![\"Oasis](\"https:\/\/lamesacourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/web-MAIN-Cover-C-.jpg\")
<\/a>Oasis found a perfect spot that fit the bill in Grossmont Mall. Even better, mall owners the Cushman family offered the space for the Oasis Wellness Center rent-free.<\/p>\n
To announce their new location, San Diego Oasis hosted a grand opening on Wednesday, June 7. The more than 600 people in attendance enjoyed refreshments, speakers and samples of the kinds of programs and classes the center will provide.<\/p>\n
George Chamberlain, a 20-year Oasis instructor and member of the board of directors, MC\u2019d the event and introduced the various speakers and presentations.<\/p>\n
Lori Moore, director of advertising and marketing for Grossmont Mall presented a $2,500 check to Oasis president and CEO, Simona Valenciute.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were on a 50-year ground lease that expired Jan. 11, 2015.\u00a0 We rebranded the mall with a new logo and bright colors,\u201d Moore said.\u00a0\u201cOur goal was to bring family fun and free events to the mall to help support our retailers and the local community.\u00a0We now host more than 50 events a year.\u00a0We are excited to welcome San Diego Oasis to our mall family and the La Mesa community.\u201d<\/p>\n Chief of Staff at San Diego County Board of Supervisors Salvatore Giametta brought a round of applause from the audience after he proclaimed June 7 \u201cSan Diego Oasis Day.\u201d He presented the proclamation to Valanciute as they hugged.<\/p>\n Afternoon speakers included Susan Taylor, vice president of external affairs at Scripps, who gave a presentation about \u201cGadgets, Gizmos, and Good Health.\u201d Visiting authors Suzy Spafford, creator of \u201cSuzy\u2019s Zoo,\u201d and Tom Hom also gave presentations.<\/p>\n In her presentation, Valanciute thanked Suja Juice, AT&T, Grossmont Center Mall owners the Cushman family, and First American Trust for sponsoring the grand opening. She said the purpose of the event was to inform the public San Diego Oasis is ready to meet the needs of the growing 55-plus population.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are living longer. Longer can also be lonelier,\u201d she said, adding that Oasis\u2019 goal is to keep seniors actively engaged by offering participation in various classes.<\/p>\n Valanciute also touted the new location\u2019s improvements over the third floor of the Westfield Macy\u2019s building.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re the only Oasis to have our own sign on the building,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have our own space that we built and designed.\u201d<\/p>\n Former San Diego State University professor Judy Lewis attended the grand opening of the new Oasis location. She is a longtime Oasis participant, having attended around 700 classes, including fitness.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate exercise but I love coming to Oasis,\u201d she said. \u201cI was afraid. I didn\u2019t want to look wimpy.\u201d<\/p>\n VIP reception<\/strong><\/p>\n The night before the grand opening, a special reception was held to honor the national Oasis founder and Chairman Emeritus Marylen Mann, hosted by San Diego Oasis\u2019 past director Harry Matheny.<\/p>\n Mann, who resides in St. Louis, Missouri, said the Grossmont Mall site will serve as a model for other Oasis locations and spoke to the organization\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n \u201cThe overall goals of Oasis are to improve quality of life and set a new standard of what older people are capable of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Mann then spoke about founding the organization in 1982 when she discovered that most senior programs offered only Bingo and \u201clow-level crafts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt hurt my heart,\u201d she said. \u201cThis was condescending. That started me off.\u201d<\/p>\n With a background developing college curriculum, Mann set out to help seniors \u201cage productively.\u201d<\/p>\n In 1985, with $10 million from government grants, Mann conducted a 10-year study about seniors and aging.<\/p>\n Mann discovered seniors can age productively by meeting three sets of needs \u2014 social engagement, fitness and volunteerism. Oasis is the only organization in the country to meet all three needs.<\/p>\n To address volunteerism, Mann started the country\u2019s largest intergenerational tutoring program in East Harlem. Half of a million kids have been taught to read by Oasis volunteers over the years.<\/p>\n Oasis now offers full programs in nine cities, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Albuquerque, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Rochester, Syracuse and Washington D.C. Partial programs are offered in 50 cities.<\/p>\n San Diego Oasis is located at 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, Suite 269 in La Mesa. For more information, visit SanDiegoOasis.org<\/a> or call 619-881-6262.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>