Learn more about the Central Harlem Senior Citizens' Center!

In Josefina Blackburn talks a bit about the Central Harlem Senior Citizens’ Center. She mentions that the Center came about because of the Older Americans Act in 1965, a year after the Civil Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. SHe also mention that it also came about through several Black Activist, such as Charlie Rangel, Percy Sutton, and Elois T. Banks (who is one of the founders of the Center and is the current Co-Chairperson of the Center). She tells us that the main purpose of the Center is to have seniors always doing things. The way the center accomplishes this is by having classes and certain programming that will keep them involved in the Center, as well as being healthy. One special program that the Center does hold is the intergenerational program, where they have children come visit the Center and have them interact with the seniors. It gives new perspective to both demographics and they both learn new things from each other. There is no cost to the Center, all the money the Center receives is all through donations and federal/state grants. However, Josefina does mention that during meals, the seniors do have the choice of making a $1.50 donation to the Center. The Center does a good job what they do with the little staff that they have. According to Josefina, they currently have 8 full-paid staff members, and the rest of the people there are all volunteers.