Always innovative and forward-thinking, John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida is an international award-winning Life-Plan Retirement Community that is proud of its robust programming, thanks to Jody Leshinsky, Life Enrichment Manager at JKV for the past 3 years.

Jody’s passion for planning exceptional activities for JKV residents shines when she introduces a cultural event or new program. “Every day is an adventure,” she says.

She has elevated the programming at JKV, bringing in an impressive lineup of local, regional, national, and international performers. Notable guests include Grammy Award-winning flutist Nestor Torres, Latin jazz sensation Tito Puente, Jr., the renowned Miami City Ballet, and the South Florida Symphony, to name a few.

Beyond performances, Jody has brought art installations to the campus, both with residents’ work and shows by local artists through our partnership with ArtServe. She has expanded arts and educational opportunities for residents, offering a diverse range of creative cultural classes. Residents can explore watercolor, acrylic, fused glass, gel painting, life drawing, pastel drawing, and tile and mosaic.

Other classes include sign language, Spanish lessons, group vocal instruction, ukulele classes, improv, monologue, as well as mindfulness and wellness workshops.

Through these initiatives, Jody continues to enrich residents’ lives, fostering a vibrant and engaging community.

Jody began her career in Broward County Parks and Recreation in 1981, and then moved to the Broward Cultural Division, the designated local arts agency for Broward County in 1986.  She retired from County government after 30 years and switched to the nonprofit world where she worked with the company responsible for the Pompano Beach Amphitheater and the opening of the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The following year, she was hired to run two cultural organizations for the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.

Most recently, Jody was the Cultural Venues Programming Manager for the newly created Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department where she was responsible for the programming of four cultural venues, the Green Market Pompano Beach, Old Town Untapped, and Pompano Beach Jazz Fest.

As someone deeply embedded in the Pompano community, Jody knew that JKV was growing exponentially, and its new Pavilion would include a 330-seat Cultural Arts Center. With this performance space, JKV was ready for a new level, and higher frequency, of hosting world-class events. With her many years of experience in the Broward arts scene, she knew she wanted to be part of the future of JKV.

“We have an exciting year ahead full of wonderful events and performances that include our jazz series, film lectures, life-long learning opportunities, and performers that include MusicFor America, Fushu Daiko Japanese Drumming Troupe, Dance NOW! Miami, Jason Hudy Magic, Across the Universe Beatles tribute band and so much more,” Jody states.

To see our full schedule of Cultural Arts Events, visit our events page.

We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, remarkable residents and exceptional team members who all make JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.

John Knox Village of Florida, Inc. (JKV) sets itself apart from most senior living communities as one of the few in the country to offer an on-site employee to provide personalized, authoritative technology assistance for its residents.

To meet the growing needs of its nearly 1,000 residents, JKV brought Jason Cook on board as Technology Engagement Coordinator in 2023. Jason plays a crucial role, making technology more accessible and understandable for residents.

Jason’s approach to offering group classes and one-on-one instruction highlights his commitment to ensuring all residents stay connected with evolving technology. His ability to offer tailored support makes him an indispensable figure at JKV, especially given the complexity that technology can present to seniors.

According to CIO, Chuck Williams, “I receive messages all the time from residents who tell me how Jason has helped them better understand their ever-changing technology devices or fixed an issue. He makes his private sessions and classes informative and entertaining, sharing funny jokes and making technology easy to understand.”

Among the many challenges Jason addresses, he teaches residents how to get the most out of their smartphones and smartwatches, how to recover lost or forgotten passwords, how to use Bluetooth speakers and voice-activated tools like Alexa, and how to file taxes electronically. Jason also teaches residents how to use JKV’s online portal for event sign-ups, viewing meeting minutes, making restaurant reservations for on-campus dining, accessing the community bulletin board, and more.

“Some of the most popular topics residents ask about are on how to be safer online, how to order an Uber or Lyft driver, how to order through Instacart and Amazon, write with Chat GPT assistance, and how to pay for parking when out and about,” states Jason. “Many doctors are using online portals to manage their patients’ care, so I help residents sign up for sites like Trinity Health’s MyChart to give them access to their healthcare information and to make online appointments with their doctors,” he adds.

Jason’s ability to blend entertainment with informative support ensures that residents not only solve their technology issues but also feel confident in using their devices. His role exemplifies how technology can improve the quality of life in senior living communities by fostering independence and engagement through accessible education and assistance.

Get to know us and come see how Jason and the rest of the JKV community are best-in-class. 

We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal tour.

One of the many things that sets John Knox Village apart from other senior communities is the level of experience and dedication you’ll find among our team members. We’d like to introduce you to one of them.

Meet Ulas Gungor, Food & Beverage Director, Level II Certified Sommelier and Spirits expert, and soon-to-be Florida State University Certified Dietitian Manager.

Since coming to JKV, Ulas’ enthusiasm and dedication to service and fresh cuisine have made him extremely popular and appreciated by residents and deeply respected by the staff.

Under his direction, the two additional dining destinations at JKV have opened with great success. Westlake, the new luxury apartment towers, has an amenity-filled first floor for all residents featuring BV’s French Press Coffee and Wine Bar and the Westlake Eatery, an open-air fast-casual restaurant with multiple stations serving made-from-scratch breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

Ulas can often be seen working and supporting his team at both new restaurants and the other 6 dining locations throughout the day.

Notably, when Ulas was learning about the higher care residences at JKV (Gardens West Assisted Living, The Woodlands, and Seaside Cove Skilled Nursing Center), he observed how the food was being prepared and immediately became motivated to enhance its quality.

With encouragement from JKV’s Chief Dietitian Beth Iserson, Ulas enrolled in classes at Florida State University to become a Certified Dietitian Manager, with only weeks to go until he graduates. According to Ulas, “I was inspired by how the food was being prepared in healthcare and know how important nutrition is for our most vulnerable residents. I’m excited to bring elevated ideas in dining to the healthcare settings, as well as to all the dining establishments at JKV.”

Ulas employs his sommelier and dining experience to host special tasting events for JKV residents, which always sell out very quickly. Recent sold-out events include a French-inspired Wine & Steak Dinner, Spirits Tasting & Food Pairing, and a Mediterranean Dinner & Wine Pairing.

Ulas states, “My passion is to take care of residents and give them unforgettable moments for many years to come. With wine pairings, special dinners, TED talks and so much more.”

Ulas is from Istanbul, Turkey, and at the age of 12, he began helping his mother cook. At age 16, he went to Cordon Bleu Istanbul and received his Sous Chef certificate. After moving to the U.S., he had an opportunity to work at Virginia Technical University as a catering and dining room manager while serendipitously receiving a free education in hotel and restaurant management. He then traveled throughout the United States to work in a variety of restaurants as a cook and server. It was then that he fell in love with wine. He proceeded to earn his Level II sommelier certificate from Northern Virginia Community College.

As an award-winning Life Plan Community in Pompano Beach, Florida, John Knox Village (JKV) is always looking for ways to be innovative and relevant for all residents. At the top of most residents’ lists when they are researching moving to a senior community is the quality and nutritional value of the food served.  Thanks to the dedication of Ulas and his team, with their thoughtful menus and innovative, delicious dishes, JKV residents can experience fine dining without having to leave campus.

Get to know us and come see how Ulas and the rest of the JKV community are best-in-class. 

We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal tour.