Our team
Margriet DeLange, Project Director
Margriet DeLange is a Certified Professional Gerontologist and insightful educator and presenter. She holds a Master’s degree in Gerontology from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from J.F. Kennedy University, and was selected at both Universities as Alumni of the Year (2007 and 2014).
Margriet founded StoriesUnfolding in 2006, and has since enjoyed bringing together hundreds of participants to connect through the sharing of personal life stories.
Starting 2006 until her retirement in 2017, Margriet has taught Gerontology courses at Foothill College in Los Altos, San Francisco State University and J.F.K. University.
Her experience also includes working with the Santa Clara Country Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) as the Community Organizer for the project Protecting Our Elders: an Interfaith Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect.
In 2016, in response to the alarming prevalence of senior loneliness and isolation, Margriet, in collaboration with CAFE’s Director, Dr. Anabel Pelham, launched SIPP, the Senior Inclusion and Participation Project.
Debbie Ulanday, Project Manager
With over two decades of experience in the eldercare field, Debbie Ulanday has been a passionate advocate for the older adult population. Her mission is to create inclusive spaces where seniors feel heard, valued, and part of a vibrant community.
Debbie's commitment to the elderly began in her youth, volunteering at numerous Senior events. Her dedication led her to be appointed as the Senior Services Community Director during her college years. Her professional journey includes an administrative role at an Assisted Living Facility, training caregivers at a Homecare Services company, and pursuing education in Gerontology. As Project Manager at SIPP, Debbie continues to fulfill her lifelong calling to foster supportive environments for seniors to thrive.
Jillian Gorsuch, Project Manager
Jillian has volunteered with Seniors for over 2 decades. She started visiting home bound members of her community with her parents in elementary school and continues to volunteer with Seniors through SIPP today.
Jillian first learned about the organization by volunteering at a Senior Tech Event after moving to California. Having experienced some extended health issues in her own family, she recognizes the importance of SIPP in creating events that foster a caring community and multigenerational friendships. She brings her passion for connecting and caring for others coupled with her engineering background to her volunteer work for SIPP.
Susan Lewis, Project Associate
Susan Lewis loves helping older adults achieve optimum health and wellness.She is currently working for the Center for Age-Friendly Excellence, providing technical assistance for all 15 Santa Clara County cities engaged in the process of receiving their Age-Friendly designation from the World Health Organization.
Previously, she was a task force member and lay leader for Protecting Our Elders, an interfaith elder abuse and neglect project of the Santa Clara County Department of Aging and Adult Services and the Archstone Foundation.Susan’s education includes: B.A. in Sociology, AA in Adaptive Fitness Therapy and Career Certificates in Gerontology and Adaptive Aquatics.
Susan Roche, Project Associate
Susan Roche has lived in Los Altos for 31 years. As a BAT leader in her neighborhood she has re-discovered the value of a supportive network of neighbors helping to build a better community.
By also becoming a SIPP associate she hopes to foster the idea of inclusion by encouraging other BAT leaders to reach out to seniors and make sure they are getting the resources and support they need.