What is Humanly Possible?

In January, Front Porch sent out a rallying cry to its staff -- everyone from it's front line workers to it's management team. It came in the form of a groundbreaking new strategic approach to “innovation with a cause” and greater collaboration -- Humanly Possible.

“When describing what Humanly Possible is, it’s important to first describe what Humanly Possible is not,” said Kari Olson, chief innovation and technology officer for Front Porch. “It’s not a tag line, it’s not a short-term initiative, it’s not the latest fad. This is really something significant and profound that builds on the past history of Front Porch and the spirit of the people in it and is designed to take us to new levels of achievement.”

This bold and transformative commitment is an authentic expression of Front Porch’s passion to create new opportunities and forge new directions. It is an organization-wide focus for “disruptive innovation, strategic development and partnership.” 

Do you want to hear and see more? Visit the Front Porch web site and watch the What is Humanly Possible? video. 

Let Front Porch Help You ... Create Your Own Path

Happy New Year! With 2014 upon us, now is the perfect time to plan for the future. At Front Porch we can help. “Creating Your Path” is a step-by-step tool to help you identify the obstacles that might stand in the way of you living the most fulfilling life possible, and to help you move from where you are today, to where you want to be tomorrow. May 2014 be a productive year – a year during which you Create Your Own Path. Start Here

Share Your Passion! -- These Folks Did ...

At Front Porch we believe in passion, we love passion and encourage everyone to express their passion. It’s a great, healthy way to live. As Front Porch’s director of communications it was my pleasure to organize the very first Front Porch Share Your Passion! Contest this year through my department. In doing so, Front Porch residents, employees, board members and donors were asked to submit a two-minute video or a two-page essay expressing their passion or someone else’s passion that inspired them.

Earlier this year we featured the Share Your Passion! Contest winners on the Front Porch web site. The contest proved so popular that others at Front Porch submitted Share Your Passion! videos after the contest was over. Here are just a few ...

A Passion for Art -- by Julie Weaverling

A Passion for Genieology -- by Tony Teems

Be sure to check back to this blog from time to time for more videos.

— Mike Martinez

Let's Honor Our Heroes This Veterans Day

In memory of our Veterans, a unique celebration took place at Villa Gardens Retirement Community in Pasadena. Renowned photographer Tom Sanders unveiled stunning portraits of the more than 40 World War II and Korean War veterans currently living at Villa Gardens.

Prior to the unveiling, veterans were recognized for their service and sacrifice in a special ceremony attended by friends and family. 

Please take a look at the Front Porch Facebook page, www.facebook.com/frontporchcommunities for photos or the Front Porch web site videos page for a Salute to Our Veterans.

Today, all of us at Front Porch salute veterans who live and work at our communities as well as those serving or those who have served around the world.

Front Porch Employees Enjoy Volunteering at San Diego Senior Olympic Games

This summer, Front Porch began a two-year Silver Sponsorship of the San Diego Senior Olympic Games. Also known as the San Diego Senior Games, activities are Olympic-style events such as archery, badminton, bowling, volleyball, track and field, basketball, and tennis as well as non-traditional events like pickle ball, wheelchair dancing and more than 30 others.

The San Diego Senior Games Association is a community-based organization whose mission is to: "Encourage senior adults, aged 50 or older, to carry on vigorous lives by developing and maintaining high levels of physical activity and mental fitness through regular participation in sports, fitness, and health education activities."

As part of Front Porch’s sponsorship, many employees had the opportunity to volunteer at various events. Overwhelmingly, those who volunteered had a rewarding and inspiring experience.

Here is just a small sample of their experiences. http://www.frontporch.net/publications-and-resources/videos

See the Person ... Not the Age

At a recent team meeting of the Organizational Advancement Group at Front Porch, our meeting leader posed a question that seemed perfect for the end of summer:  How does our summer vacation time with family and friends relate to the work that we do at Front Porch?  

There were some very interesting and thought-provoking answers.  Ross had been salmon fishing with his family on the mighty Columbia River in Oregon and spoke about patience and perseverance in all we do.  Nancy attended her daughter’s dream wedding at an old friend’s farm and was amazed at how many hands and hearts together made the planning and the event itself special and shared.  Keith reflected about watching his sons grow and conquer new skills year after year (like surfing) and how significant changes happen over time that we might not notice day to day.  Rob spoke about his family trip to Bruges and how exploring new vistas, and being open to the unexpected can create great experiences and lasting memories.

SEE THE PERSON …

When my husband and I traveled to Scotland to research his family roots a few years ago I was immediately drawn to an advertising billboard campaign titled, ‘see the person … not the age.’

It was compelling on many levels.  First, I learned that the anti-ageism awareness campaign is funded by the Scottish government (‘to embrace the changing population’ and to help ‘foster a greater understanding of the contributions of older people to society’).  The message itself is far-reaching and dramatically clear and simple.  An almost blindingly bright white wrinkly billboard that draws your attention poses this question in small black lettering on the corner of the billboard, “Notice how being wrinkly makes you more interesting?”  Another white wrinkly billboard reads:  “Why don’t you notice people with wrinkles too?”  And then this one after the campaign begins to garner great notice, “This is proof you can have wrinkles and still do a good job.”  Each billboard has the website identification: seethepersonnottheage.com

In reading the evaluation of the campaign (including ‘before and after’ surveys) it seems that the campaign attracted a lot of media attention in the country and consciousness was indeed raised.

Here at home I am always surprised and saddened when I hear and see ageism.  It is pervasive and saps the spirit of everyone in the community.  I groan at the tired ‘old’ jokes in the media.  Like most of us at Front Porch I see the beauty and uniqueness of individuals of advanced age.  They are champions of life to me. Most have extraordinary stories to tell.  Many are bold and fearless in their later years and have much to teach the rest of us who impatiently dismiss the extraordinary possibilities of later life. 

I love the Scottish campaign and its simple and clear message.  It is a great challenge to all of us to ‘See the Person … Not the Age.’ 

-- Lee Ratta

My Passion for Movies

I love entering the dusky movie theater and finding my seat in the center, where I can look straight ahead and

see the full width of the screen.  (I take my movie going seriously.)  I prepare for the engrossing movie experience by silencing my cell phone, putting my purse to my side and nestling into my cozy seat.  As the lights lower all the way down, a hush comes over the audience and the movie begins. Soon I no longer see the people around me but just the light from the screen.  The 30-foot screen teleports me to another world.

We probably agree that some movies need the big screen, surround sound experience that a home theater cannot provide (or at least not with my budget).  For example, with the James Bond movie Skyfall, feeling the intensity of the blasts and action especially during the opening extended, chase scene across the roof tops of Istanbul.  And In The Impossible, a movie based on a true story, seeing the tsunami wave as a larger than life vision, as it probably looked to the people who experienced it first hand, and hearing only the noises of the raging water and Naomi Watt’s character’s screams of pain and calls out to her children as she is repeatedly pulled under water and beaten with debris. 

A darkened theater and large, well projected movie also allows for the true intention of lighting and cinematography to be seen.  In the opening of Lincoln, the darkness, dreariness of the time in the expansive Civil War are captured as the camera slowly pans to reveal Lincoln’s softly lit, concerned and attentive face.

But even for the less visually stimulating movies, I prefer the removal of my own distractions.  In a fast paced world encouraging multi-tasking and not taking a moment for oneself, I find watching a movie in the theatre an enjoyable focuser.  At home, I may pay bills, eat dinner or share commentary while watching a movie. For subtitled movies such as The Intouchables, a French film based on a true story, that does not bode well.  Without my undivided attention, I could have missed some of the comical exchanges between the two main characters as the inexperienced caretaker reminds the quadriplegic employer of the simple joys of life that he can still experience or the caretaker’s nonchalant look as he naturally tried to hand the phone to his employer, not seeing him as a quadriplegic but as a friend.   

A movie theatre also provides the unique electrifying energy from a full, appreciative audience.  It is a testament of a quality, captivating, smart film that it can take an audience, of a few hundred at a time, on the same emotional ride.  As in Argo, a movie based on the true story of a 1980 CIA operative, even though we all knew that the Americans safely escape Iran, when they attempt to go through security to board the plane, the audience was silent and captivated.  I could feel the anxiety and concern of the whole audience, all holding our breath and tensing up and the simultaneous sighs of relief as the plane took-off.  I assume that in some theatres they even unanimously cheered during that scene.

I enjoy how movies are not purely a form of entertainment; they can be a vehicle to educate and/or force attention (give full focus) on hard to watch subject matters.  In a theatre, I cannot escape the movie (another reason for my center seat preference) nor press pause or stop to take a mental or physical break.  Zero Dark Thirty, a 157 minutes long movie based on the true story of the capturing and killing of Osama Bin Laden, was hard to watch at times, actually I covered my eyes for some scenes as I frequently do for violent scenes, but I could not escape the details of the arduous 10-year search, tactics used to gain information and the first person perspective reenactment of the events that took place that fateful night as they unfolded for this real life manhunt.  And in The Invisible War, a documentary on the sexual assault of soldiers within the U.S. military, I could not physically turn away from hearing the first-hand accounts from survivors.  These may be hard to watch and listen to but I feel I left the theater with new information, food for thought and other perspectives.  As a self-described continual learner, I appreciate the combination of education with entertainment, as evidenced by over half of my top ten movies for 2012 being based on true stories.  (See below.)

I love the movie going experience, the look, sound, feel, content, focusing, entertainment and I can’t wait to see the next worthwhile movie.  At Front Porch we love to share our passions. I am Michele Pomerance, the communications coordinator at Front Porch, where we celebrate the spirit of the individual and encourage people to live life their way. See you at the movies!

My Top 10 Movies from 2012, in alphabetical order

Argo

Hunger Games

The Impossible

The Intouchables

The Invisible War

Lincoln

Paperman

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Skyfall

Zero Dark Thirty

I would love to hear your comments on what you like about your movie going experience and some of your favorite movies.  Thank you for sharing.