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Purpose
Elder Resource Alliance (ERA) is a coalition
of organizations and individuals, within the Portland metropolitan
area, that works to enhance the lives of older gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender, questioning and intersexed (GLBTQI)
community members through education, advocacy, outreach and
resource development.
Who We Are
ERA is a program of the Friendly House
Senior Program. ERA is also supported by staff from Multnomah
County Aging and Disability Services and funded by, Equity
Foundation and PRIDE Foundation, City Church of Portland and
Providence Elderplace.
What We Do
ERA is working with and for GLBTQI elders
60+, creating community and social change. There are an estimated
10,000 GLBTQI elders in and around the Portland metropolitan
area. Recent studies [1999 Brookdale Center
on Aging, Hunter College/SAGE Study] indicate that GLBTQI seniors
are more likely to live alone than heterosexual seniors and
often lack adequate family support networks. GLBTQI seniors
are 5 times less likely to access senior services than their
heterosexual peers [2004 SAGE National Needs Assessment].
ERA is proactive, gathers resource information and will work
to help connect you with appropriate, GLBTQI friendly community
providers. Not sure if we can help? Just ask!
Weekly
Activity Programs
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GLBTQI seniors gather,
recreate, socialize, and learn about resources in a safe space,
along side sensitive, caring and aware staff and volunteers.
Activities are open to GLBTQI elders, their families, friends
and allies.
ERA activities include 2nd Thursday Social at Niki’s
Restaurant, games days, movie days, educational presentations
about legal and medical issues, cultural and creative outlets
like Writing Workshops with award winning “Write Around
Portland”, and field trips to points of interest like
McMenamin’s Edgefield, Evergreen Aviation Museum, Multnomah
Fall, Old Town Market (with 75 plus vendors) and Zephyr Vintage
Bookstore and for activities like potlucks and bowling. With
advanced notice and registration, field trip transportation
from Friendly House can be arranged for seniors including
people who experience disability. Call the ERA Coordinator
for more details. New additions include monthly Clackamas
County socials and Readers Series for LGBTQI senior writers
to read their works aloud in a friendly, fun and supportive
atmoshere. Beginners welcome! Click
here to see a calendar of upcoming events.
Special Events
Elder Resource Alliance hosts an Annual Holiday Open House
the first Wednesday in December. Contact the ERA Coordinator
for information about this years Open House!
Diversity
Training
Elder Resource Alliance provides diversity
trainings that seek to increase sensitivity about the needs
and concerns of the elder GLBTQI community by incorporating
both academic materials and personal experiences in the presentations.
We present our training curriculum to college classes, social
service agencies, groups of long term care providers, nursing
homes, assisted living facilities, and other groups upon request.
Examples of groups we have trained include Linfield and OHSU
School of Nursing students, Multnomah County Aging and Disability
Services staff, local district senior centers staff and volunteers,
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization staff, Elders
In Action Ombudsman and several colleges and universities
including Portland State University, University of Portland,
and Portland Community College. Please contact us for information
on upcoming workshops or about scheduling one for your organization.
Opportunities
for Giving
Elder Resource Alliance welcomes your donations of money and
material goods to help us with outreach to and activities
for GLBTQI elders, including those who are isolated due to lack
of resources or disability, or those who are in the closet
and may not know there is a place where they are wanted, welcomed
and cherished for who they are.
Volunteer Opportunities
Would you like to help Elder
Resource Alliance create social change?
ERA can provide Co Operative Educational experience for qualified
students.
ERA also seeks volunteers to train as Diversity Training facilitators,
Diversity Training Elder Panel members, and volunteers to
help organize and implement our weekly activity programs and
other events.
Location
Friendly House
Community Center
1737 NW 26th (Corner of NW 26th and Thurman)
Portland, OR
(map)
Questions? Please call 503-224-2640
or email eracoordinator@yahoo.com.
Links
click here
to learn more about Portland/Metro-area resources for sexual
minority elders!
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