Apr 23, 2019
A
native of Michigan, Jane and her then husband moved to Southern
California in the late 60's. A trip with her young family to Indian
Cove, near Joshua Tree National Park, planted the seed for Jane's
love of the desert.
Jane
first came to live in the desert in the 80's under very different
circumstances: divorced, homeless, seeking affordable housing and
running away from LA's cocaine scene. Then, to escape a partner
who'd entered the desert speed scene, Jane headed to the coast of
Northern California and would not return to live in the desert for
nearly 25 years. She came back three years ago, thinking she would
purchase a small plot of land, using it to park her camper for
intermittent desert escapes. With a home loan through a government
program and the reasonable price of real estate, Jane became a
homeowner - something she thought would not be possible at her
age.
A
graduate of USC's Masters in Gerontology program , Jane's interest
in aging started in the 1970's working with the Los Angeles Parks
and Recreation, coordinating programs for all ages at a park in
Inglewood. She then moved on to a position as Director of the
Senior Center in Lafayette Park. Jane left Parks and Rec to take a
job in the Admittance Office of USC. There, she consulted as USC
developed a Masters in Gerontology program. She was so interested
in the program, she applied and was accepted, graduating with her
Masters. Jane loved the classes as now uses that knowledge and her
own 77 years of life experience in her role as a Senior Assembly
Legislator for the California Senior Legislature.
Jane
says she had an aging crisis when she turned 60. Never believing
she would make it to her 60th birthday, she sought out the
assistance of a therapist to cope and reminds us that with people
living longer, particularly the large Baby Boomer generation who
may not have saved enough for retirement, homelessness, drug abuse
and mental illness are still a part of this large aging population
- some of the issues she actively works on in her position as
Senior Assembly Legislator.
A
peace activist and videographer, Jane has participated in and
videotaped demonstrations and police actions.
In this episode we also
discuss her love of educational and community
television.