Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging

Cleo L. Smalls, Center Director

David Griffith, Director of Development

Mary Jo McKay, Nutrition and Wellness Manager

Michelle Quiroga Diaz, Vice President, Programs & Services

Heather Marriott, Program Specialist, Center for Healthy Aging

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Kris Kelly, Director of Partnerships

Junne Esguerra, Program Manager

Marilyn Jo Daily-Blair, Director

Jenny Macias, Director of Program Initiatives

Jason Champion, President

Heather Marriott, Program Specialist, Center for Healthy Aging

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Nancy Z. Henkin, Ph.D, Senior Fellow

Tina Doyle, Director

Fredda Johnson, Director of Engagement

Heather Marriott, Program Specialist, Center for Healthy Aging

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Margot Merrick, CEO and Co-Founder

Debbie Koepsel, Chief Operating Officer

Erin Koebler, LCSW, CMC, Director

Kevin Weber, Office Manager

Mike Wilson, Director

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Donya Currie, Senior Editor, NCOA

Jennifer Reynolds, Director of the Bernardston

Patricia A. Watts, Director of Senior Services, Municipal Agent for the Elderly

Jodi Savage, Program Coordinator

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Jim Dalbec, Assistant Director

Kristin Crockett, Director

Susan Parady, Essex Council on Aging Board Member

Tess Leary, Director (and former Outreach Coordinator)

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Chris Hamilton, President

Angel Montoya, Recreation Division Manager

Kimberly Post, Senior Center Supervisor

Zachary Davis, Student Manager, Tech Help Program

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Marchele Jenkins, Executive Director

Darren Hotton, Associate Director of Community Health and Benefits

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Mary Jo Riley, Senior Center Supervisor

Mike Wilson, Director

Joanne Moore, Director

Join us for this NISC Programs of Excellence Series featuring the winning programs in the Health and Wellness category. We will also be joined by Kathy Cameron, Senior Director of NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging.

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Highlight best practices from Programs of Excellence programs.
2. Describe innovative, creative, and impactful health and wellness programs for older adults.
3. Share innovative ways senior centers have made meaningful impact in health and wellness for older adults. 

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging

Paula Woischke, MS, Director

Boliver Choi, Program Supervisor

Join us for the second webinar in our NISC Programs of Excellence Series featuring the winning programs in the Intergenerational category.

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Highlight best practices from Programs of Excellence programs.
2. Describe innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults.
3. Share innovative ways senior centers have made meaningful multigenerational engagement. 

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Nancy Z. Henkin, Ph.D, Senior Fellow

Pat DiGrigoli, Senior Center Director

Paula Woischke, MS, Director

Barbara Franke, Senior Center Director

Every year NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. Join us for our Programs of Excellence webinar series where we highlight each category with a presentation by a subject matter expert and the winning programs.

This webinar features the Marketing and Public Relations category. This award category highlights the innovative ways senior centers have reached their communities—through marketing campaigns, branding, positioning, and outreach that has raised the visibility of the center, attracted new participants, or brought in new partners. Special emphasis is placed on those efforts that helped to get people back into the senior center after pandemic closures.

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Highlight best practices from Programs of Excellence programs.

2. Describe innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults.

3. Analyze innovative ways senior centers have reached their communities through marketing campaigns and public relations. 

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Christina K. Crain, M.S.W., Executive Director

Jackie Thomas, Senior Content Strategist

Jessica Migneault, Assistant Director of Senior Services

Join us for the last webinar in our 2022 Programs of Excellence series. We will feature the top programs in two categories – Technology and Hybrid Programming. And stay tuned for information about the 2023 Programs of Excellence series!

Technology

• Winner: Technology Makers Space—Woodbury Senior Center, Woodbury, Connecticut
• Honorable mention: Tech Talks—Ateaze Senior Center, Baltimore, Maryland  

Hybrid Programming

• Winner: Wellness Workshop Without Walls—Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud, Minnesota
• Honorable mention: Senior Center Without Walls—Sowega Council on Aging, Albany, Georgia

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Join us for this webinar on our Programs of Excellence series featuring the winners in the Health and Wellness category. We will also be joined by Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of the NCOA Center for Healthy Aging, where she provides subject matter expertise on health care programmatic and policy related issues and oversees the Modernizing Senior Center Resource Center.

Winner: Elder Day—Seven Oaks Senior Center, Nottingham, Maryland Honorable mention: Peapods—Duxbury Senior Center, Duxbury, Massachusetts

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging

Kathleen Young, Programming Manager

Joanne Moore, Director

Carol Boudrieau, (Retired) Program Coordinator

Join us for this webinar in our Programs of Excellence series featuring the winners in the Reducing Social Isolation category. We will also be joined by Meredith Hanley, USAging’s Director, Community Capacity Building. In this role, she oversees engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, a national effort to increase the social engagement of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.

Winner: CheckMates: AgeWell at the JCC—Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Honorable mention: Rooted in Resilience—Overlea Fullerton Senior Center, Baltimore County, Maryland

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Amy Gold, MSW, Program Coordinator

Tracey Colagrossi, Senior Center Manager

Meredith Hanley, Director of Community Capacity Building

Join us for this webinar in our Programs of Excellence series featuring the winners of the Nutrition Category. We will be joined by experts from the National Nutrition and Aging Resource Center with information about Nutrition & Aging Resource Center; Older Americans Act nutrition services and how programs are attracting a new audience, offering choice and flexibility in service delivery (including grab and go, choice menus, restaurant partnerships, culturally specific meals and medically tailored meals)

Winner: Nutritional Distribution Outreach—The Cheshire Senior Center, Cheshire, Connecticut Honorable mention: Grocery Delivery—Eden Prairie Senior Center, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Jenna Hauss, President and CEO

Sue Bohnsack,CTRS, Recreation Supervisor

Stefanie Theroux, Coordinator

Bambi Press, RD, LD, Healthy Aging Director

Join us on February 28, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET for the second webinar in our NISC Programs of Excellence Series featuring the winning programs in the Cultural Programs category. We will also be joined by Mario Rubano, MPH, Policy Associate with New York Academy for Medicine’s Center for Healthy Aging for a conversation about the Older Adults Equity Council and working with diverse elders. 

Winner: Honoring Legacies – Thrive 55+ Groton, Connecticut

Honorable mention: Historical Perspectives – Parkville Senior Center, Baltimore County

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Mario Rubano, Policy Associate

Mary Jo Riley, Senior Center Supervisor

Join us on January 26^th at 2 p.m. ET for the first webinar in our NISC Programs of Excellence Series featuring the winning programs in the Marketing and Public Relations category. We will also be joined by NCOA’s Advancement Team for a conversation about marketing and senior centers.  

Winner: 12 Days of Christmas—Norwell Council of Aging, Norwell, Massachusetts

Honorable mention: Caring Club—Calabasas Senior Center, Calabasas, California

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Karen Davis, Chief Development & Marketing Officer

Susan Curtin, Director

Kimberly Post, Senior Center Supervisor

Carol Davis, Co-founder, Calabasas Savvy Senior Program

Jenna Hauss, President and CEO

Join us as we celebrate National Senior Center Month and all the ways that senior centers can and do power connections! In this session, we focus on connecting to policy makers. NCOA’s Senior Director of Campaign Strategy and Engagement and the Director of Policy Development and Integration will share information about how federal policy impacts you, especially the Older Americans Act, and how you can engage with your elected officials to raise awareness about the great work that you are doing and the impact that your senior center has! 

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO

Marci Phillips, Director, Public Policy & Advocacy

Natalie Zellner, Senior Director of Campaign Strategy and Engagement

This session will highlight the importance of senior centers being connected to various formal and informal networks to enhance services, foster collaboration, and support the older adults in their community. Participants will engage in an interactive activity to map their center’s current networks and connections, identify gaps, and plan steps to strengthen connections. 

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Maintaining social connections can help foster engagement, reduce social isolation and improve well-being and quality of life. Join USAging and local speakers for a session focused on how senior centers are providing social connection for older adults. This session will highlight the benefits of social engagement, spotlight examples of how senior centers offer unique social engagement opportunities, and provide practical approaches, strategies and tips to help senior centers increase social connection among older adults within communities.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Ali Fehlhaber, Program Manager

Join

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Nancy Z. Henkin, Ph.D, Senior Fellow

TBD

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Join your peers to talk about what you are doing, your challenges and successes, opportunities and ideas about intergenerational programs. This session will be a zoom meeting and we will use break out rooms to ensure everyone has an opportunity to network!

Senior centers are great places to exercise creativity. In this first session of this summit. Susan Oetgen, Arts Learning Projects Director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) will share information about creative aging, including research demonstrating impact and resources that are available to you through NASAA and in your own state. This summit focuses on incorporating arts to advance age positively, improve health outcomes, extend life, and change perceptions about older adults and aging. We will provide examples of successful arts programs, so you can incorporate at your senior center. 

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the impact of the arts and its benefits and how to gain access to state resources. 
2. Explain how positive age beliefs can be beneficial to health outcomes.
3. Discuss possible themes and how to frame programs to be attractive, fun and meaningful to the variety of older adults that participate or attend.

Susan Oetgen, Arts Learning Projects Director

Senior centers are great places to exercise creativity. In the second session of this summit, you will hear from professionals who have implemented a variety of arts programs in senior centers – what they did, how they did it, and how it went. Learn best practices of successful programs that you can implement in your senior center.

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the impact of the arts and its benefits and how to gain access to state resources. 
2. Explain how positive age beliefs can be beneficial to health outcomes.
3. Discuss possible themes and how to frame programs to be attractive, fun and meaningful to the variety of older adults that participate or attend.

Tracey Colagrossi, Senior Center Manager

Loryn Ray, Director, Department of Senior Services

Carmela Geer, Executive Director

Ryan Landis, Director of Operations

Senior centers are great places to exercise creativity. In the final session of this summit, we will breakout into small groups for an opportunity to share ideas and network with colleagues. This summit focuses on incorporating arts to advance positive aging, improve health outcomes, extend life, and change perceptions about older adults and aging. Participation in the arts has demonstrated impact on health and wellbeing - and is fun! Join us as we learn from each other. 

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the impact of the arts and its benefits and how to gain access to state resources. 
2. Explain how positive age beliefs can be beneficial to health outcomes.
3. Discuss possible themes and how to frame programs to be attractive, fun and meaningful to the variety of older adults that participate or attend.

Join us for a fun and interactive summit where we look at how we communicate about senior centers. We will provide information, resources, examples, and activities that you can use to enhance the image of your center and be an agent of change in combatting ageism in your community.

In this session, participants will be able to: 

1. Explore and overcome challenges of senior centers.
2. Discuss ways everyone can practice to be an influencer.
3. Outline next steps to promote reframing aging in positive ways. 

Hannah Albers, Program Director

Claire M. Côté, Field Representative

Donya Currie, Senior Editor, NCOA

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Join us for a fun and interactive summit where we look at how we communicate about senior centers. We will provide information, resources, examples, and activities that you can use to enhance the image of your center and be an agent of change in combatting ageism in your community.

In this session, participants will be able to: 

1. Explore and overcome challenges of senior centers.
2. Discuss ways everyone can practice to be an influencer.
3. Practice ways to reframe aging.

Hannah Albers, Program Director

Claire M. Côté, Field Representative

Donya Currie, Senior Editor, NCOA

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Join us for a fun and interactive summit where we look at how we communicate about senior centers. We will provide information, resources, examples, and activities that you can use to enhance the image of your center and be an agent of change in combatting ageism in your community.

In this session, participants will be able to: 

1. Explore and overcome challenges of senior centers.
2. Share and discuss ways to reframe aging.
3. Gain insight from other experiences and incorporate in your practice. 

Hannah Albers, Program Director

Claire M. Côté, Field Representative

Donya Currie, Senior Editor, NCOA

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Featuring updates from the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center. In this summit, participants will be able to:

1. Share insights from The State of Today's Senior Centers: Successes, challenges, and opportunities. 
2. Discuss resources you can use. 
3. Network with colleagues.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO

Jill Hall, NISC Chair

Featuring updates from the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center. In this summit, participants will be able to:

1. Share insights from The State of Today's Senior Centers: Successes, challenges, and opportunities. 
2. Discuss resources you can use. 
3. Network with colleagues.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Bronwyn Keefe, MSW, MPH, PhD, Assistant Dean of Workforce and Professional Development, Director of CADER, Research Assistant Professor

Kathy Kuhn, MSW, LICSW, Special Projects

Jamie Husyman, PsyD, LCSW, CAP, CFT, Vice President of Provider Relations and Government Affairs

Featuring updates from the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center. In this summit, participants will be able to:

1. Share insights from The State of Today's Senior Centers: Successes, challenges, and opportunities. 
2. Discuss resources you can use. 
3. Network with colleagues.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Join us on September 23, 2022 from 1-4 EST Via Zoom as we celebrate senior centers together! Featuring updates from the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center including insights from our Environmental Scan of Senior Centers, introductions to other ACL resource centers you can use and an opportunity for small group networking with your colleagues!

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO

Edwin Walker, J.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging

Manoj Pardasani, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Jill Hall, Division Chief & Acting Nutrition Program Manager Senior Centers and Community Services

Join us on September 23, 2022 from 1-4 EST Via Zoom as we celebrate senior centers together! Featuring updates from the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center including insights from our Environmental Scan of Senior Centers, introductions to other ACL resource centers you can use and an opportunity for small group networking with your colleagues!

Kathleen Zuke, MPH (she/her), Director, Center for Healthy Aging

Jennifer Tripken, Ed.D., CHES, Associate Director, Center for Healthy Aging

Ann Kayrish, Senior Program Manager for Medicare

Erin Hoisington, RDN, LDN, Nutrition and Aging Content Director

Nanette Relave, MSW, Senior Director, National I&R Support Center

Meredith Hanley, Director, Community Capacity Building

Mario Rubano, Policy Associate

Join us on September 23, 2022 from 1-4 EST Via Zoom as we celebrate senior centers together! Featuring updates from the Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center including insights from our Environmental Scan of Senior Centers, introductions to other ACL resource centers you can use and an opportunity for small group networking with your colleagues!

“Meeting by Invitation Only”

The NISC Senior Center Leadership Collaborative is intended to create a cohesive national senior center network organized to participate in a collaborative learning environment to share best  practices,  national  initiatives,  strategies  and  resources  to  spur innovation  and  to identify  national  senior  center  leaders. This  initiative  welcomes  appointed  state association  leaders,  network  leaders,  and  leaders  of  NISC  accredited  centers  as members of the collaborative.

Dianne Stone, Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC

This month, as we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation month, we are gathering for a peer networking round table event. We will share a few perspectives from around the country on volunteerism in Senior Centers. Then, we will break into smaller groups for interactive conversation – brainstorming, sharing, and networking!

This month, as we celebrate National Nutrition Month and the 50^th Anniversary of the Senior Nutrition Program, we invite you to join us in a peer networking round table event. We will share a few perspectives from around the country on the challenges, successes, and innovations in providing meals at our Centers now and moving forward. Then, we will break into smaller groups for interactive discussion. 

Susan Curtin, Director

Jenna Hauss, President and CEO

Anahita Feltz, Manager

Jessica Langlois, Executive Director