Avenidas

Re-Inventing Aging

Avenidas in the News

See the latest coverage and and read our press releases about Avenidas and our senior services in the Palo Alto and Mountain View area.

Kristina Lugo Named President & CEO of Avenidas

Palo Alto Weekly’s Lisa Moreno covers the announcement of new leadership at Avenidas.

“At Avenidas, I have found the place where my passion for supporting older adults as they age in place aligned with the values of the organization,” Lugo wrote in a statement. “In this new role, I plan to leverage strategic planning and financial management, nurture strong relationships with community partners, and continue the organization’s mission of helping older adults be active, engaged, and healthy.”

Kristina Lugo, LCSW, incoming President & CEO of Avenidas

Avenidas, local organization dedicated to older adults, names new president and CEO

Avenidas appointed Kristina Lugo, who has worked with the organization for six years, as its new CEO and president Wednesday, succeeding Amy Yotopoulos.

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Kristina Lugo Named New Avenidas President and CEO

New role begins on May 1, 2024

Palo Alto, CA (April 24, 2024) — Avenidas, an organization with services and programs devoted to older adults in the San Francisco mid-Peninsula, announces Kristina Lugo, LCSW, has been named President and CEO, effective May 1, 2024. Amy Yotopoulos, who resigned in late January, will remain with Avenidas through May 23, 2024, to ensure a smooth transition.

Over the last six years, Lugo has served Avenidas in a number of roles, including as the Program Director of Avenidas Rose Kleiner Center, where she doubled the number of clients, and Vice President of Programs. In addition, she has held senior clinical, program, and operational positions at San Francisco’s Institute on Aging and Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging. A licensed clinical social worker, Lugo also served on the board of California Association of Adult Day Services and currently serves on the board of Boys and Girls Club of the Coastside.

“At Avenidas, I have found the place where my passion for supporting older adults as they age in place aligned with the values of the organization,” said Kristina Lugo, incoming Avenidas President & CEO. “In this new role, I plan to leverage strategic planning and financial management, nurture strong relationships with community partners, and continue the organization’s mission of helping older adults be active, engaged, and healthy.”

A Search Committee comprised of Avenidas Board members received several hundred applications for this role.

“Kristina is the right leader for Avenidas,” said David Gordon, Avenidas Board Chair. “Her extensive background in aging services and passionate advocacy for older adults will help Avenidas strengthen our partnerships, implement our Strategic Plan, and enhance the program and services that fuel our mission.”

“For nearly three years, I’ve worked alongside Kristina — through a COVID-19 pandemic and recovery and a strategic planning process — and can attest to her commitment to our community and transformational leadership,” said Amy Yotopoulos, current President & CEO. “The future of Avenidas is bright with Kristina at the helm.”

Kristina Lugo, LCSW, earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her master’s degree in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University. She was a LeadingAge California EMERGE fellow, a launching pad for the next generation of leaders in aging, in 2018.

To prepare for this organizational transition, Lugo and Yotopoulos will begin an immediate search for a new Vice President of Programs. Individuals interested in this role can get more information at: https://www.avenidas.org/about/careers/.

About Avenidas

Since 1969, Avenidas services and programs have been helping older adults in the San Francisco mid-Peninsula area be as active, engaged, and healthy as possible. Annually, Avenidas serves more than 4,300 older adults through nearly 52,000 encounters in two adult enrichment centers and one adult day care center located in Palo Alto and Mountain View. Whether seniors require rides to a doctor’s office, counseling sessions, or technology assistance, or if they want to develop a new interest, take an exercise class, or make new friends, Avenidas is here for them.

Photos

High resolution images are available for use by the media. Please contact Michelle T. Shinseki, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, at mshinseki@avenidas.org.

Contact:
Michelle T. Shinseki
650-289-5427
mshinseki@avenidas.org

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Fitness Benefits Featuring Avenidas Classes and Clubs Spotlighted in Palo Alto Weekly

Center Director Tracy McCloud and Avenidas pole walking instructor Jayah Faye Paley talk about the physical and emotional benefits of the six elements of fitness.

Some people have told me how the [Avenidas] walking clubs help with loneliness and depression. It gives them something to look forward to every week – something that gets them moving with friends. Otherwise, they say they don’t go out much.

Tracy McCloud, Avenidas Center Director

Moving into aging

It’s one of those things we hear about aging over and over again. Keep exercising. Keep doing things. But are there certain forms of exercise that aren’t safe as we get into our seventies and eighties? Are there things we need to change?

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Resources and Tips from Avenidas Care Partners Featured in Palo Alto Daily Post

Originally published in The Daily Post on March 22, 2024.
Manager of Avenidas Care Partners Paula Wolfson, LCSW, offers her perspective on the state of caregiving in Braden Cartwright’s article about the in-home care company forced to pay penalties for placing unscreened aides in homes of the elderly.

“It’s just a sad situation because it’s our vulnerable loved ones. But in today’s day and age, you have to play it very safe.”

Paula Wolfson, LSCW; Manager, Avenidas Care Partners

Read the article by clicking here:

Palo Alto Daily Post article: "DA: In-home aides stealing"

Avenidas Chinese Community Center Cantonese Class Featured on KTSF26

ACCC Director Pinki Fung and many participants of the Everyday Cantonese class highlight the educational and cultural significance of coming together at ACCC. With the inclusion of Mandarin speaking and non-Chinese speaking senior participants, the coverage reflects the warm spirit of the program at ACCC, which is to foster understanding and appreciation for Cantonese and Chinese culture among everyone in our community.

I really have to say that I’m still a beginner because [Cantonese] is a very difficult language to learn, but the way the class is run, it’s surprising how much you can take in!

Sue Jardine, ACCC Everyday Cantonese participant

Watch the full segment here:

ACCC’s Cantonese & Chinese Culture Classes. KTSF26 | News [Cantonese audio with English subtitles]

Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and is not affiliated with the original rights holder. We do not claim ownership of any copyrighted m…

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Local News for Chinese Features ACCC’s Lunar New Year Celebration

Reporter Jean Ho recaps the festivities and fun from Lunar New Year at 450 Bryant Street. Don’t miss the photo gallery!

The article is translated into English below:

Avenidas Chinese Community Center Palo Alto celebrates the Lunar New Year

Avenidas Chinese Community Center held a 2024 New Year celebration on February 15 to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. The celebration venue located at 450 Bryant St. Palo Alto was decorated with colorful balloons, exuding a strong festive atmosphere.

In addition to information booths and handicraft exhibitions, the day’s programs were rich and colorful: lion dance performance, Year of the Dragon story sharing, ASL sign singing, Legends of Silk Road, calligraphy demonstrations to welcome the Spring Festival, baduanjin demonstration, erhu performance, Hawaiian ukulele performance, and chorus. The program is presented by Avenidas Chinese Community Center’s participants and various Palo Alto community cultural performance organizations. The 2024 New Year Celebration and Dragon Year event aims to honor the profound Chinese cultural history for Avenidas community members.

Avenidas has three locations: Avenidas@450 Bryant, Avenidas Chinese Community Center (ACCC)@Cubberley, and Avenidas Rose Kleiner Center day care center serving the elderly in the Bay Area. Avenidas is committed to creating a community that is supportive and caring for seniors, offering a wide range of programs, information and services. Enables seniors to stay active, maintain independence, help elderly parents or care for a spouse. Avenidas’ innovative programs and empathetic employees help more than 7,500 seniors and their families live healthier, happier, and safer lives each year.

Avenidas 華人社區中心Palo Alto 慶新春 – News for Chinese － 舊金山灣區No.1免費華人社區報紙

Avenidas 華人社區中心於2/15舉辦2024新春喜慶賀龍年。位於450 Bryant St. Palo Alto的慶祝會場裝飾的花團錦簇，散發了濃濃的過節氣氛。 除了資訊攤位，手工藝展之外，當天的節目豐富多彩：醒獅表演，龍年故事分享，手語唱歌，西域風情，迎春接福書法示範，八段錦示範，二胡演奏，夏威夷小吉他演奏，大合唱。節目由Avenidas長者課學員和多個Palo Alto社區文化表演組織呈現。2024新春喜慶賀龍年活動旨為Avenidas社區成員表彰深遠的中華文化歷史。 Avenidas設有三個地點：Avenidas@450 Bryant，Avenidas Chinese Community Center @Cubberly 華人社區中心，以及Avenidas Rose Kleiner Center日托中心為灣區長者服務。Avenidas致力於創造一個支持和關注長者的社區，提供廣泛的計劃、資訊和服務。使長者能夠保持活力、保持獨立、幫助年長的父母或照顧配偶。Avenidas的創新計劃和富有同理心的員工每年幫助7,500 多名長者及其家人擁有更健康，快樂，安全的生活。

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