SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), chair of the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee announces an informational hearing to explore issues specific to California's older black population as the first in an eight part “Faces of Aging” 2014 hearing series.  

Nationally renowned gerontologist and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Administration on Aging, Fernando Torres-Gil, Ph.D., will kick off the series with an overview of California’s aging population.

“Each component of California's multi-cultural population contributes to our rich diversity and quality of life,” stated Assemblymember Yamada.  “Tuesday's hearing will explore ways to address the specific social and health challenges that older African Americans face, and how policymakers can incorporate that knowledge into programs and culturally competent services.”

Members of the public are encouraged to attend “Faces of Aging: African Americans and Aging,” Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. at the State Capitol, Room 447, in Sacramento.

Panelists will include Virgie P. Walker, chair, California Commission on Aging, and Luella Hairston, an attorney specializing in family law from Rancho Cucamonga.

For more information, contact the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care at 916-319-3990.

Yamada represents all or parts of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.