Beatitudes Community

What’s Growing This Spring?

The world around us is abloom, and new growth can be seen everywhere around us including in one another. Over 170 of you are taking classes in our Beatitudes Center for Life Long Learners and you are growing and shining. We have long proclaimed that Beatitudes Campus is the place where one comes to learn, live and grow, and you are the very proof that we walk our talk. I am so thrilled to be able to work alongside the staff and residents who are making lifelong learning a reality.

As if that is not enough, new growth is also sprouting with our BrainSavers and Fitness Programs. You residents want to work out and strengthen your brains just like you want to keep your bodies fit. As I write this, we are developing new ways to offer opportunities to keep your minds wise and bodies active. If our fitness program is any indicator, those new programs will be overflowing as soon as they start.

You also are planting seeds to experience new forms of transportation. It used to be, not long ago at all, that giving up one’s car was to give up one’s freedom. That is no longer the case and today it can mean even greater freedom. Many of you have discovered Lyft, Go Go Grandparent and Uber, to name a few car services, which will get you anywhere you want to go at any time you want to get there.  Not only is driving in crazy Phoenix traffic a non-issue, but some are saving hundreds of dollars with the elimination of monthly insurance, gas, registration and maintenance costs.

Stop by the Design Studio meeting on any Thursday at 9:00AM in the Plaza Club and see one of the most amazing cross-pollination of ideas taking place right there. These ideas don’t stay as ideas either—they become reality sooner than later, making our community stronger and all the more attractive for the future.

More evidence of fresh growth is visible in just about any direction you choose to look. I am excited to think about what is also germinating below the surface right now that will also bloom into new opportunities for a growing and thriving group of folk at Beatitudes Campus. It is almost out of control, and that is a prettier picture than all of the desert wild flowers around us today.*

Happiness!

Our friend, Brad Breeding of MyLifeSite recently asked the question in his blog, “what age group of adults would you think is the happiest?”  If most people were to guess, I’d venture to say that they’d assume people in their 20s and 30s are the most content. Why wouldn’t they be, right? They are young and likely healthy; they have their whole life ahead of them, full of potential and exciting events.

If you think young adults have it all, you may be surprised to learn the results of a study conducted out of the University of California-San Diego; the research results were published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Happiness comes with maturity

The study’s author, Dr. Dilip Jeste, is a geriatric psychiatrist and the director of the university’s Center on Healthy Aging. He and his team of researchers used a random sampling of 1,546 adults in the San Diego area, age 21 to 99.

The subjects in the study underwent a phone interview with a member of the research team and then completed a lengthy survey assessing their physical, cognitive, and mental health. They were asked about their overall happiness and satisfaction with their life. In addition, they were questioned on their stress levels and any depression or anxiety they were experiencing.

It is often assumed that happiness would form a sort of U-shaped curve over the course of life—high in early adulthood, dropping in middle age, and then ticking back up in late life. But this isn’t what the study found.

The researchers discovered that despite potential health issues and physical decline that are often inherent to the aging process, the older research subjects were actually happier overall than the younger adults. Surprisingly, it was those in their 20s and 30s who were found to have the lowest levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and wellbeing, in addition to the highest levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Although the study did not follow the research subjects over time to determine if their responses were just a reflection of that moment in time or a more long-term trend with their mental and physical state, it does suggest that overall, people appear to have improved mental health and be overall happier as they mature and age.

Think about it: In your 20s and 30s, you’ve been released into the “real world,” which can be a difficult transition that includes educational and career pressures, romantic turbulence, trying to keep up with the Joneses, and other “adult stuff” like bills and taxes. It becomes clear why it can indeed be a stressful, anxiety-filled time.

Contrast that to older people. With the wisdom gained over the years, they appear to have more emotional stability, self-awareness, and contentment with their stage in life. They have learned to let more things roll off their back, which results in greater happiness.

But not for all seniors

While this study from the University of California-San Diego is certainly good news when it comes to the overall emotional state of our nation’s older citizens, I don’t mean to suggest that we should assume that all seniors are in their happiest phase of life.

As I’ve blogged about before, there is a “loneliness epidemic” among the elderly, particularly those who live alone, with roughly 40 percent of those seniors saying they often feel isolated—a risk factor that can have a more detrimental impact on health than things like smoking or obesity.

Life Plan Communities/CCRCs can help facilitate happiness

Living alone, in and of itself, does not necessarily translate into loneliness, although it is a contributing factor for many. Likewise, surrounding one’s self with lots of people doesn’t always translate into avoidance of loneliness. Ultimately it is about quality of relationships and other factors. Yet, this opportunity to socialize more frequently, develop new friendships, and stay active are among the benefits of living in a retirement community, such as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC, also called a Life Plan Community). Explore our many opportunities through the Life Long Learning Program, our Resident Council, the Design Studio and the plethora of volunteer settings both on and off campus.  Talk with your building reps or our life enrichment staff and they can always help you plug into some meaningful scenarios!*

 

Town Hall Informant – April 2017

David Ragan opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking Gregory’s Market for providing fresh produce for residents to purchase. He invited all to attend the Welcome Coffee for new residents on Wednesday, April 26th at 2:00 PM in the Life Center. The Welcome Coffee gives residents an opportunity to meet their new neighbors and listen to the reasons why they chose the Beatitudes as their home. David also showed some interesting and amusing sayings and signs such as; “a clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory”, and “I went to the Air and Space Museum, but there was nothing there”.

In introducing Michelle Just, President and CEO of Beatitudes, David noted that tomorrow is Michelle’s birthday and residents wished her a “happy birthday” in song. Michelle showed pictures of the participation of the Beatitudes in the Pride Parade on Sunday morning, April 2nd. The bus was decorated for the occasion and the Master of Ceremonies called attention to the Beatitudes volunteers who enjoyed being in the parade.

Michelle announced the Shout Outs for March—Angelo Flores, Jason Corder and Niccole Daine.

Angelo joined the IT team in August of 2016 and has made great improvements to the accessibility of the department and their response time. He is being promoted to Network Administrator for the campus. Jason joined the Dining team in July of 2015 and recently took personal time to help a resident locate a lost item of great sentimental value. He goes above the call of duty in his work. Niccole joined the Nursing team back in August of 2010 as an LPN. She helped a family deal with the loss of their loved one by making everything look its best so the family could have some peace in that moment. Remember to fill out a Radical Hospitality form online or pick one up at the Welcome Center whenever you see a staff member who deserves some special recognition.

Michelle also discussed a new Holleran Satisfaction Survey which will be coming in May. The survey will be shorter than in the past and will focus on measuring engagement rather than satisfaction. Results from the survey will be used in determining whether the right programs are being provided, in preparing budgets and in strategic planning. The surveys will be distributed to Independent Living Residents the week of May 1st and completed surveys will need to be turned in at the Welcome Center by May 20th. Results of the survey will be shared at a future Town Hall Meeting.

A happy announcement by Michelle was the addition of a new bus that can transport up to four wheelchairs at one time. The bus is ours due to a grant from the Maricopa Association of Governments and the City of Phoenix. Michelle thanked the Auxiliary for also providing funds toward the purchase of this bus. It is parked outside the building and residents are encouraged to check it out as they leave the meeting.

Herb Komnick, Residents Council President, provided a report of the Residents Council Meeting on March 8th. David Ragan began the meeting with a report that a good time was had by all at the LeadingAge Senior Fitness Challenge competition. He encouraged residents to attend the Design Studio meetings to help plan our residents’ future. Dining Services Committee Chairman, Pat Dellisanti, reported that Joe Kane, Director of Dining Services, had completed his building meetings and survey distribution. The Sunday Brunch is returning on the second Sunday of each month. Staff members are being trained on CPR, chest compressions, the Heimlich maneuver, and defibrillators. Employee Appreciation Committee Interim Chairman, Barbara Carpenter, reported that a letter will be sent in August and an evening dinner event will be held in August to encourage residents to contribute to the Employee Appreciation Fund. Monthly billing for contributions can be arranged through Cammy Clevenger. Facilities Committee Chairman, Roger Benson, reported that Maintenance has posted instructions of what NOT to put into drains on campus bulletin boards. Lost items should be reported to Security at x16172. Residents are asked to completely fill a recycle barrel before starting to fill another. If the barrel(s) is/are full, please call 18492 promptly. Under New Business, Gayle Richmond was confirmed as the new Life Enrichment Committee Chair; the Resident Telephone Directory is now available on the Resident Website (www.bcampus.org); and Kathy Amend has volunteered to post bulletin board items on the Patio Homes bulletin board. Leave items to be posted there in her mail box at the Welcome Center. Area Representatives’ Reports included the Central Park North Representative, Walt Smith, advising that the water leak survey has been completed, and a Spring Fling dinner in the Rose Garden is planned for March 28th. Plaza South Representative, Don Tamuty reported that Plaza South has completed the dining preference survey and is planning a dinner meeting. Central Park South Representative, Sybil Eppinger, reported that CPS, CPN and the Patio Homes are working together on the Spring Fling plans and also working with Marketing on the Open House being held on March 23rd in the Rose Garden. In response to a concern about a master calendar, it was reported that a software program for scheduling campus activities in coordination with outside groups’ activities being held on site has been purchased and is being installed.

Josephine Levy, Resource Navigator of Success Matters, advised residents about three upcoming programs. On April 12th, at 2:00PM in the Agelink Great Room, Josephine will discuss Health Care Power of Attorney (POA) and Living Will. The program promises to incorporate humor and not be boring! On April 26th, at 1:00PM in the Agelink Great Room, there will be a program on VA benefits and a VA representative will be on hand to answer questions. The last one-hour program will be held on May 9th, at 1:00PM in the Agelink Great Hall, with a representative from the Arizona Attorney General’s office discussing Scams and Such and talking about what is happening right here in Arizona to our senior citizens.

Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters, introduced Mitch Sopko and Rich Fauci to residents. Mitch and Rich are Masters level occupational therapy students doing their Level II Fieldwork at Beatitudes for the next three months. They are anxious to engage with residents and get to know us better. When you see them on campus, give them a big Beatitudes welcome! Premier Hearing will be hosting a free lunch and addressing the topic of hearing aid technology and maintenance on Thursday, May 4th from 11AM to 1PM in the Agelink Great Room. If interested, you must RSVP by calling 602-279-0003. Jon Schilling, Director of Life Enrichment, and Jessica will be offering their seventh SAFER Stepping at Beatitudes, a six week comprehensive falls prevention workshop offered periodically through the year. The workshop will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30PM, starting in mid-May. Contact Jessica at x16110 to be put on the registration list.

Jon Schilling introduced Wendy White who began volunteering at  Beatitudes when her parents moved here. She spreads joy wherever she goes and now visits three floors in the Health Care Center with her wonderful therapy dog, Max. She will be presenting a workshop entitled, Happiness is a Choice, on Thursday, April 20th at 2:00 in the Motion Studio.

Michael Smallwood, Fitness Specialist, discussed a new fitness program entitled, BrainSavers (because gray matters) which will be offered on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11AM. The course will begin in May and is structured to have up to 25 students. Beatitudes is making a one-year commitment to this “trial course” that encompasses Brain and Body Total Fitness. The mission statement declares that BrainSavers will help maintain healthy minds, reducing the impact of age-related memory impairment and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The six key components of healthy brain aging include physical exercise, nutrition, cognitive exercise, sleep, socialization and stress management. Dr. Paul Bendheim, M.D. will be introducting the course in a one-hour presentation on Monday, April 17th at 3 PM More information can be found at http://BRAINSAVERS.com. The March B-Fit Winner is Jean Hiser.

Monica De La Rosa, Life Enrichment Specialist, detailed some of the activities on the agenda for this month. They included a Lloyd Foundation Musical Performance in the Life Center on Tuesday, April 13th at 2PM; a movie and discussion presented by resident, Mary Harkness, on Friday, April 14th at 2PM in the Recreation Center; the Paradise Valley Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, April 15th, at 3PM in the Life Center; a trip to the Spring Butterfly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden on Tuesday, April 18th at 9AM (tickets are $20 and available at the Welcome Center); our annual off-campus BBQ at Lynx Lake in Prescott, AZ, Tuesday, April 25th, 9:15AM departure (purchase your boarding pass at the Welcome Center for $7); Buzy Bees Spring sale on Friday, April 14th outside Elaine’s; and line dancing at 10AM on Thursdays in the Recreation Center. Synopsis sheets have been distributed to each building. Call Monica at x18526 if you need more copies.

Dosia Carlson discussed the plans for Earth Week, April 17th to April 22nd. Elders for a Sustainable Future have prepared a Triple Header. On Thursday, April 20th, at 6PM in the Life Center, Nature will be celebrated in Words and Music with vocalists, instrumentalists, visuals and reading. On Friday, April 21st, at 9:30 AM, during coffee hour in Elaine’s Fine Dining, we will discuss how we can share our environmental concerns with the younger people in our lives. Bring photos of friends and family members and we will discuss how, together, we can promote sustainability of this planet. On Friday, April 21st, at 2:30 PM in the Life Center, we will present Mother Earth is Crying: Residents and Employees in Conversation. After viewing a few startling videos and discussing our response at tables, we will exchange ideas with people who work here. Don’t miss these important events in support of Mother Earth.

Ken Fomby, Transportation Coordinator, advised residents about just how the transportation system operates. Residents call #16135 to schedule medical appointments, bank trips, RX pickups and other related trips. Residents should call #12905 for any activities/off campus events to reserve a seat on the bus. The information is then recorded on yellow pads for the medical trips and white pads for the off-campus activities. Information is transferred to an annual calendar with the date, time and address. From there, the information is computerized and trips are assigned to specific drivers. Residents are contacted the day before the trip is to take place to confirm the appointments. Residents are given a business card with phone information, and either they, or the office where their appointment takes place, can call to let transportation know that they are ready to be picked up. Ken displayed a graph showing that there are about 500 medical calls per month and as many as 700 calls last December.

David gave residents the results of dining comment cards for March. Over 76% of the comments were positive, which raises the morale of the whole dining staff! David emphasized that residents should send back a meal if they are dissatisfied. That is the best way the dining staff can be made aware of problems with the food.

David introduced Dave Johnson of Hospice of the Valley. Hospice of the Valley had its roots right here at the Beatitudes 40 years ago. Dosia Carlson, Greta Wiseman and Gerald Roseberry were instrumental in its formation. Dave noted that Hospice of the Valley is a non-profit organization, and he is appreciative of our using their services. He said there are over 50 different hospices operating in the Valley. There are flyers at the back of the room for anyone interested in Hospice of the Valley and the organization’s speaker’s program.

David called our attention to a Special Town Hall which was on April 13th. The Fire Department and Beatitudes Campus discussed emergency evacuation procedures. The fire department trains for this kind of activity and some of the firefighters have family here as well.

The Hootenanny is every Wednesday at 6:00 and is free! Bring your friends and enjoy the wonderful music.

Thanks again to Gregory’s Market. They are here for every Town Hall at the beginning of the month and are much appreciated.

Don’t forget Sundaes with Dave on each third Wednesday of the month from 2 to 4PM in the Bistro.

The next Town Hall will be held on May 3rd at 2:00 PM in the Life Center. Plan to be there!

(A quick note from David – please thank Norma Dieffenbach for the continued excellent minutes for the Informant—she does not miss a thing!)

 

Redefining the Urban Landscape

I was reading an article the other day about the fact that few people in America walk to work. Most of us drive to the supermarket. But more older people these days are looking for a community where they can enjoy a full life without a car.  The article explained how Ben Brown and his wife, Christine, weren’t really thinking about retirement when they moved to a small town nestled in the Smoky Mountains near Asheville, a haven for many East Coast and Midwest retirees.

“We loved the idea of living in a small town in a rural mountain area,” Mr. Brown recalled. “And we converted a summer house to a year-round home to suit our tastes.”

Yet Mr. Brown, a 70-year-old writer, and his 66-year-old wife said they had second thoughts as they made the transition toward retirement.

“We realized ‘aging in place’ means a lot more than just a comfortable house,” Mr. Brown said. “So we began thinking more about ‘aging in community.’ That means an urban neighborhood where you can walk or take transit to just about everything you need.”

Ben and his wife are considered the “young” old… seniors who are demographically just into the category of senior living and services.  The story went on to talk about West Asheville, a vibrant, urban neighborhood, brimming with trend new restaurants, inviting shops and a number of bus routes into the larger city next door.  Nearly every place they wanted to go was within walking distance, a major benefit for those who don’t want to drive everywhere as they get older.

This made me think a lot about our march toward redevelopment and the larger community in which Beatitudes is located and the community we are excited about continuing to define on this campus.  And when I say excited, I truly do mean that is the sharpest sense of the word.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to the Design Studio group for a couple of weeks and it was enlightening for many to learn of the amount of research that we do to plan and forecast what services, amenities, price points, logistics, technology and environment make for the best in senior living.   One of the terms that we have begun to hear a lot of in urban planning is “walkable” and this has long been a hallmark of life plan communities (previously known as continuing care retirement communities)… that we organize a campus such as Beatitudes to emulate a growing, mixed-use neighborhood with ample amenities to provide a “good life.”  As a result, our campus as seen the evolution of four restaurants which are available to all residents regardless of their home location in independent or assisting living or nursing care.  A bank, ceramic studio, computer lab, library, gift shop… there is a large list of these conveniences.  What is rather thrilling is that we now are on the edge of two facets in the life of the campus that can help us all set the bar far higher in the new age of senior living.

One is our own redevelopment plan which has been revisited, reviewed, rearranged, revamped, redesigned and researched (insert every “re” word you can imagine!) again and again during the year that I have been here on campus and before.   Why?  Achieving marketable feasibility is far more intricate than merely building new apartments or patio homes and hoping for the best.

Often retirement communities have been slow to change.  But the most successful take the time to really assess what makes the most sense and build around those needs.

Now one of the truly exciting facets that very few life plan communities can boast.  Enter our new paradigm: the walkable, urban space envisioned by the emerging 19North Community Association which our Resident Community Outreach Committee has helped ignite.  Emanating out of the completion of the lite rail along 19th Avenue, a number of community members from surrounding neighborhoods and businesses determined that a new opportunity existed to redefine the area as a walkable, safe and invigorated area of powerful living.  Now couple that with Mayor Stanton’s determination to achieve an “Age Friendly Community” status.  I was very honored to be the only senior living community representative named to a new sub-committee to study that topic and was sworn in at the city council this past January.

What a stellar opportunity we have!  We are seeking to not only program on our own campus, but help define what is “age friendly” in our neighborhood and provide even more access to opportunities for diverse interest.  The theme is simple: Get out and walk/utilize easily assessable short distance transportation to basic services such as our campus buses.  We are thinking about folks like the Browns that I mentioned at the beginning of this article as we plan our next generation of this life plan community.

Walkability is much more than a hip marketing pitch. It’s linked to better health, social engagement and higher property values.  The researchers Philippa Clarke and Linda George found that walkable, mixed-use environments could possibly reduce disabilities many face as they age. Pedestrian-friendly communities promote walking to a grocery store, cafe or other services like the salon or library such as we have here on campus or nearby.

Although there is clearly a growing demand for walkable, urban retirement communities, they are difficult to build within cities, said Christopher Leinberger, a developer based in Washington and a professor at the George Washington University School of Business.  Mr. Leinberger noted that most mainstream retirement developers had traditionally favored suburban or exurban sites that involve sprawling “greenfield” building on relatively cheap farmland. The new approach, by contrast, is for dense, urban or town-centered sites that are accessible for services and socially vibrant.

“The model used to be to isolate old people on cul-de-sacs backing up to a golf course,” Mr. Leinberger said. “The new model just beginning to rise is for walkable urban places.”  And here we are in our north central Phoenix location doing exactly that.  I love being a part the development of a new cutting edge model for senior living.  Beatitudes Campus has probably one of the most unique positions in helping redefine high quality senior living that could possibly exist – a long history of quality services on our own 22 acres and now integrating into the surrounding community determined to raise the standard of living for all.

But there are often obstacles. Age-friendly communities within cities may require extensive infrastructure improvements, including wider sidewalks, bike lanes, more public transportation options and longer pedestrian signal walk times.  Thankfully, the mayor and council seem determined to invest in the improvements.

Mr. Leinberger, in a G.W.U. study, found that the walkability factor added more than 72 percent in increased housing value compared with car-dominated developments, where he says prices will fall over time as America ages.  He provides a short list of items to consider when defining and planning an age friendly, walkable community.

Do they have quality health care institutions nearby? Is public transportation adequate? Will you need barrier-free sidewalks and retail establishments? How easy is it to leave and visit other parts of a city or its metropolitan region?  What about local colleges for cultural amenities and lifelong learning programs?  The answers to these questions are basically favorable for those residing here and we’re just beginning.

I’ll be anxious to continue to update you on the progress of 19North and the Age Friendly Sub-Committee.  We present our initial findings and recommendations at the June, 2017 council meeting.  And, of course, we will have a great deal more to publish about our own redevelopment in the next few months.  These are indeed very significant times for the campus and I’m so proud to be a part of what will be the foundation for the look, feel and service of Beatitudes Campus for many years to come.

Meeting Your Needs, Whatever They May Be

As you know, living at Beatitudes Campus has many benefits. Did you know that one of the most important is that you have a full continuum of care services available to you should you ever need them? We would like you to be aware of what is available to you prior to you possibly needing the services.

Recently, while taking part in The Design Studio, I was asked if I could explain what is needed or how we determine what level of care or services someone needs. That was the perfect time for me to give a shameless plug for a presentation which will be given on Tuesday, February 14th. I shared that myself and the Directors of these areas on campus will discuss this information and much more and encouraged everyone to attend. I am sure there’s many of you with questions like—how many of you are wondering what services are provided on each floor of the Health Care Center? What is the difference between Independent Living and Assisted Living? What services are offered on campus that may help support you in staying in your apartment longer? Also, have you been curious as to what Medicare services are available on campus? How about the cost of services? You will find out these answers plus a whole lot more if you join us for this informative presentation in the Agelink Great Room on Tuesday, February 14th at 3PM.

During this 90 minute presentation—graciously sponsored by The Health and Wellness Committee and Lifelong Learners—you will hear from not only me, but also Teresa Borton,  Health Care Center Director of Nursing; Elizabeth Kerr, Administrator/Clinical Director of Beatitudes Home Health and Beatitudes at Home; and Ron Ingram, Director of Assisted Living and Early Memory Support.

Please don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn about what care services the campus offers in what is sure to be a fun and interactive way. Hope to see you on the 14th at 3PM.

What Makes A Community?

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“Game On” Welcome Desk

Many of you know that when I first came to Beatitudes Campus, I had no intention of staying here beyond the one year agreement I made as Interim Vice President for Spiritual Life.  I made it clear that this is not the type of community I am about when it came to my understanding of my purpose in life – I was a preacher type – but felt I could help during the year I would be here.

Two weeks after I started I was being lured into one of the most beautiful experiences and communities that I ever thought was possible.  If I saw my life as trying to help create a community in the larger world where all are valued, empowered and treated equally, it suddenly became apparent to me it was happening here.  Seven years later I am still here because I just could not let go of what I witnessed then and still do today.

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The Light Rail commencement gathering

Just look at the last few weeks and see all of the connecting that is taking place in our community.  If you attended the weekly meetings of the Design Studio, you saw the discussions evolve around bringing down the silos between Independent Living, Plaza View and all other venues.  They also were celebrating there being no distinction between those with walkers, scooters, canes or using none of those – all are whole and valued just as they are.

If you walked through the Agelink building, you saw your neighbors serving as instructors for senior aged immigrants and teaching English to willing leaners while bringing down this time between cultures.  If you went to the new Light Rail Celebration opening, you saw your neighbors with a booth telling the rest of the world all about us– and having the best time there.   Stroll through Plaza View and you might catch “Game On”, an evolving Game Day/Night bringing neighbors from all over the Campus together for good laughs.

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St. Patrick’s Day Theme Dinner Event

On St. Patrick’s Day, if you were in the Luther Life Center, you saw it filled with to the brim with green neighbors looking for that pot of gold and maybe a green beer.  Head back over to Agelink, where Beatitudes Center for Life Long Learners has over a dozen classes in session and brought hundreds of our residents together to learn new insights, as well as learn about each other.  Watch a Diamondback game and you might see your next door neighbor in the crowd rooting for the team.

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English Learning Courses at the Agelink building

I love it whenever I take a visitor on a little tour of the campus and by half-way, after a couple dozen greetings from each of you as we enjoy our walk, they tell me this has to be one of the happiest and friendliest places on earth.    It never fails to happen.  And I think they are right.

Want a glimpse of our community at it warmest? Come to the Welcome Coffee where new residents are celebrated, and just listen to why they wanted to come to Beatitudes Campus and how excited they are to be here (it will make you proud all over again that you are here) and feel the radical hospitality in return as they are welcomed.

All of this makes what a community is all about, and thank you for making it one of the most special.

Peace always,

David