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Spotlight on the South Park Senior Center

Have you ever heard karaoke performed in Vietnamese? Or tasted Khmer Chili Chicken served as high cuisine? Have you ever played Loteria, the Latin American version of BINGO? There’s a place where all these multicultural activities are happening and more—South Park Senior Center (SPSC).

Located at 8201 10th Ave S, Suite 4, in south Seattle, SPSC is a vibrant community where older people from across King County gather for global community meals, multicultural enrichment activities, and multilingual social services. SPSC has created an environment where older adults of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. In fact, 90 percent of SPSC participants are immigrants and refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Latin America. The additional 10 percent of those served are of Black, Native American, Indigenous, and White descent. SPSC’s population identifies inclusively as older adults—ages 55+, with the majority between 65–84.

SPSC factors in the realities our community faces in order to create our programming. SPSC has adapted and responded to the needs and interests of older South King County residents for nearly 40 years. Since 2020, we’ve optimized our programs in several key ways:

• Hiring SPSC specialists and other staff who speak Spanish, Vietnamese, and Khmer
• Serving nutritious dinners reflecting the cultures of our community
• Creating enrichment programs inclusive of all cultures, languages, and both visible and invisible disabilities

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided older residents with 600+ weekly home-delivered meals, hundreds of hours of social services support, and 225+ virtual exercise sessions.

SPSC is the only senior activity center in the greater Seattle area that serves dinner. We provide urgent food aid, but in a dignified, communal, fine-dining setting. In 2023, SPSC served nearly 10,300 culturally significant meals that reflect our members’ diverse cultural backgrounds, while using over 9,300 pounds of donated produce and ingredients that may have gone to waste otherwise. Our dinners also create opportunities for social connection and community where everyone is visible and valued.

Our operations manager is a former executive chef, our lead chef is professionally trained, and our kitchen staff reflects the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the people we serve, which translates into an authentic cuisine experience. We value an exceptional dining and food culture. Through these meals, we honor older people in our community and their countries of origin.

SPSC’s unique social services team is composed of three skilled specialists who speak Spanish, Vietnamese, and Khmer. They build fast rapport and address acute needs, including medical care, housing, transportation, food access, legal issues, and care management. In 2023, our social services team offered more than 1,900 contacts/touches of support that helped people stay housed, secure medical care, remain employed, and take care of all life aspects necessary for independent living.

SPSC offers enrichment programs that contribute to our physical, mental, and social wellness. Interpretation from staff contributes to our special ability to facilitate these programs for our culturally diverse clientele. Each week, SPSC hosts Zumba classes, EnhanceFitness (the University of Washington’s evidence-based strength-training program for older adults), cultural dancing, game nights, book clubs, karaoke, and other activities.

SPSC’s services and enrichment activities contribute to our membership’s ability to age in place. Last year, our enrichment programs provided 470 different opportunities for social connection, wellness, and learning. SPSC also recruits Senior Program Ambassadors representing the Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Hispanic cohorts, who provide a vital communication link between clients and SPSC leadership, resulting in culturally authentic and inclusive activities.

Social justice is a value at SPSC. We advance equity and social justice by taking a community-informed approach to our strategic planning and by centering the voices and perspectives of older adults. We implement services and programs that are accessible and equitable for individuals who have experienced discrimination and systemic exclusion. On an equitable basis, our members experience economic and housing stability, food security, new social connections, and enhanced wellness. Furthermore, they are personally validated through cultural expression, language accommodations, and attentive listening from our staff. We work to ensure our members enjoy this fulfilling chapter of their lives.

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Contributor Katherine Jordan is executive director of the South Park Senior Center. Learn how you can volunteer or partner with the center at www.spseniors.org.

Top photo from South Park Senior Center’s Vietnamese New Year celebration—chúc mừng năm mới!—courtesy of the center.

This article appeared in the September 2024 issue of AgeWise King County.