Senior centers honor Black History Month by uplifting members’ voices and lived experiences
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) supports 18 full-service senior community centers and 10 satellite meal sites across the city. Many of these senior centers are recognizing Black History Month by uplifting the voices and lived experiences of older adults across the city, celebrating Black culture, honoring the past, and highlighting the ways history continues to be made every day.
Throughout February, senior centers are creating space for conversation, learning, and community. These special events help members reflect on history while celebrating culture and connection. Some of the most meaningful moments come from a simple question asked directly to the people at the heart of PCA’s work: What does Black History Month mean to you?
At PCA’s Southwest Senior Center, members described Black History Month as both remembrance and recognition. A time to honor those who came before while celebrating Black excellence in the present. Many spoke about history as something they have not only studied, but lived, and about the importance of sharing what they have seen and experienced with others. “Black History Month is a time to reflect, but it’s also a time to gather,” said Carolyn Sims-Nesmith, member of Southwest Senior Center. “Our members have lived through history, they’ve contributed to it. This month gives us a chance to uplift their voices, celebrate their resilience, and remind one another that our stories matter.” For members, the center is more than a place to spend the day. It is a community space where stories are welcomed, friendships are built, and traditions are carried forward.
At Martin Luther King (MLK) Older Adult Center, members emphasized the importance of preserving the full story of Black history, not only the nationally recognized figures, but also the everyday people whose courage, work, and leadership helped shape families, neighborhoods, and opportunities for those who followed. Members spoke about how easily important stories can be overlooked and how necessary it is to pass knowledge down. “Black History Month means telling the truth and making sure the next generation knows where we’ve been,” said center member James Cauley. Others described the month as a reminder that Black history is American history, and that understanding the nation’s story requires honesty about both struggle and progress, as well as recognition of the countless contributions Black Americans have made in every field and every community.
At PCA’s Firehouse Active Adult Center, members spoke about pride and cultural joy, describing Black History Month as a time to celebrate the creativity, music, traditions, and community bonds that have always been central to Black life. Members reflected on the ways culture has sustained families and communities through difficult times, and how celebration itself can be a form of strength. “It’s pride and it’s joy,” said Firehouse member Elizabeth Richburg-Durand. “Black history is more than what we survived. It’s what we built.” Members also noted that the month is not only about looking back, but also about recognizing the ways older adults continue to lead, mentor, volunteer, and contribute to their communities, shaping what comes next through their example and service.
Across the three centers, responses carried a consistent message of gratitude, responsibility, and legacy. Members spoke of remembering the people who made a way and not taking that progress for granted, of pride rooted in strength, creativity, and faith, and of stories that matter even when they were never formally recorded. Several members described Black History Month as a reminder that honoring history means more than reciting names and dates. It means listening to lived experiences, valuing truth, and creating spaces where people can be seen and heard.
At PCA senior centers, Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect, learn, and celebrate, but it also connects to PCA’s broader mission of ensuring older Philadelphians feel supported in spaces that promote wellness, belonging and connection. For many members, Black history is not distant. It is lived experience, lessons learned, and contributions made every day, in ways large and small. This month, PCA centers are helping ensure those contributions are recognized, those stories are shared, and that the voices of older adults continue to guide and strengthen the community.
PCA supports 28 senior community centers and satellite meal sites throughout Philadelphia. To locate a senior center near you, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765- 9040 or visit www.pcaCares.org/ senior-centers.
