Three Free Events for Cultural Thursdays Hosted by Pasadena Senior Center Will be Virtual in August Via Zoom

Many free activities for adults 50 and older are offered online by the Pasadena Senior Center via Zoom until mandates for quarantining and social distancing have been lifted.

Cultural Thursday events in August will include the following interactive activities. Each event will be presented from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Members and non-members of the Pasadena Senior Center are welcome to participate.

• 100 Years of Voting Rights for Women – Thursday, Aug. 6. August marks the 100th anniversary of passage of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. This was a profound change in American liberty and an inspiring success story. Bonnie Wallace, community director for the Junior League of Pasadena, will lead the presentation, which will guide the online audience through the dramatic story of the Suffrage movement, the difficulties that were faced and its ultimate success.

• The Play’s the Thing: Comedy Comes in Many Forms – Thursday, Aug. 13. Director, playwright, teacher and award-winning novelist Beverly Olevin will bring some much-needed laughter to this pandemic period when she presents this interactive workshop that will feature videos of short scenes in staged plays as well as monologs. Olevin will lead the online audience in comparing genres that include broad physical comedy, comedy of manners, word and wit humor, satire and farce. The audience also will discuss what touches their hearts and helps them live richer lives during these challenging times.

• Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders: A Civil Rights Documentary – Thursday, Aug. 27. This 2002 film looks back at the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi in the 1950s and ‘60s through the video and oral histories of some of the courageous women who lived it and emerged as grassroots leaders. The screening will be followed by a conversation between the audience and Laura Lipson, the documentary’s writer, co-producer and director. The award-winning film has been shown worldwide and has inspired many who have seen it to register to vote and become active in the continuing struggle for equal rights.

To register for any or all of the Cultural Thursday events or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures and Events, then Online Events or call (626) 795-4331. Everyone who registers will receive email instructions for joining the Zoom activities online.

For more information about other Pasadena Senior Center programs and services, including online options for classes, events and activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call (626) 795-4331.

The center, at 85 E. Holly St., is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit organization that has been deemed an essential service provider for older adults, so its doors are open five days a week during the pandemic for social services and other assistance to older adults in need. Hours during this period are Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.