Blog Archive
August 2026
Really Irene?
08/15/2026
There Is A Risk
08/09/2026
2026 Year in Review
08/03/2026
A Message From Your Newly Elected President
08/03/2026
Neighborhoods Within the Village
08/03/2026
Treasurer’s Report
08/03/2026
An Even Exchange
08/01/2026
July 2026
The 3:00 AM Trip to the Bathroom
07/30/2026
A New Year, A New Board of Directors
07/01/2026
Home Sweet Home...No Moving Required
07/01/2026
How Did You Get Here?
07/01/2026
Scams, Frauds, AI…Oh No, Not Again
07/01/2026
Two's Company!
07/01/2026
Village Magic
07/01/2026
June 2026
Ability Resource Fair - A.R.F.!
06/01/2026
Goals, Priorities and Tasks. Oh, My!
06/01/2026
Jabber-Walkies
06/01/2026
LGBTQ+ Bars: A Book-talk
06/01/2026
Ladies Who Lunch
06/01/2026
President’s Message
06/01/2026
April 2026
Altadena’s Coyote Comeback
04/29/2026
Catch it Before it's Gone!
04/29/2026
Legacy Project
04/29/2026
Not Too Old To Get Carded
04/29/2026
President's Message
04/29/2026
Stuck in Milwaukee - Airplane Travel 2026
04/29/2026
The Art Journaling Workshop
04/29/2026
Think You're Losing Your Mind?
04/29/2026
Visiting The Getty
04/29/2026
March 2026
My Home For Now
03/30/2026
My Home for Now
03/30/2026
Do I Really Need a Will and/or a Trust?
03/26/2026
Everybody Needs a Blankie
03/26/2026
Kickoff: Prepared 50+ Emergency Preparedness
03/26/2026
The Birth of an Archive for Pasadena Village
03/26/2026
Too Smart to be Scammed?
03/26/2026
“I DIDN’T KNOW THAT!” A Refresher Course
03/26/2026
Across the Waiting Room
03/11/2026
February 2026
Status - February 28, 2026
02/28/2026
AI Presentation
02/26/2026
Exploring the “Cheech”
02/26/2026
Mary Mejia is Here to Make a Difference
02/26/2026
One Year On
02/26/2026
President’s Message – March 2026
02/26/2026
January 2026
Hearts & Limbs in Zambia
01/28/2026
Lost Trees of Altadena Return Home
01/28/2026
President's Message: WHY the Village Works
01/28/2026
TV: Behind the Scenes
01/28/2026
Trauma to Triumph
01/28/2026
Vital Signs Are Stable, Dr. Melba Swafford
By Blog Master · Posted 03/22/2021
--- Notes thanks to Sharon Jarrett ---
The 1619 Project Discussion Group met on March 19th. There were 18 participants.
The 1619 Project Discussion Group met on March 19th. There were 18 participants.
Dr. Melba Swafford was the speaker for the meeting which was recorded and will be on the group's blog.
Dick Myers introduced Dr. Swafford indicating her formal biography and link to her book, Vital Signs Are Stable: A Black Woman's Journey Through Life, are on the blog.
Dr. Swafford began by saying she wrote the book to help others in the belief that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
She shared details of her family and upbringing in Smokey City, Texas. Her family were initially farmers who moved to the city. Her parents worked as a janitor and housecleaner. The transition from rural to urban life was a challenging one. Most notable was the lack of familiarity with "the norms of white life" which left the family "isolated". The family had no access to written documents, telephones, running water, electricity or indoor plumbing. Life was led in the neighborhood and on the streets which Dr. Swafford described as consisting of watermelon skates, sticks for baseball bats, tree climbing, firefly catching and pools made using the family wash tub..."Everyone knew everyone and all adults watched children.".
Dr. Swafford attended segregated elementary and high schools. In high school she was exposed to African American students from more affluent families and to the idea of attending college. With the assistance of one teacher in particular she applied to Howard University which she attended. In her sophomore year her mother died after being removed from life support following a brain bleed. The uncaring treatment by medical staff was to have future effects on Dr. Swafford's life choices.
Upon graduation, Dr. Swafford worked in computer programming for IBM and NASA. However, the idea of becoming a physician continued to be in her mind. She entered a program to complete the pre med courses she lacked and was admitted to Howard Medical School.
After graduation, Dr. Swafford entered her intern and residency program in what she described as a " white male bastion of male superiority". Dr. Swafford shared many examples from her experiences having to be "twice as good in order to survive."
She concluded with her work since retirement. She works to ensure African American students are supported in high school, encouraged to attend college and to enter medical school. At the conclusion of her talk, Dr. Swafford answered questions and engaged in conversation with the participants.
Click on "Vital Signs Are Stable" to watch Dr. Swafford's presentation. You can purchase "Vital Signs Are Stable," at, Vroman's ( our local Pasadena bookstore).
Click on "Vital Signs Are Stable" to watch Dr. Swafford's presentation. You can purchase "Vital Signs Are Stable," at, Vroman's ( our local Pasadena bookstore).
