Center in the Park
Title: Aging with Joy at Center in the Park
Student Interns:
Eddie J. Sanchez Jr.
Temple University, School of Pharmacy
Academic Preceptor:
Jerome Wright, MSW, LSW
Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
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.
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
“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.”
Eddie J. Sanchez Jr