"How many people my age can do 15 of these?" says Mike Biglow, squatting and rising with no apparent trouble.

The former school teacher, truck driver, and grocery store cashier is 76 and feeling fine, he says moments after bouncing his way through a strength training class with 40 other older adults in Modesto.

It wasn’t always like this for Mike, a college football player many decades ago. A recent fall broke 12 ribs, and subsequent immobility left him with withered shoulder muscles, unable to lift his arms when he started exercise class a year ago.

"Now I can flex a little bicep," Mike says, grinning. "As a guy, that makes you feel good.

"And you’re meeting all sorts of friends," he continues. "This exercise class is the fastest hour of the day."

Empowering people to thrive is a hallmark of California’s 50 years of dedicated commitment to enriching the lives of older adults.