Life Under The Willow Tree Podcast By The Podcast Group at Willow Valley Communities cover art

Life Under The Willow Tree

Life Under The Willow Tree

By: The Podcast Group at Willow Valley Communities
Listen for free

About this listen

 Podcasts designed by Willow Valley residents, for Willow Valley residents, their friends & families. These podcasts are about Willow Valley residents and the people and events that surround them. Art Career Success Economics Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • E170: A Japanesse-American's WWII Experience

    E170: A Japanesse-American's WWII Experience
    Jul 3 2025
    Host: Carol MacAllister Guest: Richard Masayoshi Ikeda Description: On 2/21/1934, it was Richard’s 8th birthday when his father was taken away by the FBI. In the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor, 12/7/1941, the emotional hysteria that followed led the government to label all citizens of Japanese ancestry “enemy aliens.” Most lived on the West Coast and were American citizens. With no due process, they were incarcerated in 10 “relocation” centers throughout the West. In all, 110,000 people lost everything and were housed in horse stables and tarpaper shacks on land unfit for human habitation. Richard’s father went to Santa Fe, NM, while the rest of the family joined 9,000 others in Jerome, Arkansas. Richard recounts his life there and the mindset that enabled them all to make the best of their circumstances, all the while proving their loyalty to America by excelling in all they did. From picking beans for $ 0.35 a bushel to an illustrious 40-year career as a polymer physicist at DuPont, Richard’s tale is one of pragmatic intelligence, resilience, and determination.
    Show more Show less
    26 mins
  • E169: Staff to Resident: Carolyn Mellinger’s Enduring Impact on Willow Valley

    E169: Staff to Resident: Carolyn Mellinger’s Enduring Impact on Willow Valley
    Jun 26 2025
    Host: Carol MacAllister Guest: Carolyn Mellinger, former WV staff, now Resident Description: Carolyn Mellinger was a former staff member and is now a current resident of Willow Valley. The conversation centers on Mellinger's foundational role in establishing numerous programs and services at Willow Valley from its inception. She recounts her journey from a waitress to the first activities director, detailing how she initiated key offerings, such as mail delivery, resident handbooks, and activity programs, by actively listening to and collaborating with residents, thereby fostering a strong volunteer culture. The discussion also explores the evolution of the community's organizational structure and its prudent financial management, offering valuable historical context and a unique insider's perspective on Willow Valley's development.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • E168: The Importance of Memory Books: Linda Morley

    E168: The Importance of Memory Books: Linda Morley
    Jun 19 2025
    Host: Candee O'Donnell Guest: Linda Morley Description: This podcast episode from "Life Under the Willow Tree" features an interview with Linda Morley, a Willow Valley resident. Morley discusses her extensive career in education, highlighting how her organizational skills and experience presenting to large groups are now applied to her current volunteer work. The main focus of the interview is her initiative to create "memory books" and "five facts" displays for residents in memory care facilities like Lakeside and Cedarbrook. These personalized items, filled with annotated photos and key life facts, aim to stimulate conversation, provide comfort, and help residents with memory issues connect with their past and present. Morley also shares insights into the development of Willow Valley's new memory center, drawing inspiration from innovative European facilities, and passionately advocates for increased visitor engagement and family participation in supporting residents who may lack frequent visitors.
    Show more Show less
    22 mins
No reviews yet