December 10, 2025
Help Us Launch More Villages Across California
This holiday season, we’re reaching out with gratitude and urgency.
California’s older adult population will reach 10.8 million by 2030, making up one quarter of our state’s population. Among them, 34% are moderate- and middle-income individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid benefits but can’t afford private health and aging resources. These are our neighbors, our family members, our friends who built our communities and now risk aging in isolation.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. That’s why we’re so proud that the American Public Health Association recently honored Village Movement California with the prestigious Archstone Award for Excellence in Program Innovation, recognizing our Village Incubator as a best practice model in aging and public health.
FROM VISION TO REALITY: THE POWER OF THE VILLAGE INCUBATOR
Jesse Hanwit never imagined she’d become the president of a village. After moving to an over-55 community in Encinitas, she watched neighbors face surgeries, strokes, and dementia care, often struggling alone. “Living in our community made the importance of support services so evident,” Jesse recalls.
Jesse connected with Village Movement California’s Incubator program, which provided comprehensive training and educational resources outlining clear phases and steps, and guidance on everything from volunteer recruitment to social care programs.
In July 2024, Village Encinitas launched as a pilot with 20 members in a residential community. Today, they serve the entire City of Encinitas with 68 members and expect to reach 90 by February. Jesse was recently named Encinitas Senior Citizen of the Year, a testament to the transformative power of the village model. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in my community,” Jesse shared. “Village are vital in combating isolation among older adults.”
YOUR INVESTMENT IN ACTION
In 2024, we successfully launched three new villages and are currently supporting four communities launching throughout 2025, with several more villages in development for 2026. Our 50 villages create a network of care, connection, and dignity across California’s diverse geography, from rural areas to urban neighborhoods.
Will You Help Us Meet This Moment?
Your gift today will provide comprehensive training, technical support, and resources to empower more communities like Village Encinitas to organize and launch their own villages. Every donation —whether $50, $150, $500, or more— brings us closer to a California where no older adult ages in isolation and where every community has the tools to create its own village.
You can give easily and securely online here https://villagemovementcalifornia.org/donate/ or if preferred mail a check to: Village Movement California, 9812 Hamilton Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
This holiday season, invest in a future where communities care for their own. Invest in Village Movement California.
With gratitude and hope,
Carolyn Ross
Executive Director
Village Movement California
Kate Hoepke
Board Chair
Village Movement California
Village Movement California is a registered 501(c)(3) organization; federal tax ID number is 84-2088527.
