27 Jun CoCo Members Cultivate and Rekindle Joy
By MARSHA MITCHELL, Senior Director of Communications
CoCo organized and offered South LA seniors an opportunity to learn how to eliminate stress, eat healthily, incorporate the benefits of light exercise, and rediscover happiness in their lives. Four wellness sessions, called “Rekindle Joy,” were programmed from August 29, 2023 – June 10, 2024.
This idea, born from the needs of our active CoCo members, was a testament to the value we place on mental and physical wellness. Our incredible leader members–Ms. Rutledge, Ms. Vanesa Bailey, Ms. Louverna Durst, Ms. Ana Carrion, and Ms. Yanet Martinez–promoted coming together, addressing community care, and cultivating radical joy as a form of resistance. That’s leadership in action in South LA!
“When I was closing the session, I remarked that if they enjoyed our program they should share their experiences with friends and families about the benefits of being organized with Community Coalition,” said Enrique Gaspar, CoCo Community Organizer. “We expect to grow our numbers with their help.
Through this Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) funded program–managed by Carlos Leon, CoCo’s Director of Community Health Initiatives–Community Coalition provided food, child care, and transportation to 25 to 35 participants in each session. The sessions elevated the importance of sharing a collective healing space, cultivating connection for better mental and physical health outcomes, and generating joy, especially among seniors. The sessions created a space for laughter and introduced tools that reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
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