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‘Bringing people together to resolve conflict’

Because she wants people to treat each other humanely, Maralise Hood Quan will find herself in December at one of the epicenters of efforts for a more harmonious world.

The Tacoma woman will attend this year’s Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony and related events in Oslo, Norway as the guest of Greater Tacoma Peace Prize. The latter organization annually honors a local community member who promotes peace at home and abroad, and then sends them to the Nobel festivities as part of its Laureate award. While in Norway, Quan will also visit and meet with several peace-related organizations, including the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue (located in Lillehammer), and the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights.

It’s fitting company for Quan. Greater Tacoma Peace Prize leaders noted, in announcing her award, that in a career spanning four decades, she “has dedicated herself both within her community and abroad to developing tools and systems for bringing people together to resolve conflict,” starting with coordinating the Conflict Resolution Program at the United Nations University of Peace in Costa Rica and now as executive director of the Tacoma-based Center for Dialog and Resolution.

The center (CDR) was founded in 1994 by community members seeking low-cost ways to resolve differences. Originally named the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution, CDR receives more than 20,000 requests per year from people looking for help handling a conflict in their lives.

In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic and ongoing local and national racial injustices, Hood began “Refresh Friday,” going live on Facebook once a week to discuss opportunities for achieving peace. And as the pandemic eviction moratorium began to be lifted across Washington, she joined with other dispute resolution centers across the state to develop the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program to reduce the financial burden faced by landlords and keep financially strapped tenants off the streets.

The board of directors for Greater Tacoma Peace Prize hailed Quan’s dedication to “open conversation about conflict in the community.” They praised her efforts to increase the public’s access to CDR’s services, which often are a diversion from the legal system, and to build a diverse corps of mediators who reflect and understand communities. Christine Gleason, who nominated her, wrote Quan “is guided by a key principle: She wants people to learn how to treat each other more humanely.”

Quan, writing on CDR’s website, said, “When we look around at a society rife with conflict and division, I believe the best gift we can give ourselves and others is the ability and willingness to listen.”

The Greater Tacoma Peace Prize, a non-profit organization that has been honoring its Laureates since 2005, is rooted in Norwegian-American culture and the Norwegian dedication to peace processes. Modeled after the Nobel Prize for Peace, it was founded by Tom Heavey Sr., a longtime Pierce County resident who is retired from the Coast Guard Reserve and is a former AmeriCorps program manager, and was established by a committee representing the three largest Norwegian-American institutions in Pierce County (Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway, and Pacific Lutheran University).

Along with giving its Laureates a trip for two to Oslo, the Tacoma group awards them with a perpetual plaque and glass artwork created especially for the honor by the Hilltop Artists in Residence of Tacoma.

The Senior Scene by — December 20, 2023 in Spotlight
Turn that SAD frown upside down

Winter means cold and dark days for everyone and, for some folks, a dose of SAD.

People suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as a result of the lack of sunshine that is thought to trigger a chemical change in the brain, leading to a type of depression that medical and behavioral experts say can be offset by light therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressants, and simply talking about it with a friend.

SAD usually starts during adulthood, gets worse with age, and affects women more often than men. And it abounds in Washington. Compared to the rest of the states, Washington has the third-highest rate, due to temperatures averaging in the 40s, persistent rain and grayness, and a grand total of about 400 hours of sunlight during winter, according to a national study by Mattress Next Day.

“Unfortunately, some people with SAD can have symptoms up to five months of the year,” said Dr. Jeff Eisen, chief medical officer of MultiCare Health System’s Behavioral Health Network. “This condition can affect all aspects of someone’s life, including their ability to work productively or socialize with their loved ones.”

Experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine say the most common symptoms of SAD include:

  • Increased sleep and daytime drowsiness.
  • Loss of interest and pleasure in favorite activities.
  • Social withdrawal and increased sensitivity to rejection.
  • Irritability, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and hopelessness.
  • Fatigue or low energy.
  • Decreased sex drive.
  • Decreased ability to focus, concentrate, or think clearly.
  • Increased appetite, especially for sweets and carbohydrates, and weight gain.
  • Physical problems, such as headaches.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, SAD sufferers experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression. The most difficult months tend to be January and February. While much less common, some people experience SAD in the summer. About 5 percent of adults in the U.S. experience SAD for about 40 percent of the year.

SAD is more than just “winter blues.” The symptoms can be distressing, overwhelming, and can interfere with day-to-day functioning.

As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock or circadian rhythm that can cause them to be out of step with their daily schedule. SAD is more common in people living far from the equator where there are fewer daylight hours in the winter.

SAD can’t be prevented, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to suffer through symptoms that are life-threatening or disruptive, Eisen said. He said a good first step is having a primary-care physician assess the symptoms and refer a patient to a mental health specialist, if needed. Connecting with family or friends can also be helpful.

“One of the most important things people can do is talk about their concerns and feelings with someone they trust,” Eisen said. “Sometimes people who experience SAD or other forms of depression may be hesitant to reach out. If we could talk about mental health concerns as openly as we talk about diabetes or high blood pressure, then we could erase some of that stigma and create more opportunities for people to get the help they need.”

The Mattress Next Day study ranked the five states where SAD is most prevalent. At the top is Alaska (not surprising given its scarcity of sunshine and temperatures as low as minus-2), followed by New York, Washington, Vermont, and Michigan. Oregon, among others, was high on the SAD register, too.

At the other end of the spectrum, people in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico are the least likely to suffer from SAD, due largely to milder temperatures.

The Senior Scene by — December 20, 2023 in Spotlight

The Angle Lake light-rail station in SeaTac is no stranger to public art. Since opening in 2016, it has welcomed visitors with colorful floating discs, an undulating colonnade of blue aluminum planks, and a vortex of boomerang shapes escorting riders to the parking garage. And now riders will hear guitar strums, drumbeats, and vocal flourishes coming from a new performance space.
The Roadhouse, which opened Oct. 29, is an all-ages, live music venue at the station. Look for it near the parking garage, under a forthcoming neon sign. In addition to producing music shows, the venue (occupancy 145) will be rentable for special events, rehearsals, workshops and classes. It’s part of STart, Sound Transit’s public art program (funded by 1 percent of construction budgets for the regional mass-transit agency).

The venue will be managed by musician and arts educator Eduardo Mendonça, owner of Show Brazil Productions, an educational arts organization based in Kent, where he lives. After one year, stakeholders will determine whether The Roadhouse experiment is worth continuing.

“The Roadhouse will fill a gap of opportunities,” said Mendonça, who has performed guitar and percussion for luminaries from Nelson Mandela to former Brazil president Joao Baptista Figueiredo. “People need to go to Seattle to do things that are related to music and culture. We do have events and opportunities that happen in south King County, but The Roadhouse for sure will be a very good addition in a different way to having our community here.” 

Mendonça said his production company is planning approximately 20 events in the space over the next year, all free to the public. They include a series called “The Sounds of Roadhouse,” aimed at adults and teens and featuring local performers of anything from pop to Latin music.

The venue will also be open to community organizations to host their own events and increase their visibility. 

Source: Crosscut.com, a Pacific Northwest, non-profit news site that’s part of Cascade Public Media.

The Senior Scene by — December 20, 2023 in Everything Else
Pleasant dreams during menopause

Menopause, which typically begins between the ages of 45 and 55 and can last as long as 14 years, affects every woman differently, but many report having trouble sleeping. Experts have some tips for getting a good night’s sleep when experiencing night sweats from menopause.

  • Get into a routine.

Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time for the best sleep quality. Avoid napping if you can. Hot flushes and menopause can make sufferers feel more tired during the day, but napping can make it even harder to fall asleep at night.

Maxine Brady, a blogger and interior stylist, said she uses a Fitbit to help her stay on a regular schedule for going to bed.

  •  Keep your room ventilated and cool.

Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert and author of “How to Sleep Well,” said the ideal temperature for the bedroom is 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, “although this is a matter of personal preference.”

Not all of us have air conditioning at home, and heating bills are on the rise which means it can be difficult to get any room to remain at this temperature throughout the night. However, there are ways to prevent a sleepless night of tossing and turning. Leave your bedroom window open a crack, especially during the spring and summer months. Having a flow of fresh air will help keep you cool and the gentle breeze can help relax you. During the winter months, or if you live on a noisy street, consider investing in a quiet fan to circulate the air around your room. You might also want to leave the bedroom door ajar to prevent the room from feeling stuffy.

  •  Try linen bed sheets.

To get the best sleep, we must keep our bodies comfortable, cool and dry. During the REM sleep stage, we’re not very good at keeping our body temperature constant. Menopause only makes this trickier. Linen achieves the highest airflow through the fabric in comparison to other regularly used bedding materials. 

  • Sleep in the dark.

This one may sound obvious, but keeping your room dark is essential. Consider investing in black-out blinds or curtains. Alternatively, a classic eye mask will do the trick to keep the light out of your eyes in the morning and throughout the night.

  • Wear good-quality pajamas.

We don’t sleep well if our skin feels wet from sweat. Breathable sleepwear, like linen pajamas, is great for moisture management and wicking. 

  • Hydrate before bed.

It’s important to drink enough water throughout the day to prepare your body for a good night’s sleep and alleviate some symptoms of menopause, including dryness. But avoid drinking large amounts of water just before you head to bed, as you don’t want to end up running to the bathroom all night. Also avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee or cola for a few hours before you go to bed. And alcohol should be limited or avoided as much as possible.

  •  Put your phone to bed.

Scrolling endlessly on your phone before bed is a bad idea at any age, but if you’re already struggling with sleep quality, it’s definitely something to avoid. Your phone screen emits blue light, which signals to your brain that it’s still daytime, knocking your body clock out of sync.

EFFECTS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE ARE UNPREDICTABLE

According to the National Institutes of Health, menopause affects each woman uniquely and in various ways. Their bodies use energy differently, fat cells change, and they gain weight, among other physical changes.

Because they may be caused by changing hormone levels, the frequency and severity of symptoms is unpredictable. Signs and symptoms at various stages of menopause include:

  • Hot flashes. A sudden feeling of heat in the upper body, lasting between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Face and neck flushed, red blotches on chest, back and arms. Can continue for many years.
  • Loss of bladder control–incontinence. Sleep. Around midlife, some women start having trouble getting a good night’s sleep.
  • Poor sleep. Can’t fall asleep easily, wake too early, night sweats.
  • Vaginal pain during sexual intercourse, due to dryness.
  • Moodier or more irritable.
  • Bodily changes such as thinner skin, stiff and achy joints and muscles. Headaches, and heart palpitations are also possible.

Consulting with a doctor is recommended for treatment of menopausal symptoms. More information on the subject is available from the North American Menopause Society (menopause.org, 440-442-7550) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (acog.org, 800-673-8444.

The Senior Scene by — December 20, 2023 in Health & Fitness