LifeSTEPS Leaders Hold Retreat in Sacramento

After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LifeSTEPS leadership team last week came together for our annual Leadership Retreat.

Over 30 members of our California LifeSTEPS leadership team gathered at our corporate office in Sacramento to reconnect with one another. Led by our amazing Retreat Committee, the two-day event included interactive games, informative presentations, and an afternoon of bowling at FLB Entertainment Center in Folsom.

Our Executive Director Beth Southorn, noted: “After three years of not being able to physically come together, we had a plan to take a beautiful retreat in Applegate. But two days before our gathering, the Mosquito Fire took that plan down. One thing I know is that our LifeSTEPS team can pivot in a crisis. We booked hotels and spent our retreat in our corporate office warehouse, breaking bread, bowling and learning from each other, which proved to be restorative and inspiring. Many old friends celebrated what we all overcame, and many new team members were finally able to place faces (or better yet smiles) with names. I think the picture says it all. At the end of the retreat and after days of laughter, this is the LifeSTEPS Family that makes me proud.”

 

Beth Southorn attends CHC 2022 Policy Forum & California Housing Hall of Fame Awards

LifeSTEPS’ Executive Director Beth Southorn attended the California Housing Consortium 2022 Policy Forum and California Housing Hall of Fame Awards in Los Angeles.

“It is very inspiring to listen to California Speaker of the House Anthony Rendon discuss the importance of AB2011’s victory and how it will propel the California housing crisis into forward momentum,” said Beth.

LifeSTEPS’ Board Member Lisa Guiterez also presented with Cedric Bobo, creator of Project Destined. Cedric’s nonprofit teaches residents of affordable housing the skills needed to build a career in the resident service industry.

 

Beth Southorn films video to celebrate LeadingAge’s impacts on seniors

Last week our Executive Director Beth Southorn had an opportunity to work with LeadingAge to help develop an inspirational video for their upcoming Annual Meeting’s general sessions. She was one of five members to participate in filming individual videos to celebrate the positive impacts LeadingAge makes on so many seniors.

Beth worked with members of the LeadingAge team, including Sharon Sullivan, Meredith Chillemi and Amanda Marr, as well as Tina Hoffmann with the O’Keefe Communications.

“Filming in front of a camera can always be a bit nerve-racking, but seeing the smiling eyes of Tina as she prompted me with questions was particularly helpful and really helped calm my nerves. When I was asked what moves us at LifeSTEPS, my answer was simply our residents – everyday,” said Beth. “Thank you to the entire LeadingAge team for this exciting experience! Looking forward to sharing this inspirational video at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Expo this October in Denver.”

Keeping our most vulnerable residents educated, housed and healthy during COVID-19

Our Executive Director Beth Southorn recently met with LifeSTEPS intensive case management staff and members of L.A. County Health Services in Los Angeles. The team reflected on the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed gratitude at being able to keep our most vulnerable residents educated, housed and healthy during the crisis. “At a time when the world was on lockdown, our teams remained on the front line. Despite the fear and uncertainly, our residents knew that we were still there for them and would not leave their sides,” said Beth.

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