Erwin Stone: Roles of a Lifetime
In film and TV, Erwin Stone has played all kinds of characters. Perhaps none is more important than the one he assumes in lodge.
Masonic Assistance
A Home for Healing
THE MASONIC CENTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES PULLED UP STAKES FOR UNION CITY. THERE, IT WILL BE ABLE TO EMBED WITHIN THE WORLD OF MASONIC HEALTH SERVICES.
By Allison Lamoreaux
Above: Janine Heisler, LMFT, Clinical Director of MCYAF for Northern California.
The San Francisco Presidio is a stunning setting, with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point, and the Marin Headlands. But there’s a downside to being at the edge of the continent: Sometimes you can feel a little too far away. That was part of the thinking, anyway, behind the Masonic Center for Youth and Families’ recent decision to relocate its offices from San Francisco to Union City, where it’s now embedded within the Masonic Homes’ Northern California headquarters. Operating out of what was formerly an administrator’s house, MCYAF, which provides therapy and mental-wellness services to children, adults, families, and—increasingly— seniors, is now firmly ensconced within the Masonic Homes’ constellation of health and relief programs, says Kimberly Rich, executive director of MCYAF.
She also notes that the move provides the organization a new opportunity to work with a diverse clientele across multiple phases of life, particularly seniors living on campus. Previously, the Masonic Center for Youth and Families had only one therapist stationed at the Masonic Homes in Union City; now it has four.
Residents from the Masonic Homes took part in an MCYAF-sponsored wellness event on campus in May featuring mini horses and burros from the Caring Cowgirl.
There are other benefits to the move as well, Rich says. By working closely with the Masonic Homes, MCYAF can build on existing partnerships with schools and community groups in this part of the East Bay, where mental health supports are not nearly as plentiful as in San Francisco. “We’re looking at what kind of footprint we can leave here that will be impactful and fill a gap not currently being addressed,” she says. “Being able to give back to the community in a really meaningful way, that’s the vision we have.”
Being on the Masonic Homes campus also allows MCYAF to expand on its wellness services for seniors and staff there. That includes offering therapy and emotional support directly to individual residents and their families, but also simply being a part of the campus culture. So far, Rich says, staff from MCYAF have set up informational booths at several public events, and in May hosted an event for seniors featuring miniature horses and burros from the Caring Cowgirl ranch in Palo Alto. The proximity also allows therapists to provide services for seniors in crisis, experiencing difficult transitions in care, or dealing with a loss. Being located on campus also allows the center to provide resources to caregivers, including workshops, one-on-one sessions, and support during staff meetings.
For all those changes, Rich says, much about MCYAF will stay the same for California Masons. The organization remains committed to providing therapy, educational assessments, and family counseling to members and their families of all ages, on a sliding scale. These services are available both in person and virtually. “We are still here and we will always be here for you, “Rich says.
And, not for nothing, the views from the new office with the softly rolling hills on one side and the San Francisco Bay on the others aren’t too bad, either.
Photos by:
Kevin Meynell
More from this issue:
In the PNW, a Masonic Campsite as American Idyll
At the Masonic Family Park in Washington State, a Masonic campsite is a respite for the fraternal sojourner.
Member Profile: Ian Sayer
Meet Ian Sayer, a member of Magnolia Park No. 618, helping high school students recover emotionally from the L.A. wildfires.