PF Parade 9 16 12People First meetings are held at the Torrance Culture Arts Center 3330 Civic Center Drive North, Torrance CA 90503, Garden room (at the end of the entry courtyard, off the circular driveway).

The meeting begins at 6pm with officer introductions and catered buffet meal, for which the cost is only $5 each guest. The members then do self-introductions, and the officers’ reports are on the agenda.

The speaker usually begins around 7:20pm with presentation / Q and A. The meeting ends promptly at 8pm

2019 Meetings

  1. We’re getting together again this year on Monday December 9, with a dinner gift from the Treasury of $$16.00 for members in good standing.
     
    A special treat AGAIN is the most special Barber Shop Coastliners Group providing Christmas 🎄 music 🎶 to entertain lucky us!!
     
    So, we shall see you on the 9 at 6:00 pm for lots of food, fun , choral and friends!!🥘🥗💥👨‍👨‍👦‍👦
     
    Barbara B. Haney, M.A.
  2. PEOPLE FIRST SELF ADVOCATES OF THE SOUTH BAY/HARBOR AREA

    MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2019 MEETING

    TORRANCE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER GARDEN ROOMS. 6-8 PM

    OPENING BY THE PRESIDENT…OFFICER INTRODUCTIONS

    DINNER IS SERVED PIZZA, SALAD, DESSERT, DRINKS

    IMPORTANT BUSINESS

    DECEMBER HOLIDAY MEETING

    / CAROLING AT  HOMETOWN BUFFET

    MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 6:00 EACH MEMBER RECEIVES 

    A GIFT OF $12.50 FOR DINNER

    SPEAKER INTRODUCTION BY DAVID OSTER

     WHO WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

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    Member/Guest Introductions  PROGRAM 

    BINGO BINGO BINGO DISABILITY RIGHTS QUIZ AND GAME WITH PRIZES

  3. Monday, September 23, 2019 6-8pm
    SPECIAL EVENING
    Celebrating Birthdays 🏷🎀🎏🎈
    And
    Welcoming in Fall!!📪🎉🎀🖼  

    Special Speaker
    Catherine Belous
    Program Supervisor
    Best Buddies of Long Beach

    Best Buddies is a 501c3 organization serving 64,000 individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

    It provides one-on-one friendship, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living opportunities.

    The celebration menu is special Hogie Sandwiches, salads, BIRTHDAY 🎂 cake and drinks.
    COST is only $5.00

       See you then—bring a FRIEND!!
              Barbara B. Haney, M.A.

  4. Monday, August 19, 2019, 6-8pm Michael Choi who owns the infamous herd of goats 🐐
  5. Monday, July 22, 2019 6-8pm
  6. Monday, June 17, 2019 6-8pm – Harbor Regional Center specialist discussing important information. Bring a friend! Catered dinner: various submarine sandwiches, salads, drinks, and cookies. $5. 
  7. Monday, May 20, 2019, 6pm – Scott Barron, Disability Bingo sponsored by the office of Client Rights Advocacy – Panda Express, Various main dishes and fried rice, drinks and cookies
  8. Monday, April 29, 2019, 6pm  – Autism Awareness Month – Julie Ebby Mackenzie, Community Program Specialist
  9. Monday, March 18, 2019, 6pm – “Understanding Disabilities and Programs for Learning and Support” Speaker C. Jefferson, ILS
  10. Monday, February 20, 2019
  11. Monday, January 28 2019 
    Speaker Cynthia Solomon Ponce, Disability Rights 

2018 Meetings

  • Monday, December 17, 2018 – The Hometown Buffet 6pm
  • Monday, November 19, 2018 – Fred Haney – meet Willow Golden retriever and puppy and get a free copy of My Doggie Says
  • Monday, October 15, 2018
    James Lee of Metro Transport – Download Flyer
  • Monday, September 17, 2018 – Speaker Al Muratsuchi – 66th Assembly District Representative
  • Monday, August 20, 2018
  • Monday, July 23, 2018
  • Monday, March 19, 2018
  • Monday, February 26, 2018
  • Monday, May 21, 2018 – Speaker Bob Chiota, Torrance Special Athletes, Bocce Ball – Download flyer

People First

2017 Meetings 

  • Monday, January 23, 2017
  • Monday, February 27, 2017 – 6-8 P.M. – DOWNLOAD THE FLYER
  • Monday, March 20th, 2017 – 6-8 P.M. Guest Speaker: MILTON S. HERRING, I, COUNCIL MEMBER
  • Monday, April 24, 2017 6-8 P.M.
  • Monday, May 22, 2017 6-8pm
  • Monday, June 19, 2017 6-8pm Download Flyer
  • Monday, August 21, 2017 6-8pm Download Flyer
  • Monday, September 18, 2017 – 6-8pm 
  • Monday, November 20, 2017 6-8pm View Flyer
  • Monday, December 11, 2017 5:45pm – 8pm Hometown Buffet Torrance

2016 Meetings

Monday, January 25th – 6pm – 8pm – Speaker Adrdis Shubin

Feb 29th (leap year)

March 21, 2016

April 18, 2016

May 23, 2016

June 20, 2016

July 18, 2016

Aug 22, 2016 – Fran Goldfarb, Director of Family Support at USC 

Sept 19 – Wesley Witherspoon, Children’s Hospital

October 17 – Reb Yakob Basner🔯🔯Award winning lecturer /speaker, lover of languages, advisor to The Museum of Tolerance, sought after teacher, proud grandfather, great grandfather, and other significant community recognition. View his Assembly California Legislature Biography click here.

November 21, 2016 6–8 p. m.

2015 Meetings

1/25/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Leadership and Self Advocacy with Mike Will Downey

2/23/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – ‘Happy Feet’ Movie Night

3/16/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Reverend Morsan McSweeney, CPT, Chaplain

4/13/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Self Determination with Julie Mackenzie

5/18/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Literacy with Torrance Head Librarian Hillary Theyer on Literacy

6/15/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Torrance City Councilperson Heidi Ashcraft

7/20/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Shant M., Torrance City Airport and Western Museum of Flight

8/17/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – “Eat at Joes”, home of the original “John Wayne”

9/21/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Andy Kopito, Director of Payload Engineering & Operations for Boeing Satellite

10/19/2015 – 6pm – 8pm – Scott Barron, Disability Rights

11/16/15 – 6pm – 9pm Leilani Kimmel-Dagostino, Torrance City Council candidate

2014 People First of Torrance Meetings

January – Catherine Blakewell – Disability right California

February – Tom Brewer, business person and Torrance City Council person

March – Carolyn Wilson, Autism Society Exec. Director

April – Bill Sutherland, candidate for Mayor of Torrance, Council person

May- Roberta Newton, Exec Dir., area Board X

June-Ronda Kopito Autism Society and parent

July-Cliff Newmark, El Camino College Trustee, Exec Dir of the American Red Cross

August- Movie night and summer picnic…”Frozen”

September –  New mayor of Torrance the Honorable Mr. Pat Furey

October – DDS flyer discussion about exercise and nutrition, and BINGO nite.

November—Voyager Karen Stanton Whale watching boat

December – Hometown Buffet dinner, holiday gift, and caroling.

People First Speakers 2013

January – John Luong American Red Cross “Super Storm Sandy” volunteer

February – Congregation Tikvat Jacob Rabbi Mark Hyman, Cantor Beth Garden

March – Kat Meredith American Red Cross Disaster Kits and Non-profit work

April – Father Kevin S. of the Franciscan Monks…his mission and the Church

May – Barbara M. from the USO at LAX—helping our servicemen

June – Tom Ready and Kat Ready, discussing employment options at SVS and Inclusion Centers

July – Wei Houng and Dan Nyung Life oasis Counselors

August – Kat Meredith PS non-profit and David Oster, Peer Survey

Sept – Rick Travis and David Oster, EDD grant survey

October – Michael Howard Private Investigator

November—Bingo Bingo Bingo

Dec—Holiday dinner and Caroling at HomeTown buffet

People First 2012 Meetings

    • January 2012—The Honorable Frank Scotto, Mayor of Torrance

 

    • February 2012—Derek Brown, Entrepreneur and PF member

 

    • March 2012 – Election of Officers and Appointed positions

 

    • April 2012 – Julie Eby McKenzie, Area Board X

 

    • May 2012 — Danielle Heck, Job Developer Harbor Regional Center

 

    • June 2012 – Rachael Scherer Attorney at Law

 

    • July 2012 Marcus Cargill Personal Trainer YMCA

 

    • August-Lisa Haley, renowned entertainer/motivational speaker

 

    • September 2012 no speaker, Torrance Centennial parade participation

 

    • October – Jordan Kamnitzer singing: Madrona Marsh Director T. Drake with photos and presentation—invitation for a tour

 

    • November – Self Advocate Colette Madore/PF and it future DVD

 

  • December –holiday party and caroling at HomeTown buffet, $5.00 gift from the treasury to members.

People First 2011 Meetings

    1. Jan—Scheduled, Keith Bonchek, PF of SoCal, unable to speak due to technical difficulties, so an “Open Mike Meeting” with members talking about themselves and their lives

 

    1. February—Rosa Caldera, Bank of America Affinity Group, “Finances, make them work for you”

 

    1. March – Bill Southerland, Councilperson for the City of Torrance….entitled “Why me”  (copies of the speech are available

 

    1. April—Keith Bonchek, PF of SoCal, training the group for Certification by PF of Cal.

 

    1. May—no meeting/scheduling conflicts

 

    1. June—David Oster, Program Coordinator, reporting on the United Nations Disability committee, asking the US to ratify the treaty.

 

    1. July—Kat Meredith, American Red Cross volunteer and Disaster Coordinator, speaking on Preparing for Disasters.  Kat will return in October with donated Disaster Kits for each member to assemble and learn about

 

    1. August—Blu, Therapy dog and his handlers/owners Bryan and Adele Green

 

    1. September—Wesley Witherspoon

 

    1. October—Movie Night…let’s all watch and sing “The Wizard of Oz”

 

    1. November—Sg. Jennifer Uyeda, Torrance Police Department Community Affairs officer

 

  1. December—Hometown buffet dinner and holiday caroling.  This year, no gifts to members will be possible.

PEOPLE FIRST SPEAKERS 2010

    1. January—Tom Vidal, the Honorable councilperson, the City of Torrance talking about the City and Public Service

 

    1. February—election/appointment of officers

 

    1. March—Harvey Horwich, Torrance City Community Activist discussing how to give back to the city.

 

    1. April—Torrance Cable talk show hosts, Joe Valerie and Jerry Cohen-about their sports talk show

 

    1. May—Rabbi Gary Spero, Temple Beth Torah, discussing his faith, Judaism.

 

    1. June—Lt Mark Athan, Torrance Police Dept., Public Affairs representative presenting information about the Department

 

    1. July—Canine Companions for Independence, Puppy Pizzi and trainers Erin la Monte and Jonathan Gerber talking about this incredible program

 

    1. August—Mr. Magic, Jim Wilson, member of the Magic Castle, performing for the group

 

    1. September—Joe Valerie and Jerry Cohen, talk show hosts, Torrance Cable….filming the members.  Everyone is a star tonight

 

    1. September fund raising event among members and their families—Bowlathon chairperson Colette Madore

 

    1. October—Wesley Witherspoon, USC UCEDD Project consumer Advocate, speaking about national November elections…”You need to vote!”

 

    1. November—Herb Kahn of Earthquake Management Co., with valuable handouts and ways to prepare for a disaster

 

  1. December—Hometown buffet dinner and holiday caroling–$5 gift to all members from PF Treasury

2010 Fundraising Event

Bowlathon held at Gable House Bowling Alley, Chairman Collette Madore

2011 Community Advocacy/Activism

Signed letters sent via email to all California Legislators on Finance Committees regarding the Governor’s proposed cutbacks in services such as Regional Centers, SSI, IHHC, transportation and other issues.

Self-Advocacy Presentation to Torrance City Council

Committee of members and facilitators worked with council members to remove the Filming surcharge for Self Advocacy movie makers

2013—Assembly Bill 468-Judy Mark from Autism Society encouraging members to call/email their legislators about passage of this important Self Determination bill