Center in the Park

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Aging with Joy at Center in the Park

 

Student Intern:
Eddie J. Sanchez Jr., Temple University, School of Pharmacy

 

Academic Preceptor:
Jerome Wright, MSW, LSW, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptors:
Grace Neeld, BS, Health Promotions Supervisor, Center in the Park

Cleo Smalls, MBA, Center Director, Center in the Park

 

Community Site:
Center in the Park (CIP) is a nationally accredited nonprofit senior community center in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. Since 1968, CIP has promoted positive aging by offering skill building, social activities, and meaningful connections. The center also provides vital services such as housing counseling, energy assistance, in-home support, and long-term care ombudsman programs. CIP’s mission is to empower older adults and ensure that their voices shape the programs and community they help create.

https://centerintheparkphila.org/

 

Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked on a variety of meaningful projects to support the well-being of the older adults in the community. One of the intern’s key roles was assisting with the distribution of produce vouchers through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which helps seniors access fresh fruits and vegetables to encourage healthier eating habits and reduce long-term health risks. The intern also worked with the Health Promotion team to help implement a membership card system featuring barcodes to streamline attendance tracking, improve engagement monitoring, and better connect members to programs tailored to their needs. The team also supported the Health Promotion director in organizing and executing events across the center.

 

Reflections:

Eddie J. Sanchez Jr.: “During my BTG experience, I learned so much — not just at my site, but also during the Wednesday sessions where different speakers came to talk with us. We covered all kinds of topics like heart health, quitting smoking, how to handle tough situations calmly, and the overdose crisis. Each session taught me something new and helped me see just how many different areas public health touches. At Center in the Park, what stood out to me most was the joy and positive energy from the seniors. The center does a great job of creating a space where older adults feel welcome, involved, and part of a community. I got to sit in on several health talks given to the seniors, like how to read nutrition labels, the importance of men’s mental health, and how to stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke. I was able to present and teach the importance of oral hygiene. These talks were really eye-opening — not just for me, but for the seniors too. You could tell that a lot of them were learning new things, and they were very engaged and asking questions. It showed me how powerful it can be to share helpful information in a way people can really connect with. All in all, the BTG experience has made a positive impact on my life and showed me a different avenue of healthcare that I did not really think about. Center in the Park has taught me that I work really well with the geriatric community. I am grateful for this experience.”​

 

 

Human Good, Tioga Presbyterian Apartments

 

A Community Approach to Senior Care

 

Student Interns:
Halima Hagag, Temple University, School of Pharmacy

Omonigho Oziegbe, Temple University, School of Podiatric Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:
Jerome Wright, MSW, LSW, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:
Jackie Harvey, BA, CESC, Social Service Coordinator, Human Good, Tioga Presbyterian Apartments

 

Community Site:

Tioga Presbyterian Apartments affordable housing for senior citizens aged 62 and over. The facility is not an assisted living residence. Each resident is responsible for their individual care, but the facility does offer informative and engaging events to the residents for the purpose of education and enrichment. The facility also distributes monthly free food packages.

 

Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked to develop weekly events for the residents, and an initiative titled Resident Appreciation Month was created. Events included a health and wellness fair, a pancake breakfast, a plant potting class, and an ice cream social. The interns also coordinated other events for the residents as needed, such as a technology information session. Each event was specifically chosen through a collaborative effort between the community preceptor and the interns based on the needs of community members.

 

Reflections:

Halima Hagag and Omonigho Oziegbe: “Beginning this program, both of us were not entirely sure what was to come. The expectation seemed to be that the summer would revolve around community service, and it would be a worthy use of our time before classes began again. However, as the program comes to an end, this experience has become invaluable to both of us. To be able to come into contact with every resident and see them not as a patient case, but as an individual, put into perspective how vital it is to keep human connection and compassion at the forefront of our work as healthcare professionals. Each individual has specific needs and feelings, formed by their past experiences, relationships, and traumas. Each person is unique, and as we go on to become healthcare providers, it is important that we never forget to look at each person not just as a patient, but as an individual who sees the world through a lens we may not know — people who want to be heard and understood, with different life perspectives, are always deserving of the best of us.”

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Lutheran Settlement House

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Lutheran Settlement House

 

Student Intern:
Mariama Jawara, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:
Jerome Wright, MSW, LSW, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:
Lassiter Williams, MSS, LSW, Lutheran Settlement House

 

Community Site:
Since opening its doors in 1902, the Lutheran Settlement House has consistently served children, adults, and families in the Philadelphia area. As a nonprofit community-based organization, it has remained committed to evolving with the times by offering a wide range of programs and services. Individuals at the Lutheran Settlement House live out its core mission each day: “to empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational, and advocacy services.”

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked with both the staff and the senior members of Lutheran Settlement House. Warmly embraced by its closeknit community of older adults, the intern participated in and assisted with various classes throughout the week and spent time getting to know other members of the Fishtown community outside of the senior center, especially while helping to distribute the annual WIC farmers market vouchers. Everyone was kind, welcoming, and deeply appreciative of the services LSH provides. Lutheran Settlement House is truly a haven for the people of Fishtown.

 

Reflection:
Mariama Jawara: “My time at Lutheran Settlement House has been a real-life testament to the idiom ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ I entered this establishment knowing I would be working with an elderly population and, therefore, immediately associated them with the typical connotations that come with aging, such as having physical disabilities, potential cognitive declines, and a slower-paced lifestyle after years of enduring the rat race of the Western society. While some of these attributes may technically apply, the elders at Lutheran Settlement House have not allowed the limitations that come with age to stop them from truly living. The members of the Lutheran Settlement House are in constant motion: taking initiative with their physical well-being by participating in hour-long exercise or dance classes, engaging in invigorating conversations about today’s world and their health, volunteering to support peers in need, and continuing to serve others in ways similar to their past professions. They may not be as agile as they once were, but they persevere through it all. This experience has taught me the importance of taking the time necessary to learn about each individual because you never know what they are capable of, or what they might need help with.”

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William Way LGBT Community Center

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Aging with Pride: Supporting LGBTQ+ Elders at William Way

 

Student Intern:

Riley Scheier, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

 

Academic Preceptors:

Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

 

Community Preceptors:

Kyle Macklin, Elder Initiative Social Engagement Coordinator, William Way LGBT Community Center

Ed Miller, Elder Initiative Program Manager, William Way LGBT Community Center

 

Community Site:

Since its founding in 1976, the William Way LGBT Community Center has been dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community in Philadelphia. William Way’s Elder Initiative is focused on promoting connection, advocacy, and access to vital resources for LGBTQIA+ older adults. Through support groups, free grocery days, educational sessions, and community-building events, the initiative works to combat isolation and foster a sense of belonging among a historically marginalized population.

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern supported the daily operations of regularly scheduled programming at both the William Way LGBT Community Center and the John C. Anderson LGBTQ-friendly apartment complex. The intern assisted with weekly check-ins and informational meetings and helped to facilitate monthly events such as grocery distribution days and birthday celebrations. In addition to existing programming, the intern also contributed to the planning and preparation for the launch of the William Way Community Cupboard. This included designing a comprehensive inventory tracking spreadsheet and helping to organize and streamline the inventory management process.

 

Reflections:

Riley Scheier: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent my summer with the Elder Initiative at William Way. This experience has been both eye-opening and deeply meaningful, and I’m walking away with a wealth of new knowledge, as well as immense pride in knowing that I was able to make a positive impact. Through my interactions with my community preceptors, I learned about the complex and often overlooked challenges that LGBTQ+ elders face every day — from loneliness and social isolation to stigmatization and limited access to affirming resources. Engaging directly with community members provided me with invaluable insight, and they consistently inspired me with their stories and resilience. This experience has not only expanded my understanding of the unique needs of LGBTQ+ populations in Philadelphia but has also deepened my commitment to health equity and social justice. I leave this internship with a more open mind and a renewed drive to continue advocating for the rights of marginalized communities.”