Saying Goodbye: Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead

​By Lisa Nerenberg

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It's been 17 years since a few of us who were participating in The Archstone Foundation's Elder Abuse and Neglect Initiative started sharing the headaches and barriers we faced during a convening of grantees. The subject wasn't new, but the energy and synergy was... ​

Momentum grew as we continued meeting on monthly conference calls, and the talk turned from grievances to solutions. Since we hadn't been appointed or sanctioned by higher-ups, we called ourselves the California Elder Justice Workgroup, figuring nobody would object.

A major milestone was in 2010 when the Foundation provided funds for a summit, bringing in new voices. From there, we wrote our first Blueprint and soon after, implemented one of its key recommendations--to launch the California Elder Justice Coalition, a membership organization devoted to improving the state's response to elder abuse.  

 While the group has changed over the years, the "CEJC ethos" of mutual support, humility, and grit, has endured."

I'm proud of our accomplishments, which range from spearheading efforts to create a state unit on APS to our current collaboration with the Judicial Council of California to study conservatorships. We launched the country's first multidisciplinary team devoted to systemic change--the A*TEAM--which is working with policymakers and industry leaders to expand banks' role in stopping financial abuse and exploring how residents of room and board facilities are being exploited. We've championed the rights of financial abuse victims to services and compensation and explored restorative justice approaches to elder abuse. We've hosted briefings with legislators and advocated for creating the Elder and Disability Justice Coordinating Council. 

I've loved the work, especially collaborating with CEJC's many gifted leaders. While the group has changed over the years, the "CEJC ethos" of mutual support, humility, and grit, has endured.

We're living in challenging times, to be sure, but we've endured hard times before (e.g., "realignment" and COVID), with funding and without. I'm confident that CEJC will thrive if it keeps its sights on the fundamentals--elevating the voices of front-line service providers and those they serve. It's holding true to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which enrich our country and our everyday lives. And it's following the dictate of Maggie Kuhn, founder of the Gray Panthers, to "speak your mind even if your voice shakes."

I'm confident that CEJC will thrive if it keeps its sights on the fundamentals--elevating the voices of front-line service providers and those they serve. It's holding true to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion which enrich our country and our everyday lives."

CEJC is in able hands. Donata's contagious enthusiasm and commitment to building CEJC's capacity are exactly what's needed. She's supported by the amazing Carol and Christine, whose talents know no bounds and are a joy to work with. So too is CEJC's Steering Committee, under Donna's leadership, with its creativity, know-how, and warmth.
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I'll be cheering from the sidelines, for now at least, as I finish a book that's an attempt to capture what I've learned from 40 years in the field.This one's for "civilians," ordinary people who are facing the challenges that our field has been grappling with for years: the stresses of caregiving, the onslaught of scams, ageism on the personal and public fronts, and balancing safety with autonomy.

Call on me anytime. I have a new email at [email protected]. I've posted and will continue to add articles, book news, and random thoughts to my website at lisanerenberg.net. I also post to LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-nerenberg-64777815/  when the spirit moves me.

For a brief photo history, go to slides