Tea Party, K-Pop and Pets

November 2025

Putting the Tea in Community

Longtime Momentum client RiseBoro Community Partnership takes every word of its name to heart. The Brooklyn-based organization is known for its affordable housing, but it also supports the communities it’s in with youth centers and gathering places for older residents.

It recently held a Tea Party at one of its Older Adult Centers, and RiseBoro CEO Kieran Harrington had to be there. The party was a social gathering designed to bring older adults together for an afternoon of conversation, music and connection. Similar events occur regularly at RiseBoro’s 10 Older Adult Centers and clubs, each providing a welcoming space for older adults to stay engaged with each other.

RiseBoro’s centers offer a wide range of activities, including yoga, Zumba, ballroom dance, stretching, Tai Chi, chair aerobics and falls prevention classes to members of all backgrounds.

The centers also help members manage their chronic health conditions through free screenings, health education workshops, nutrition education and access to food pantries.

The centers give older adults the opportunity to share their talents while learning new skills through arts, technology, language and special interest classes. Services are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and French — a tangible example of RiseBoro’s commitment to community.

Non-Working Animals Make Life Better

Anyone who has ever welcomed a furry friend into their home knows the joy, love and chaos that walks through the door with them. Whether it’s a cat, dog, rabbit or reptile, pets enrich our lives and entertain us, and also support our mental and physical health.

It’s well documented that service and therapy animals — dogs, cats, even horses — soothe, comfort and guide their respective owners. But even untrained pets (including your naughty feline who rips up the carpet) relieve stress and anxiety, reduce loneliness and boost our moods. Decreased stress leads to lower blood pressure and better heart health, and the routines our pets establish for us (feeding and walking, for example) help us get better sleep and more exercise.

The comfort and connection we create with our pets also help children develop social and emotional skills and help older adults age healthier, with lowered risk of dementia and depression. It’s no wonder that nearly 70% of all Americans own at least one pet. You’d almost be silly not to.

Here are some of Momentum’s little friends:

Melba Halper likes to explore Brooklyn with Media Supervisor Zach Halper.

Read (The Contract) Hughes, a pal of Assistant Account Executive Caroline Hughes, is too big to live in her human-sized house.

Ziggy Siaw having a ball (and more) in the home of Account Director Kylee Siaw.

Enzo Bonanno, 16, with his best friend and wrestling partner, Poppy Smith, 5. They live with Senior Editor & Strategist Andrew Smith.

Cartoons and the Joy of Animation

One of Senior Account Executive Ogo Sylla’s guilty pleasures is cartoons. He makes his case:

My latest watch, K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix, reminded me why I’ve always loved animated shows. It’s got everything: catchy songs, sharp writing and a surprisingly heartfelt story. It’s also a great example of how animation, in any form, can deliver something special.

I’ve always had a lot of love for cartoons. Back in Senegal, when Cartoon Network first aired in the late 1990s, I’d spend whole days watching Wacky Racers, The Flintstones, SWAT Kats and others… the Zoomers wouldn’t know. It was all in English, no subtitles. I only got about half of it at first, but it built the foundation of my English vocabulary long before I ever took a class.

These days, I watch everything from PBS Kids with my two-year-old daughter to DC’s animated movies, and of course anime. There’s a flavor of animation for everyone — and if you haven’t yet, give K-Pop Demon Hunters a try. It’s seriously good.

Make it about Taylor

Assistant Account Executive Caroline Hughes knows in her soul that Taylor Swift speaks for us all, especially on social media. But let’s let Caroline explain:

There is a time and a place – and a method – for taking a less formal approach on social media and stepping into the weird, wild world of pop culture. While working, my personal life mantra of “How can I make this about Taylor Swift?” turns into “What does my client have in common with Taylor Swift?” The key to balancing a nonprofit’s respected image with an approachable, internet-savvy tone that appeals to a wider (and younger) audience is finding the right entry point.

There’s a playfulness to social media that many serious brands and nonprofits shy away from, but not joining the game means sidelining your organization’s message. Social media is, well, social.

Want to hear more? Read Caroline’s blog on the topic.