Independent Component 2

Literal
(a) I, Caroline Salinas, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 31 hours of work.
(b) The "Wellness and Health Fair Planning Guide" from ModaHealth.com really helped me to follow the correct procedures and tasks needed to organize a successful health fair.
(c) My Independent Component 2 Log is updated.
(d) I organized a Health Fair at the West Covina Senior center on April 8, 2015.

Interpretive

• For my Independent Component, I had to work closely with the West Covina Senior Center's director, Adrian Reynosa, to organize the event. I had to gain permission for the use of one of the senior center's buildings. In collaboration with Adrian and my mentor, Augustin Alvarado, I was able to schedule 13 booths. This was the longest portion of my project because I had to research the various organizations that could come, and I had to call them each and wait for responses. Organization is long and tedious, but vital for any successful event. The booths that attended my health fair included local health organizations and businesses. A spread sheet of these contacts is included below.

• Afterwards, it was time to start the advertisement for my event. Through my research, I have found that currently the best forms of communication with seniors is through paper announcements and work of mouth. This is also my third answer for my senior project. 

• As a part of my advertisement, I really emphasized that a raffle would be held during the health fair. I really cannot express how much seniors love free stuff! I asked many of the booths to bring something to raffle off a part form the free trinkets (pens, bags, etc.) that they would be passing out.

• As another form of advertisement, I noticed that mainly seniors attend city council meetings and watch in on tv, this is based off of my personal experience in local politics. Because of that, I decided to announce my event at the city council meeting. I got permission to speak before the council and the audience to tell them a little about my project and invite them to attend my event.

Me speaking before the West Covina City Council

• As you can see in my flyer below, I made the font big and only included the information necessary. This way, seniors can read my flyer quick and easy. I placed several at the Senior Center from desk so many seniors can get a copy.

• As each senior arrived I had them sign in by writing their name on a blank list that I had, and when they signed, they received a free raffle ticket. After counting all the signatures at the end, I concluded that over one hundred seniors had attended my event. I was very proud of my accomplishment. 

• The day started early and it had been a hectic week, even though it was my spring break. The day before, I had to call and confirm with each booth again that they would be attending, and keep in contact with the senior center employees. The morning of I made an announcement on the microphone at the Senior Center reminding them to check out my fair. I also had to help set up tables that morning and bought coffee and donuts for the booth representatives and senior center employees, just as a thank you.

• Below are some pictures from early on in my event.

 Augustine Alvarado and I.

• Right above is me with West Covina Mayor Sykes. It was really cool to have him attend my event. FUN FACT: I had the chance to speak with him briefly a few months ago, and he mentioned to me that his daughter is an IPoly Alumna. The West Covina Community Services Director was also in attendance.

• On April 21st, during a City Council meeting, I had the honor of being recognized for my Health Fair. My whole project has been a cool experience. It is really neat to have people around the city know my name.

Special thanks to my friends Desiree Zarate and Hannah Tran, who came to support me.

• Did I stress out during this project? Heck yes. Was it worth is? Totally! I helped out my community and promoted a healthy lifestyle for seniors. I am very proud of all the hard work I put in for this successful event.

Applied

• This Independent Component really helped me find my third answer for my senior project. I had to find the best forms of advertisement for my event because there would not be one if nobody showed up. That is where the city council announcement and flyers played a role. I learned the best forms of communicating with seniors and adults. Planning an event for the senior citizen audience required me to investigate what attracts them, which helped me answer my EQ. A big example was learning how much they love free stuff, which I followed through with a free raffle.

• It wasn't easy having to make so many phone calls to businesses and organizations, going from contact to contact, to schedule a booth at the fair. I learned various forms of communications through phone, email, and in person. These skills and experience will help me not only in my intended major of Communication, but also in any career I choose to pursue. 

Blog 15: Independent Component 2

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

• At the moment I have two ideas on what to do for my Independent Component 2.

• My first idea was to plan this year's "Senior Prom" at the senior center. I would go through the whole process of planning, budgeting, and advertising. I would have to research what the seniors expect to have and how to create a nice event and experience for them. I like this idea most because I am pretty creative and I know that I would enjoy this project very much. 
• The only problem is that the Prom has usually been held in June, and this component is due in April. I'm not sure how the seniors or the staff would feel about an April prom, and it is too soon. 

• I could hold the prom in early May and just turn in my planning work up to the event.

• My second idea was to plan a health fair. I would go through the process of planning, and scheduling. I would contact companies and health experts to further inform the seniors about health. This event could also include eye exams or blood pressure tests. 

• Even though health is not the topic I find most interesting, it might be easier and the event could be done before the component due date.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

• With both ideas, I plan to show the evidence of my hours by showing some of my paperwork of planning, scheduling, and/or budgeting. I also plan to take pictures of my work. Planning any event takes hours of work, so I am sure i will meet the requirement.

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

• With the Prom event, I would research the usual audience at these event too see which generation they're mainly from, and their likes/dislikes.I would learn more on how to cater specifically to seniors, entertainment wise.

• With the health fair, I would research on the main health concerns that seniors have and try to provide access to experts and care having to do with those topics. I would also learn more about senior health.

4.  Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

Independent Component 1

• LITERAL
• " I, Caroline Salinas, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 33 hours of work.”
•  My mentors Augustine Alvarado and Spencer, and also my mentorship experience at the West Covina Senior Center helped me to complete this independent component. They gave me feedback and supported me in throughout the whole process.
• For my independent component, I created a survey and distributed at my senior center. This survey helped me to gain data at the age demographics of the seniors there, what they enjoy at the center, and what they would like to see there int he future. Then I collected the data and spoke to my mentor and employees about my result. I later volunteered at Electronics Day where seniors learned about technology and modern devices. 
• INTERPRETIVE 


• My project helped to introduce a different topic to the senior center. The center had never had an Electronics Day before. It was a big success with many seniors and many volunteers. Seniors were able to get their questions answered and learned new things about modern technology. I think that having high school volunteers also helped to break down the generational barrier between seniors and youth. Having one on one conversations helped us to become closer and relate to one another. 
• The center never really got feedback from the seniors about what they liked and wanted at the center. So my survey was something that was needed and was a good start. I hope that in the future, the center collects more data to better serve the community's seniors.


• Here is an example of a filled out survey I passed out
• Here is an example of some of the data I collected
• Here is a picture of the flyer for the Electronics Day event and of the event
• APPLIED
• My project helped to gain a closer understanding of how seniors interact with modern technology and their desire to learn more about what is new with the younger generations. I got to have one on one conversation with seniors and personally got their opinions on the current status of the seniors center and their hopes for the future. 

Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Describe what you plan to do of you 30 hours:

• First I plan to create a survey and distribute it at my senior center and others locally.
• The survey would collect information on seniors' generation, demographics, and what they like and would like to see at there centers
• The questions in the survey would be based from my previous research and reading on my topic
• Second, I will collect the data and create a plan for a new event, activity, or class that most seniors would like to see at their center, based off of the surveys.
• Third, I will speak with the manager at my center to pitch my addition to the senior center, based from my surveys.
• Fourth, I would be involved/ run with the organization and preparation of the event, class, or activity.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence:

• I plan to:
• Provide an example of an anonymous completed survey
• Provide my collected data (charts/notes) and other tools I will use to introduce my idea to the manager of the senior center
• Take pictures of the event, activity, or class

3. Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth:

• My essential question is: What is the most effective way to attract seniors to a senior center?
• My independent will help me start getting input from seniors on what they would like to see at their senior center. Also, it would tell me what works and what doesn't.
• This project would also help me test different ideas and apply them to my center to see their populartiy. 
• These ideas would be the class, event, or activity.

4. Senior Project Hours