PEACE Weaving Wholeness

Peace Weaving Wholeness

Program/Project: The Sankofa Culture and Art Wellness Village Naturally Occuring Retirement Community (NORC)
Projected # to be Served: 150 Number Served to Date: 140

Social isolation is an increasing problem amongst racial minority older adults that impacts health, well-being and cultural connections. Over the next 15 years, projections include a 73% increase in older African-Americans (Administration for Community Living, 2018). Taylor and colleagues (2016) found that in their older national adult African American sample, 20% were socially isolated from friends and family.
There is a critical need in these neighborhoods to combat isolation, and increase health and wellness, improve economic wellness, and sense of rootedness. Our long term goal is to bring older adults together through our NORC to experience a cultural community that will support them throughout the year and impact health related quality of life. We will gather and analyze data about isolation, community connection and overall health related quality of life. Compounding this is the recent COVID19 pandemic.

Our NORC supports seniors aging in place. in zip codes 63101, 63106, 63107, 63107, 63108 (one senior building), 63113, and 63115. The are also areas with some of the highest health disparities.

We are building on the arts and cultural community that currently exists in our zip codes to create a space specifically inviting for seniors to engage, feel empowered, and advocate for themselves. We use a variety of arts and cultural experiences to engage seniors. Focus group discussions from camp 2019 participants suggests that the camp was a successful method to begin this process. Focus group comments such as benefits of camp: friendship, connections, meeting new friends, camaraderie; next steps for campers: exchanged phone numbers, plan to meet monthly, become Facebook friends; camp's connection to health: reduced my isolation, wellness talks & healthy lunches a wake-up call for me, get out, be active, become engaged; camp improvements: more classes, more camp weeks, more programming, more supplies, and be more organized! This final comment speaks to our funding request for a person responsible for year round programming logistics and better organization of programs.

We understand that we must expand programming for year round engagement and continue our efforts to expand to other seniors who might not have ready access to transportation to come to us. We will go to their neighborhoods with programming, particularly in senior housing. And we need transportation funding to transport people, especially those needing lift vans, to community programming we will offer.

Program/Project Objectives and Promotion of Equity Among the Targeted Population

1. Identify the health and mental health needs and interests of seniors in the year one targeted zip codes. 100 participants will be surveyed representing all targeted zip codes.

2. Build relationships with organizations and agencies in our target area that serve seniors. We will look at services and gaps in services.10 new organizations in addition to those with whom we already engage will be surveyed about services delivered.

3. Educate organizations and agencies about needed services and gaps. After # 1 & 2 are accomplished, hold 2 meetings to begin to establish a coalition of agencies to focus on seniors and their needs

4. Through participation in educational, arts and cultural events and programs, 100 participants will be measured on: healthy eating & exercise; connection to community; sense of hope; commitment to health and mental self-care; reduced sense of isolation; gain new skills in the arts.

5. Develop a core community of 20 staff, instructors and volunteers to assist in the delivery of 1-4: with quarterly organizational meetings.