This project will focus on the development of a model program for communities of color through volunteers, intergeneration and faith based agencies. The goal of the program will be dual with volunteers understanding the aging needs of elders in their community. Elders will be provided with emotional support and companionship. Ongoing health concerns for communities of color become more apparent as they age. This project will serve as an outreach facility in communities in San Francisco, for volunteer recruitment and training to serve underserved seniors who are without family support and are over the age of 60. The goal of Sankofa is to organize volunteers and support them while they assist elders of color with transportation to medical appointments, follow up care, nutrition and screening’s for diabetes, cancer and other ongoing medical needs. The recruitment of volunteers will be ethnically sensitive, that is to say that every effort will be made to match elders with volunteers who speak the same language and understand their cultural background. A directory will be provided with a listing of services geared toward the ethnic background of each elder. Communities will celebrate unity by having celebrations of life with their elders and friends whether it be a luncheon, a day in the park, or gatherings that are chosen to suit the area and elders that live there. This will also allow the elders to participate as a giver and not only as receiver in the relationships with their volunteers. This can be done through teaching children with stories, cooking age-old recipes, canning and other resources that elder have accomplished during their life. Elders will benefit in many ways, whether by having medical appointments done routinely (which can help eliminate emergency room visits), or by finding the support they need to allow them to remain in their own home settings and be independent. By participating in special events, they are also reintroduced into the community. Volunteers will benefit by sharing in their communities' most valued assets - the elders.

Medical Escort Program for Communities of Color
Ongoing health concerns for communities of color become more apparent as they age. Elders that have not been involved in the medical arena prior to reaching old age can face many chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and vascular disease. Studies have shown that vascular disease is among the contributing factors of early Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans. Diagnosed early the disease can be managed, and the progression of dementia can be slowed with medication and observation. Due to budget cuts, San Francisco, California was forced to shut down the city’s Senior Escort Program which had served the city’s elderly population for 26 years. Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly has formed a partnership with the city to assist the elders who had been using the program. After initial assessment of the 76 elders who were gleamed from 380 elders using the service it was determined that 17 elders were Spanish speaking and 25 were Chinese speaking. The first steps to assisting these elders will be to determine if they qualify for On-Lok services which would provide them with transportation to their own staff physicians. Those services would also include in-home support services, adult day programs and meals delivered to their homes. Shifting these seniors would allow Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly-Sankofa to provide outreach services to elders who have not typically used transportation services. This would allow them to see physicians and have yearly physicals and other lab work done. The goal of the program will be to assist elders of color with transportation, and to recruit drivers that are of the same background, speak the same language and understand the culture of the elders they are providing transportation to. A directory will be provided with a listing of services geared toward the ethnic background of each elder. This directory will be translated into different languages and volunteer drivers will be trained to assist each elder with their appointments, follow up care and nutrition services. Each district will be canvassed with outreach services for drivers and elders. Training will be provided, stipends will be given and on-going in-services will be offered through- out the year