Easterseals’ ‘Peer-to-Peer’ Group Reunites Friends After 33 Years
It was December of 2022, and Pearl, a recent Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) ‘Peer-to-Peer' participant, was excited to be at her first ESSC holiday party.
As she stood there, wearing a Santa hat, looking around the room and admiring the festivities, she couldn't believe her eyes: there was Amy, a friend she had met 33 years prior and lost touch with all those years ago.
"I was standing in front of her for a couple of minutes, and she didn't recognize me because we hadn't seen each other in a long time, and I was wearing a Santa hat," Pearl said. "But I recognized her."
Pearl approached Amy, who had been involved in ESSC’s Peer-to-Peer group for six years. The two had an exciting reunion full of chit-chat, building gingerbread homes, and even some karaoke.
Pearl (L) and Amy (R)
"We were both so happy to see each other," Amy said.
Pearl and Amy met in 1990 when they volunteered through a city program, decorating floats at the New Year's Day Rose Parade. They became fast friends who loved going out together, talking on the phone, and spending Sundays in church. Eventually, the two lost touch due to a falling out -- until they reconnected thanks to ESSC's Peer-to-Peer program.
Established in 2018 as a partnership between ESSC and the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center, the Peer-to-Peer program is designed to help people living on their own or with their families to meet new friends and explore social opportunities based on common interests. Currently, the group enjoys three virtual meetings and one community outing each month.
Some topics discussed at Peer-to-Peer meetings include relationships and dating to community resources and self-advocacy. Everything discussed is up to the Peer-to-Peer participants; they take charge and lead the conversation.
Based on common interests, participants enjoy outings in small groups to museums, the Los Angeles Zoo, The Huntington Library, Knott's Berry Farm theme park, and other fun places around the community. Many group members continue their newfound friendships with people beyond our meeting times.
Brian Nguyen, Director for ESSC's Glendale Adult Day Services, said this service is completely participant driven.
“Peer-to-Peer gets our participants out of their comfort zone,” Brian said. “I see a change in many of our individuals when they go out. They are a lot more social than when I first met them. Our goal is to really help provide the place for people to explore the world and make friends along the way.”
Pearl (L) and Amy (R)
Amy decided to join the Peer-to-Peer group to get out more and make new friends after losing her father and brother. Pearl joined the group for similar reasons after losing her husband. Neither of them ever imagined joining the Peer-to-Peer group would result in the rekindling of a friendship after more than three decades apart
Since reconnecting, Amy and Pearl see each other at least once a month. They enjoy meeting up at places like Starbucks and Michaels; they make bracelets and keychains together and talk about their love for The Dodgers and NCIS. They also often attend the Peer-to-Peer zoom meetings and activities and enjoy staying over at each other’s houses before some of their adventures.
Brian said Amy and Pearl's relationship is the perfect example of the Peer-to-Peer group's goal: to bring people together, make friends, and spend time outside of the Peer-to-Peer meet-up times.
"We want to get to a place where people feel comfortable making friends on their own and are independent," Brian said. "I hope Peer-to-Peer will continue on this track that allows people in the group to explore, travel, have new experiences, and decide what they want to do with their lives."
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