Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity - RAD

July 21, 2024
RAD Rocks Dance Party
Non-stop dancing at our RAD Rocks Dance Party on Sunday!! Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity looks forward all year to bringing people together to dance to rock and roll favorites, salsa, Bollywood, line dance, Macarena, Motown, tarantella, swing and more. Thanks to over 50 volunteers and over 250 attendees who made this a night to remember!

June 22, 2024
Pride 2024 Gala in Rossmoor
Great fun at the Pride 2024 Gala in Rossmoor! Wonderful food, friends, entertainment and dancing!

June 22, 2024
Juneteenth Celebration in Rossmoor
The 99 degree heat didn’t stop us from celebrating Juneteenth in Rossmoor, with great food, friends and music!

Mary Taylor shared Walnut Creek’s Proclamation that Walnut Creek commemorates the anniversary of Juneteenth and celebrates the great contributions African Americans have made to the United States, California and the City of Walnut Creek.

June 4, 2024
Book Launch for Cassie Tzur's book, "The Community of Rossmoor 2023"

Hat's off and congratulations to Cassie Tzur for launching "The Community of Rossmoor 2023." In it she highlights some of the many residents who have contributed to how Rossmoor is today, more welcoming, more diverse and more inclusive. We are all in this together in this work and RAD is humbled to be included in the book. ❤ And, we have come to recognize that Cassie is herself a big contributor to these qualities of our beloved community!!

Congrats and thank you!!

May 29, 2024
Racial Wealth Gap Simulation

The RAD Talks Team of Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD) presented the RACIAL WEALTH GAP (RWG) SIMULATION, an interactive tool that helps people understand the connections among racial equity, hunger and wealth.

In the simulation participants learned how benign appearing federal government policies, like Social Security, the G.I. Bill (and 11 other policies) actually created structural inequalities that increased hunger and poverty in communities of color.

Based on feedback that this was a moving and powerful experience, we are planning on providing additional future sessions.

More info on the Racial Wealth Gap Simulation: https://www.bread.org/article/racial-wealth-gap-learning-simulation/

May 26, 2024
Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation
Scholarship Awards, 2024
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD) is honored to support the Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation (RSF) and their goal to provide scholarships to deserving graduates from 6 local high schools, Diablo Valley and Los Medanos Colleges, and to Rossmoor employees or their children. 84 scholarships between $3500-6000 each were awarded to these hardworking and deserving students. These scholarships make it possible for exceptional students to pursue an advanced education. The annual RAD Rocks Dance Party in July is a fundraiser for these scholarships.

May 23, 2024
Diversity programming in Rossmoor
The Diversity Consciousness Committee (DCC) of the Interfaith Council of Rossmoor and the Culture to Culture Foundation presented a culturally diverse perspective on mental health and the resources available to our community. RAD appreciates the work of both organizations and all their contributions to our wonderful community. Thank you for bringing this program to Rossmoor.

April 9, 2024
REPARATIONS TASK FORCE Information and Discussion
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD) and African American and Friends Clubs co-sponsored a special event to inform and discuss the work of the 3+ year investigation into reparations for slavery of African Americans. Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer spoke via Zoom from the State Capitol, regarding the report and personal experiences. Other speakers included Dr. Beverly Burch, a member of a national group focused on descendants of slavery and racial reconciliation and Karen Hughes, co-founder of Reparation Generation.

Why learn about reparations? See Joe Easley's column in the last photo of this post. People think it's all about money; it isn't.
If you want to know more, see the excellent Executive Summary of the Report:https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/exec-summary-ca-reparations.pdf )

March 2024
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity is honored to be included in Cassie Tzur's new book, "The Community of Rossmoor," which highlights community minded residents, she says, who have helped "create a more harmonious environment." Thank you, Cassie, for recognizing some of the many people and clubs who are contributing to the "new Rossmoor,” which is becoming more welcoming, more diverse and more inclusive.

Cassie's photo on the beautiful cover depicts the stunning finale of last year's Fashion Show from the 3rd Annual Diversity Festival, co-sponsored by RAD.

March 22, 2024
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity's (RAD) 4th Annual Meeting-Fest
Over 80 RAD members and friends celebrated RAD's 4th anniversary with international sweets and savories and wonderful mini speeches by people from 8 of our diverse Rossmoor Clubs. It was a day to reflect on what we have accomplished in Rossmoor and get excited about what's to come! We appreciate all of our members and friends, who make RAD what it is today, a dynamic organization committed to making Rossmoor a welcoming, diverse and inclusive community. Onward!

5 minute video of RAD in 2023: https://youtu.be/7QvLRAeoC8Y

December 8, 2023
RAD celebrated its 3rd Coexist Banner Raising and Songs of Peace Singalong with 70 Rossmoor residents and members of the RAD Ukulele Band singing Let there Be Peace On Earth, Imagine, One Day, Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream and a few more. Lifting our voices together for peace was a wonderful way to kick off the winter holidays.

November 29, 2023
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD) gathered to kick off the Winter holiday celebrations, sharing stories of our diverse traditions. Loved hearing stories of Las Posadas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Lunar New Year and more. Thanks to the RAD Talks Team for this joyful afternoon!

November 2023
RAD and the Diversity Consciousness Committee jointly sponsored a program on “Globalization and its Cultural Disconnects” presented by Joe Lurie, Emeritus Executive Director of UC Berkeley’s International House. Joe presented an insightful exploration of cross-cultural miscommunications in an increasingly globalized, polarizing world.

October 10, 2023.
At Tuesday's 3rd Annual Diversity Festival, people were happy to be together celebrating our beautiful diverse community!! Jointly sponsored by RAD, Diversity Consciousness and GRF, this has become a popular and unique tradition in Rossmoor! Where else can you spend the day visiting 15 different cultural displays while being entertained by 6 cultural clubs and a fashion show by 37 Rossmoor residents, with beautiful garments from 17 locations around the world (all represented in Rossmoor)!?!
Photos courtesy of photographers Steve Goodall, Diana Burke and Zina Mirski, Aki Rasmussen, Jon Rasmussen.

September and October 2023.
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD) and several other Rossmoor social justice and action groups (Black Lives Matter, African American and Friends, Diversity Consciousness and more) come together often to support each other's work. We have found that working together increases our impact on making ours a more welcoming and inclusive community.

Say Their Names Event. RAD supported African American and Friends and Black Lives Matter in their "Say Their Names" event to set aside time to commemorate and remember people from the Black and Brown community who were invisible victims of civilian brutality, police abuse and social neglect.

Soul Boxes Display. RAD attended a talk and viewed the moving Soul Box Display, which has been raising awareness of the U.S. gunfire epidemic, helping communities create meaningful activities by making and exhibiting thousands of hand-folded origami Soul Boxes representing victims of gun violence.

LGBTQ+ Alliance's Disco Nights Dance. RAD joined in celebrating Rossmoor's diversity at the LGBTQ+ Alliance's first Disco Nights Dance, with great music, dance, music and friendships!

September 6, 2023
We are excited to report that RAD Reels presented its 2nd thought-provoking film, The Jewish People: A Story of Survival, led by Lynne Thorner. Lynne’s interactive workshops prompt thoughtful discussions about timely issues, personal experiences and RAD-related themes. Thank you, Lynne, and team, we look forward to the next RAD Reels on Wednesday, December 13!

September 3, 2023
Silent Vigil Against Hate and Bigotry today, after last week’s racially motivated shootings in Jacksonville, Florida, was co-sponsored by Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD), African American and Friends, Black Lives Matter, Diversity Consciousness, National Council of Jewish Women and Jewish Education and Information Council of Rossmoor. We stood in solidarity against hate, racism, antisemitism and bigotry in all its forms.

We got coverage on news 24/680: https://news24-680.com/2023/09/03/rossmoorians-sound-off-silently-against-acts-of-bigotry-and-hatred/

https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101893739/why-is-rossmoor-a-senior-living-community-such-a-popular-place-to-live

July 19, 2023
The RAD dance party, RAD Rocks, was mentioned during a KQED interview yesterday, as being an example of what's going on in Rossmoor that makes people love living here! The interview is interesting; RAD is mentioned at 22:33 and 50:35.

It's one of our goals to raise awareness in the greater community of the changing face of Rossmoor so that people from all backgrounds might consider living here. So thank you, KQED! Diversity is embraced in Rossmoor.

Why Is Rossmoor, A Senior Living Community, Such A Popular Place to Live? | KQED The Rossmoor community in Walnut Creek has a population of nearly 10,000 people aged 55 and older, its own newspaper, bus service and over 200 local clubs, making it feel like its own small town. Opened in 1964, Rossmoor is among the longest running, age-restricted communities in the country. It's a...

July 16, 2023
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity's 2nd Annual RAD Rocks Dance Party brought together over 250 enthusiastic dancers who rocked the dance floor all night!! They enjoyed sushi, crab rangoon, samosas, spring rolls and taquitos, wine, beer and much more, which reflected some of the dancing going on on the dance floor: rock and roll, Bollywood, salsa, line dancing, tarantella, Mayim, Macarena and more, which reflected the many clubs in Rossmoor: Line Dance, India Club, African American and Friends, LGBTQ Alliance, Diversity Consciousness, National Council of Jewish Women, Entre Amigos, Night Live, Drama Association, Art Club, Ukulele Club, Chinese American Club, Japanese American Club, Pickleball and more. Thank you all for joining us and come back again next year!!

We did a lot of free form rock and roll. Here are some clips of some of the fun group dances. https://youtu.be/JE6oa5HZOao

Spring/Summer 2023.
RAD and other Rossmoor clubs are coming together more and more often to support each other's work. Diversity Consciousness's Spring into Spring was an opportunity for people to get together, have fun and engage in cross-cultural conversations. For Juneteenth, we joined the African American and Friends Club to commemorate the end of enslaved African Americans in the US when federal troops arrived in Texas, and forced the acceptance of emancipation, two years after the conclusion of the Civil War.

We think that Rossmoor is becoming a more diverse, aware and inclusive community!

June 7, 2023
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity was happy to kickoff our newest addition: RAD Reels, which is an interactive workshop featuring films we watch together that prompt thoughtful discussions about timely issues and RAD-related themes and ideas, which support RAD's goals to make Rossmoor a welcoming and inclusive community for people of all backgrounds.

Today’s film, American Made, dramatized a vacationing Sikh family stranded in the desert on their way to the Grand Canyon. Film enthusiast, Lynne Thorner, facilitated the program, which included small breakout group discussions and comments from members of Rossmoor’s India Club and Sikh community (plus homemade refreshments).

Watch the Rossmoor News for our next RAD Reels on September 6 and December 13. Thank you to Lynne and the RAD Learns Team!

May 31, 2023
The RAD Talks Team (RTT) gathered folks who completed RAD Talks (RAD Grads), to talk about how it went and brainstorm "what next." The gathering was rich with sharing, new ideas and taking on new roles. We are grateful for the wonderful people who make up RAD.

The Women’s Conference in Rossmoor today, featured dynamic guest speaker, the former Congresswoman, Jackie Speier, who inspired us with her stories about her fight for women’s equality, LGBT rights, and her experience as a survivor of her visit to Jonestown with Congressman Leo Ryan.

As part of the Conference, Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD), along with 4 other organizations, were grateful to be recognized for our work on diversity, anti-racism and inclusion: RAD, Diversity Consciousness, Black Lives Matter, National Council of Jewish Women, Diversity Festival Committee.

Thanks to the organizers for an inspiring afternoon!

May 2023
RAD’s Newest Offering: RAD Talks
Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity (RAD) is proud of its newest initiative, RAD Talks, a program that gathers small groups of Rossmoor residents to talk openly and honestly about the impact of systemic racism on their lives.

RAD Talks brings together small groups of people for 6 consecutive weeks to share their personal struggles with racism, to gain perspective on the issue, and to create deeper understanding. This initiative is one of many undertaken by RAD’s 400 participants, since 2020, to actively further our vision to make Rossmoor a welcoming and inclusive community for people of all backgrounds.

Begun 1 year ago, over 40 people have participated in the program.
RAD Talks 8 will convene in September; Rossmoor residents are invited to join by contacting [email protected].

RAD Talks is a continuation of the club’s journey toward equity, inclusion and anti-racism. Participants look at the hard questions that separate people from one another. Their specific goal: to explore and identify with others to gain deeper knowledge of intrinsic biases, prejudice and racism, as well as to learn how systemic racism still creates barriers in society, and to actively work on the issues.

One of the outcomes is the deep connections the participants form with one another, based on the sharing of their personal stories. Themes from the curriculum feature introductions, personal experiences with racism, personal history with racism, systemic racism and white privilege, allyship, experiential reflections, and protocols to overcome racism.

The club believes that each person has a piece of the wisdom based on our own lives, and that others assist us to become aware of our own bias and prejudice.

February 2023. Over 60 members and friends gathered to celebrate RAD’s 3rd Anniversary, with delicious desserts donated by the Culture to Culture Foundation in recognition of our volunteers, and international appetizers provided by RAD members. GREAT energy, connection and good vibes all afternoon!

February 2023. After too many weeks of gun violence, grief and sorrow in our world, RAD stood in solidarity with others in our community to do what we can to create a world of hope, compassion and love.

December 2022. Last night RAD humbly received the "Local Hero for Peace" Award from the Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center. We celebrated along with the people that made this possible, our dedicated leaders, members, friends and family. It was a joyous, loving celebration and we are so grateful to have received this recognition from our esteemed friends at the Peace Center! Thank you!

December 2022. A hearty band from the RAD community braved the drizzly weather and gathered at our Coexist Banner to usher in the season with Songs of Peace and Love. The much beloved Coexist sign is a symbol of inclusivity in Rossmoor. ☪️☸️🕉✡️☮️☯️✝️

December 2022. The Mount Diablo Peace & Justice Center will honor RAD with its “Local Heroes for Justice Award” on December 17, at their 14th Annual Awards Dinner. Please see details on the flyer if you are interested in supporting this community event. RAD is humbled and honored to receive this award!!

November 2022. Over 100 members and friends joined us today in Rossmoor for the RAD Silent Vigil against hate and violence toward the LGBTQ community and to end gun violence. We stand together in solidarity and with love. All the violence in the world is so discouraging, but we can’t give up.