Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
July 2016
Start painting ... at any age! By Heidi Raschke for Next Avenue
Megan Jackson is the kind of person people describe as an old soul. “It’s hard for me to really connect in my own age group, and that’s always been the case,” says the painter who created an untitled work selected for publication by Next Avenue (see page 4). “I’ve always had older friends.” Before Jackson created this work of painting and collage, she wasn’t familiar with the terms “artful aging” or “creative aging” — which refer to the practice of engaging older adults in participatory, professionally run arts programs with a focus on social engagement and skills mastery. But she knew many people who were living it. “Anyone — anyone — can be an artist.You hear people all the time say, ‘Oh, I don’t have any artistic talent,’ which is not true,” Jackson says. “You just have to do it whether you think you have talent or not, you have to get out there and try it.” Jackson offers two tips on how you, too, can let go of the pressure and get started doing art: ART, continued on page 4
Last year’s Presbyterian Manor team, which raised about $2,000 to benefit Alzheimer’s disease awareness and research.
Presbyterian Manor is teaming up Join us in raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Walk The Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor team is going all out to double the amount of money it raises at this year’s Alzheimer’s Walk. Between bierocks, T-shirts, wine tastings and lip sync competitions, marketing director and team captain Tara Clawson said she doesn’t plan to take second in the county for the fourth year in a row. “This is my third year as team captain,” Tara said. “I’m so competitive, and second place just doesn’t work for me.” The team’s goal is to raise $4,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association through the Cowley County walk, which takes place Sept. 10 at the Arkansas City Senior Center. The team easily made its goals in the $2,000 range for the last few years, Tara said, so it was time for a challenge. TEAM, continued on page 2