Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Located in the West San Gabriel Valley, the City of South Pasadena (pop. 26,245) has a small-town atmosphere. This community nurtures strong connections, which Community Services Director Sheila Pautsch encourages staff to enhance through organized activities and classes. These activities include Tech Day, a monthly event that provides one-on-one learning sessions for senior citizens with coaching provided by local teens.

South Pasadena Teens Provide Tech Expertise to Senior Community

Approximately 14 percent of South Pasadena’s constituents are 65 years of age or older. In the ever-changing digital environment, the ability to navigate the intricacies of digital devices is increasingly important for all community members.

The senior residents of South Pasadena, however, have limited options for learning such skills and bridging the digital divide. Seniors may face challenges in staying abreast of technological opportunities and tools. These challenges include keeping in touch with family and friends via FaceTime, Skype, or Facebook; booking online appointments; and staying informed and engaged with the world around them. Such difficulty in accessing technology can be isolating and frustrating. When South Pasadena Council Member Diana Mahmud served as a council liaison to the city’s Youth Commission, she recognized seniors’ need for assistance with tech issues and challenged the youth commissioners to resolve the matter.

Identifying a Community Need for Coaching and Support

“I knew we had bright, engaged, and generous young people on the commission,” said Mahmud. “I asked them to reflect on how they were able to help their grandparents or parents learn how to send emails or use a smartphone, and they readily understood how they might be able to help. The program has been very successful, giving our youth commissioners a sense of personal fulfillment, and benefiting our seniors who have learned new tech skills.”

Youth Commissioners Step Up

The Youth Commission, which is composed of middle school and high school students, spearheads Tech Day in partnership with the staff at the city’s Senior Center. The youth commissioners volunteer their time, skills, and knowledge to assist seniors in gaining confidence operating a variety of devices. This enthusiastic spirit of volunteerism is an essential element of the program’s success. In conjunction with the service, the city staff provides both youths and seniors a comfortable learning environment conducive to fostering intergenerational kinship.

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The City of South Pasadena won the Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government of the 2019 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program. For more about the award program, visit www.helenputnam.org.