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THE NASLUND & NASLUND FOUNDATION
HELPING US TO CHANGE LIVES
JUNE NEWSLETTER
LIGHT OF HOPE / ISSUE 36 / JUNE - 2026
Focusing on Community Integration for Adults with Diverse Abilities
The Earth Revolves To Summer
welcomING THE SEASON WITH OPEN ARMS !
IN FOCUS
Zahamit K.
Zahamit "Z" has found the perfect place to increase the quality of her life: Light of Hope!
Z finds great enjoyment at the LOH program where she gets to join her best friend, Katy S. in a game of bowling or a favorite meal at The Habit Restaurant, and ahe also loves getting acquainted with the other participants in the program.
With her favorite support guide, Diego, Z and Katy enjoy the rides to the Ronald Reagan Library, engage in baseball, art, music expressions, or sit peacefully watching a favorite movie.
Z is also a member of a cheering and dancing squad outside of LOH program.
We are happy to have Zahamit with us!
DAYS OF JUNE
The day was June 6, 1944 when Allied forces, (American, British, and Canadian troops), landed on the beaches of Normandy, France to fight Nazi Germany. This landing have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe.
NATIONAL FLAG DAY
This month on June 14th, Americans honor and celebrate the adoption of the U.S. flag, The Stars and Stripes (adopted June 14, 1777), which represents unity, strength and national identity.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/flag-day-and-national-flag-week-2025/
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, establishing that all enslaved people shall be free. Two and a half years later, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were ensured their freedom on June Nineteenth.
Honor Our Dads
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Third Sunday in June, it's finally here!
A day to celebrate and cheer.
To honor our Dads, we gather around,
With love and support that knows no bounds.
Thank you for being there through thick and thin,
For teaching us right from wrong, again and again.
We cherish the memories we've made for you,
And hope this Father's Day is extra special too!
Why Was June Made
by Annette Wynne
Why was June made?—Can you guess?
June was made for happiness!
Even the trees
Know this, and the breeze
That loves to play
Outside all day,
And never is too bold or rough,
Like March's wind, but just a tiny blow's enough;
And all the fields know
This is so—
June was not made for wind and stress,
June was made for happiness;
Little happy daisy faces
Show it in the meadow places,
And they call out when I pass,
"Stay and play here in the grass."
June was made for happy things,
Boats and flowers, stars and wings,
Not for wind and stress,
June was made for happiness!
SAFETY FIRST
This month, LOH participants will engage in a discussion about safety rules and measures. We aim to ensure that everyone is informed about the precautions necessary for staying safe, whether the face of natural disasters, man-made crises or potential risks we may create ourselves. This will be an inclusive roundtable discussion!
CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH!
AMELIA B. CADY T.
HILLARY S. JOSEPHINE R. OWEN O. ERIC M.
SUMMER SOLSTICE
JUNE SOLSTICE (Sunday, June 21st)
"In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice (aka summer solstice) occurs when the Sun travels along its northernmost path in the sky. This marks the astronomical start of summer in the northern half of the globe.
This solstice occurs when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Poleis at its maximum tilt toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day (the longest period of sunlight hours) and the shortest night of the calendar year.
Solstice comes from the Latin words sol ("sun") and sistere ("to stand still"). Due to earth's tilted axis, the Sun doesn't rise and set at the same locations on the horizon each morning and evening; its rise and set positions move northward or southward in the sky as Earth travels around the Sun through the year. Also, the Sun's track in the sky becomes higher or lower throughout the year. The June solstice is significant because the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky at this time, at which point the Sun's path does not change for a brief period of time.
After the solstice, the Sun appears to reverse course and head back in the opposite direction. The motion referred to here is the apparent path of the Sun when one views its position in the sky at the same time each day, for example, at local noon. Over the year, its path forms a sort of flattened figure eight, called an analemma. Of course, the sunitself is not moving (unless you consider its orbit around the Milky Way galaxy); instead, this change in position in the sky that we on Earth notice is caused by the tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun, as well as Earth's elliptical, rather than circular, orbit."
Note: In the Southern Hemisphere (Australia, Antarctica, most of South America, parts of Africa and Asia), the June solstice marks the beginning of winter.
https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-summer-summer-solstice
THE THINGS WE DO!
Join us each month as we carefully curate meaningful experiences designed to connect, inspire, and support our community. From local outings to exciting trips, every adventure embodies our mission to foster joy, learning, and a genuine sense of belonging. We invite you to be a part of these enriching moments that bring us closer together.
VENTURA HARBOR
What better way to enjoy the beauty of the day than out on the water! Light of Hope participants scrambled to the vans and away they ventured to Ventura Harbor. While some preferred exploring from shop to shop and taking a stroll along the beach, others settled for a sail upon the waters. It was a peaceful day for all!
Amelia B. taking a go at steering while the Captain looks on.
Spending time on the water was a relaxing experience for all!
THE THEATRICS OF IT ALL
Staging a production is not an easy task, not even a small one. It takes many hours of rehearsals, rewrites, choosing the correct music and backdrops, staging, costumes, props, and all of those incidentals that pop up! That is why Light of Hope participants and staff have gotten an early start on our Christmas Production. We will be working diligently to stage a great show for our families and friends.
The production will be staged at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.
LIFE IS SO AMAZING!
LOH participant, Eden R. receives assistance from support Guide, Marin.
Life is truly wonderful, and we are dedicated to empowering LOH participants to engage actively in their lives. Our support team is always available to assist each individual with whatever they need. There’s no room for just watching from the sideline; everyone is encouraged to join in on the scheduled activities. Whether it’s helping a client hit a ball or lending a hand during lunch, we’re here to ensure LOH participants have enjoyable days.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Zulema Lopez
Zulema "Zuly" was selected as Employee of the Month in recognition of her outstanding dedication, professionalism, and consistent commitment to providing quality support to Light of Hope clients. She demonstrates a strong understanding of her role and continuously creates a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for participants. Her attention to each individual's needs and the care she puts into her work reflect the high standards she brings to her position evry day.
Zuly maintains excellent communication with management, staff, and participants, contributing to a positive and respectful team environment. She is dependable, adaptable, and always willing to assist wherever support is needed. She works effectively, independently, remains calm during changes or challenging situations, and consistently maintains a professional and positive attitude.
Her patience, compassion, respectability, and strong problem-solving skills continue to make a meaningful impact on both clients and the team. She is truly appreciated for her kindness and the positive energy she brings into the workplace. In addition, she also shares her creativity and talent as the program's dance teacher, further enriching the experiences of the participants.
Zuly, we are so grateful to have you as an employee of the Light of Hope program. We hope to have you with us for a long time.
SUNFLOWER PHASES
It is almost time for the sunflowers to bloom and many of us love to look at or decorate with sunflowers, but we also enjoy eating a handful of sunflower seeds as a snack. Let us take a look at the "life of the sunflower."
Germination Phase: The best time to plant sunflowers is in the late spring when the ground is warm. The germination phase begins immediately after you plant your seedlings. The entire germination phase lasts for eight days and is where the roots of your sunflowers develop in the soil.
Vegetative Phase: After germination comes the vegetative phase. During this phase, the sunflower seedling starts to sprout tiny leaves that are known as the "vegetative emergence."
Reproductive Phase: JUNE isnormally when the reproductive phase starts. This phase starts when your sunflower starts to form a bud between the leaves that has a srar-like appearance. The end of this phase is when the bud transforms into the typical sunflower look you know and finally enters the blooming phase.
Blooming Phase: Immediately at the end of the reproductive phase starts the blooming phase where you're able to enjoy your sunflower in all its glory for about 20 days.
Harvesting Phase: The last phase of the sunflower blooming process is harvesting the seeds to eat. This phase occurs between 110 to 125 days after planting your flowers when the leaves have turned brown and the flower is drooping.
Info from: https://www.thespruce.com/when-do-sunflowers-bloom-8643199
BRAIN HEALTH
Taking time to unwind both the mind and body is essential for overall health. We need moments to heal from within. The brain acts as the command center of our nervous system, similar to a computer's mainframe that processes vast amounts of information. Just like computers require regular maintenance to avoid crashing, we too must prioritize relaxation. While maintaining a healthy diet and staying hydrated is crucial, engaging in activities like art, reading, and meditation can support brain health by stimulating and calming the mind, providing essential peace and tranquility.
Viewing art is also peaceful!
FUN FACTS FOR JUNE!
June was named after the Roman goddess, Juno, the goddess of marriage.
Before Caeser's rise to power, the calendar had only ten months, June was the fourth.
June is a popular month for weddings.
June has its own beetle named after it: the June bug, which is found in the USA between May and June. June bugs survive on a diet of plants and shrubbery.
The birth flowers for June are the rose and the honeysuckle. They symbolize love, generosity, and affection.
June has the most daylight hours!
https://www.funfactsabout.com/fun-facts-about-june/
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THE NASLUND & NASLUND FOUNDATION
LIGHT OF HOPE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION PROGRAM
28030 DOROTHY DRIVE, SUITE 206, AGOURA HILLS, CA 91301
(818) 879-4673