerships Amplify Relief Efforts
02/07/2025

Another Community Giving Back
02/05/2025

Diary of Disaster Response
02/05/2025

Eaton Fire: A Community United in Loss and Recovery
02/05/2025

Healing Powers of Creative Energy
02/05/2025

Living the Mission
02/05/2025

Message from the President: Honoring Black History Month
02/05/2025

Surviving and Thriving: Elder Health Considerations After the Fires
02/05/2025

Treasure Hunting in The Ashes
02/05/2025

Villager's Stories
02/05/2025

A Beginning of Healing
02/03/2025

Hectic Evacuation From Eaton Canyon Fire
02/02/2025

Hurricanes and Fires are Different Monsters
02/02/2025

January 2025

THE BRIDGE BEGINS AT JOURNEY HOUSE

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 12/19/2024
Tags: karen bagnard, newsletter january 2025

Village members and friends stepped up to provide a bountiful dinner for the young people and their families at Journey House. Approximately 75 dinners were enjoyed on Wednesday, November 27, at two seatings.

While no one lives at Journey House anymore, it still feels like a family home for young people who have aged out of foster care and are working their way through college or trade schools. Journey House provides them with counseling, mentoring, financial help and many other forms of support. With no families to support them, these young people rely on the staff and volunteers at Journey House.

Villager Debbie Baird commented, “Journey House has such a wonderful homey atmosphere. The children have their own room upstairs stocked with toys to enjoy.  And, if a child wants to keep a toy they can take it home with them. It was a joyful experience to be a part of this Journey House Thanksgiving celebration.”

Those of us who cooked and attended this lovely Thanksgiving gathering felt the love and the warmth that exists in this lovely historic home in Pasadena. We saw young people who found their way, many without transportation of their own, to be with the ones who love and support them. Some came with partners and/or children. It was beautiful to be a part of this. As Bridget Brewster shared, “I went expecting to simply be of help, I didn't imagine the gratitude, not just for the food, but actually being present with the Journeyers. I walked away on cloud nine!”

Fortunately, the weather was beautiful, allowing the children to play in the garden and run around on the big lawn in front. It was your typical family Thanksgiving dinner gathering.

This was the inaugural event in developing inter-generational programming for both Pasadena Village and Journey House. Executive Directors Jesse Aguiar and Katie Brandon, are working jointly to create more opportunities in the new year that will enrich and benefit both organizations. 

Quite a few of the Village members have been involved with Journey House for many years, Toni Cavanagh, Wayne April, Jeff Gutstadt, Bridget Brewster, Tom and Liz Polenzani and me.  We have participated and supported this organization in many ways. We can all attest to the dedication and success of their mission to help former foster youth continue their education.

One of the greatest aspects of Journey House is that no one ever “ages out.” They are truly like a family. They have been in existence for over 41 years doing this great work. Some of the original young men who benefited from the vision of the founder, Father Tim Mayworm, still come back “home” to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and the annual Christmas party. 

Katy Townsend said, “My daughter passed away a few months prior to this Thanksgiving Dinner and I felt good being around a lot of positive and wonderful people.”  This statement underscores how much we have to give to each other.

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