[photo credit: Pasadena Village]
The event comes as Pasadena communities face compounded challenges navigating holiday season pressures while processing ongoing grief and displacement from the January Eaton Fire.
Presented by Foothill Family, the workshop offers practical strategies for recognizing depression symptoms and developing resilience during a season that often highlights joy while many face profound loss.
“Having affinity groups within an organization means that it’s a safe place to be yourself,” said Wayne April, the Pasadena Village volunteer organizing the event. “The Village People feel safe and welcome in the Pasadena Village, which is no small thing.”
Attendees may socialize with complimentary coffee and tea from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by the presentation and discussion from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop is free.
The event brings mental health education directly into community spaces, normalizing conversations about depression and reducing stigma. Foothill Family’s Foothill Flourish program provides 10 free therapy sessions to Eaton Fire survivors.
“The Village transforms the experience of aging,” said Richard Myers, a Pasadena Village member. “In the Village, members find connection, strength, and purpose. Together, they turn challenges into opportunities and isolation into belonging.”
“Village Connections: Identifying & Navigating Depression During the Holidays” will run on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Washington Park Community House, 700 E. Washington Blvd. in Pasadena. For more call (626) 765-6037 or visit https://pasadena.helpfulvillage.com/events/3918. Tickets: Free.
