For 50 years, the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission (NKCAC) has played a pivotal role in shaping Northern Kentucky, and now the agency has stepped forward to manage the operations of three senior centers formerly operated by the now-defunct Senior Services of Northern Kentucky.
NKCAC was awarded a contract from the NKY Area Development District to manage the day-to-day operations as well as the strategic direction of Senior Centers located in Elsmere, Ludlow and Williamstown.
“Adults over the age of 60 are a critical population that deserve to have the resources and opportunities to live a healthy, productive, engaged life. Managing these senior centers was a natural extension of our work because it complements the senior employment programs we’ve been managing for years,” said Florence Tandy, Executive Director of the NKCAC.
The Centers will continue to provide meal and nutrition programs, information assistance, health and wellness programs, social and recreational activities, and educational opportunities. In addition, NKCAC will focus on volunteer and civic engagement opportunities which connect seniors to their communities in positive, productive ways while also improving the physical condition of the Centers and the equipment available at each location.
“Our vision is to raise the level of impact we are having on lives of the Seniors who attend the Centers as well as the communities in which the Centers are located. Each Center has the opportunity to be a convening point for the entire community. We see the Elsmere and Ludlow community resources as natural locations for family reunions, baby showers, civic and corporate meetings. We are committed to being a central figure in the communities we serve,” stated Tandy.
In order to ensure the facilities are properly equipped to support Seniors as well as community needs, a “wish list” identifying equipment, furniture, and programmatic needs has been developed; and, community-wide contributions are being sought.
This overall vision has excited community partners and long-time supporters of seniors.
“I am pleased that the Elsmere Senior Center will be managed by a professional, community focused organization like NKCAC that has a strong reputation for providing valuable services. Without the support of the NKADD and NKCAC, Elsmere would have had to take on operating the senior center, which would have been a budgetary strain. And, the vision NKCAC has presented for the center is exciting and creative,” said Elsmere Mayor Marty Lenhof.
NKCAC has hired Rhonda Chisenhall as the Senior Centers Program Director, overseeing the Ludlow, Elsmere and Williamstown locations.
Chisenhall has extensive experience in marketing, community engagement, volunteer management and development. She comes to the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission after a 23 year career with the American Cancer Society where she held positions in fundraising, state-wide Development, Marketing, and Training, as well as several high level leadership positions for the organization.