Winter 2006 Community Newsletter
Welcome from the Director
2005 was an exciting year for the Burden Center and for me personally. We developed ACT, a collaborative project with the Central Harlem Senior Citizens’ Coalition. The Burden Center has gained much through this wonderful partnership. We know that many people do not want to attend a senior center but do want to engage in activities. Cultural Connections provides an opportunity for people to attend concerts, lectures, shows and museums at reduced costs. We call this program our “Club Without Walls” because all its activities are in other settings. Please go to our website or visit our senior center if you would like more information about Cultural Connections.
On a personal note, I was thrilled to be appointed a delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on the Aging. This Conference is held once every ten years and brings together a cross section of leaders in the field of aging services from all 50 states. It was a unique experience and I learned a great deal some of which I will be able to use at the Burden Center. We also heavily rely on the tremendous advocacy work of The Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS), and I am thrilled to have been elected its new President.
I hope you not only enjoy the information contained in our newsletter but that you find it helpful as well. Please contact us with your thoughts or any questions at www.burdencenter.org. We want to hear from you.
Seniors Celebrate Valentines Day
Seniors celebrated Valentines Day with two events at the Burden Center. On the 11th over 60 seniors attended a dance sponsored by the Burden Center Associates, our volunteer group of young professionals. Amidst festive decorations at All Souls Church they danced to swing, waltz and cha-cha music and enjoyed refreshments including a sheet cake and Valentines cookies. And then on the 14th the seniors at the Carter Burden Luncheon Club were treated to a special lunch and a concert by children from the International Preschools. Both events were great fun! See photos from the dance
A New Season of Cultural Connections
Our 2006 season is off to a roaring start with offerings scheduled at Merkin Concert Hall and Primary Stages. Cultural Connections began as a collaborative effort with Lincoln Center and has developed into a diverse program of artistic and cultural events for seniors. Our Fall 2005 series grew from 3 performances at Lincoln Center to 15 offerings which included docent tours at the Metropolitan and Dahesh Museums as well as Broadway and Off-Broadway productions – a 400% increase in offerings. We have tripled our mailing list and the response to our enhanced offerings has been outstanding. We plan to expand further as we consider events at Avery Fisher Hall, the Ballet and Opera.
Cultural Connections program details
Looking Back on a Festive Holiday
On Christmas Day, the Carter Burden Luncheon Club was overflowing with tasty treats, festive music, and good people lending a helping hand and celebrating the holiday season. Carolers sang as over 75 volunteers decorated the room, trimmed the tree, and served food to our seniors. The main course was Cornish hen, with mashed potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, broccoli spears, and semolina rolls. Wine and cider were on hand, as well as plenty of dessert, provided by our board members: Cookies, cake, strawberry mousse, cupcakes, and pies. On their way out, each senior received a poinsettia and a goodie bag which featured donations from the folks at Colgate/Palmolive. Volunteers also delivered nearly 200 meals to the homebound. Each meal came with gifts, treats, and a card.
More opportunities to volunteer
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know will bring me to specific homes so I can visit with some of the seniors I've become attached to over time. Working with the Associates provides even more opportunities for me to participate in social or cultural events with the seniors which, hopefully, shows them how much they're appreciated by the younger generations."