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Senior in Action:
Senior in Action: Mardi Arnold
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Mardi Arnold
Mardi Arnold
Mardi Arnold
Mardi Arnold
by Marilee Marrero Stefenhagen
Can you name which state in the
U.S has the highest reported number
of human trafficking cases? If you
said CALIFORNIA, you are correct.
Mardi Arnold, a retired teacher, was
so appalled at the heartless
victimization of teen girls that she
cofounded an organization to fight
child trafficking in the San Gabriel
Valley. She explains that foster
children are specifically targeted by
human traffickers. After Mardi
talked with child victims, as young
as 12-14 years of age, she made it a
priority to raise awareness and funds
to fight this insidious crime. Up
until summer 2019, Mardi served as
Regional Director for Women
Against Child Trafficking.
Mardi Arnold, age 87, serves as
Chair of the Human Trafficking
Committee for Soroptimist
International of Azusa/Glendora. Mardi Arnold, 87
Her club is planning an event
including Soroptimist members of
Azusa, Glendora, West Covina, Covina, San Irwindale Senior Center, I take Tai Chi classes,
Dimas, and La Verne in April 2020 during a Balance Class, and do chair Yoga. I’m fortunate
National Child Abuse Prevention Month that my physical strength is quite good. I’ve
to raise awareness and funds for the fight been told I look twenty years younger than I am.
against child trafficking. The U.S. national At the Senior Center, I speak about ‘Staying
human trafficking hotline is 1-888-373-7888, Youthful’, and share the following tips:
or cell phone users may text HELP to 233733 • Exercise your mind. The brain is the
(BeFree) and initiate online chats. director of your body.
A native-born Angeleno, Mardi • Take charge of your own health. Feed
Arnold attended UCLA and earned a your body the nutrients it needs and
Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. Mardi be cautious of prescription drug side
said, “Post World War II, people went from high effects.
school straight into the workplace. It wasn’t • Have a purpose in life, and maintain
essential to hold a college or graduate degree at your appearance by dressing
that time. During the 1980 recession, it became fashionably.
difficult to import home furnishings or décor from “It all boils down to Mind-Body-Spirit. I wrote
other countries and run a profitable interior a book, and hope to publish it soon, titled 101
design business. I switched to public speaking, Tips on Staying Young. I had a health scare
and shared color psychology, based partly on five years ago, and doctors put me on all kinds of
Carole Jackson’s 1980 book, Color Me medications. The prescriptions messed with my
Beautiful. This eventually led to my 30-year mind until I couldn’t even remember the pin
teaching career. For 15 years before retirement, number to access my bank account at the ATM.
I taught fashion and retail merchandising for I recuperated at a convalescent hospital for a
Downey Unified School District. Because of the month, and came home in a wheelchair, barely
school summer vacation schedule, I opted to walking. Thankfully, I utilized my knowledge of
travel and work on Royal Princess cruise ships, natural healing and have fully recovered.”
where I gave lectures on Color: What it Says We are thankful for Mardi’s leadership
about You.” in raising awareness of child sex trafficking,
Along her life journey, Mardi and urge NBY readers to learn more and
raised three children, who are now adults support your community’s efforts to end
living in southern California. Mardi’s five human trafficking.
grandchildren, and six-month old great- For more information about the non-profits
grandchild complete her family. When mentioned, visit the websites
asked how she stays physically active, www.womenagainstchildtrafficking.weebly.com
Mardi shared her workout routine: “At the or www.Soroptimistdcr.org
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