Center for Aging Services Technologies

How many times have you heard, “Only in America…?”

This weekend is the Fourth of July. Next to Christmas, it’s my favorite holiday. The spirit of it conjures up images of the best of family, friends, community and the ideas that make our country great.

My latest “only in America” story involves three of our key AAHSA staff: Lauren Shaham, Majd Alwan and Margaret Wanca-Daniels. Lauren is an Orthodox Jew, Majd a devout Muslim, and Margaret a devout Baptist. A Christian. A Jew. A Muslim.

Lauren does media relations for us and many of our members. She gets us quoted regularly in top media outlets about our issues – issues most people don’t want to talk about or deal with.

In my testimony last week before the House Ways and Means Committee, I was part of a line-up of doctors, hospital leaders and a representative from AARP. When it came time for me to speak, I told them, “I represent the issues nobody wants to deal with and everybody will face.” Lauren fights that societal denial all the time, yet we are quoted frequently in the country’s most-read publications.

As an Orthodox Jew, Lauren keeps faith with her rituals. We accommodate, yet she always sees that her duties are fulfilled at our meetings when they fall on the Sabbath, for example. I admire her faithful commitment to her traditions and rituals. I wish I were as disciplined.

Majd Alwan is our technology guru. He directs our Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), has a doctoral degree, and helped develop an applied research technology lab at a prestigious university, from which we stole him. He now helps our members develop their technology plans, works with Congress and the administration on technology policy, and helps technology companies and universities understand the missions of our members so that science can be translated into innovations that work for the people we serve. Majd keeps faith with rituals including regular prayer.

Margaret is a behind-the-scenes force at AAHSA. She sees that the exhibit halls at our meetings are full each year. She also helps our state associations sell our mission to exhibitors. Her work generates a large measure of non-dues income that allows us to support things like CAST and the Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS). She also helps us interpret our mission to the business world. None of us can serve the people we serve without a partnership with the business sector.

Lauren, Majd and Margaret represented CAST and AAHSA at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the only event of its kind in the world. It’s held in Las Vegas. CAST was asked to provide educational content around the applicability of advancing technology in an aging society.

We sold exhibits and sponsorships to help pay for this opportunity. Majd was there to educate. Lauren was there to drum up media attention. Margaret was there to help generate revenue. All three were successful.

In the midst of this huge secular event, both Majd and Lauren kept their religious rituals. She kept Sabbath. He kept his prayers. In the course of doing so, Majd learned more about the requirements of Sabbath and covered for Lauren during certain hours. Lauren returned the favor when Majd went to prayer. On the Sabbath, Majd noticed an obviously Orthodox Jewish man who could not get on the elevator. Majd stepped in to help the man get where he needed to go. Margaret observed the Majd-Lauren dynamic and talked with them about their faiths and their differences. And they all maintained a collegial working relationship. A great team, these three!

The media fills us daily with divisiveness of all kinds: negative political spin about the plight and course of our country; the dilution of long-held values of freedom, choice and responsibilities; personal flaws of public characters; even the negatives about religion. These are concerns in all of us for sure, but doubtless often overplayed for entertainment value.

But in this country, on this celebration of Independence Day, let’s realize that a Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian can work together, respect each other’s beliefs and traditions, talk about similarities and differences, and create an effective team. In America, three people of differing faiths can uphold their values even in one of the most secular of environments, without compromising their work. They can make a positive impact together for the great cause of improving the quality of life in our aging society.

AAHSA member organizations are filled with such diverse people; you each have your Laurens, Majds, and your Margarets. This weekend, celebrate and respect the common ideals you share.

A Christian, a Jew, a Muslim – No, it’s not the beginning of a joke. It’s the beginning of community based on differences, yet united by common goals.

E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. It’s on our country’s Great Seal.

Do you have an “Only in America” story to share?