Leadership Sacramento Class of 2022 Unveils Completion of Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center Project

Metro Foundation

February 15, 2023

More than $146K in funds and donations raised to revitalize Senior Center’s outdoor space to create a more welcoming, senior-friendly environment

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Sacramento2022 (LS22) class announced today the completion of its community betterment project, the renovation of the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center Senior Center’s outdoor space.

To commemorate completion of the class project, the LS22 class will be hosting a ribbon-cutting event on February 24 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the center, located at 450 West El Camino Avenue in Sacramento. The vision of the renovation, a class project chosen by LS22 in spring of 2022, was to create an outdoor space accessible for all senior visitors and their families. The outdoor areas offer social spaces for conversation, and are also designed for exercise and fitness, gardening, quiet moments, and mediation.

“We looked at several proposals from many great Sacramento region nonprofits, but this one stood out to us the most,” said Patrick Ibarra, Leadership Sacramento Class of 2022. “Our senior population is often an underserved community, and the pandemic has been especially isolating for them. While there were so many great applications from deserving nonprofits in the area looking for help, we were most moved by Stanford Settlement’s application as we remembered members of our own families struggle during these trying times.”

The project completely renovated and reimagined the outdoor senior area, focusing on designing a space that accommodates varying mobility abilities. The improvements created a safe outdoor space where the seniors can enjoy new landscaping and raised gardening beds, while walking on the meandering paths. Benches will be located along the path to provide a place to rest and enjoy the outdoors. Also included was a newly created kitchen area with a portable BBQ with anchored tables and chairs, allowing for outdoor meals and socializing.

Leadership Sacramento develops community-minded business and civic leaders of tomorrow through a year-long interactive program. But it’s lasting impact, aside from the leaders it helps cultivate, is the completion of a community betterment project.

“Not only do the participants in our Leadership Sacramento classes learn valuable skills, they also have the opportunity to contribute to a regional nonprofit through their unique class project,” said Foundation Executive Director, Kyla Bryant. “Selected projects benefit from funding provided by the class as well as expertise in marketing, outreach, project management and beyond.”

“Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center is so fortunate to have been selected for the LS22 class project,” said Julie Rhoten, Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center’s executive director. “The class is made up of the most generous community leaders, who have a genuine heart for our mission and our work. Their collaborative efforts have resulted in a beautiful transformation of the space outside our Senior Center into a senior-friendly environment. Seniors will be able to enjoy exercise, gardening, walking paths, and more which supports our goal of helping seniors stay healthy as they age-in-place in the home of their choosing.”

Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center was founded in 1936 in Sacramento, and serves under-resourced children, teens, seniors, and families. Its mission is to help build healthy communities through individual, family, and neighborhood service.

“Knowing the point of this program is to use our collective resources to help those who need it most, it just felt like the right fit this year,” Ibarra said. “We feel blessed to have been given an opportunity to make a difference in our communities, and are thankful to every organization and individual who has contributed to this meaningful project.”

To learn more about the LS22 class project, please visit leadershipsac22.org. For more information about Leadership Sacramento and/or the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, please visit MetroChamber.org/Foundation.