Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: Hasselbring Senior Center’s director, Beverly Lewis, proudly holds the flowers given to her by Hasselbring board member Antwoine Little
James Wallace is one local resident who proves you don’t have to be a Flint resident to appreciate Beverly Lewis, executive director of Hasselbring Senior Center, and the programs and activities they help to provide the community-even in the midst of an eviction and a lawsuit.
Wallace -who moved from Arkansas about six months ago, now resides in Burton and is 75 years old- has been utilizing the center for about five months. After the nonprofit that was operating Hasselbring Senior Center was evicted for reasons some community members didn’t agree with, they relocated to the James E. Kennedy Christian Life Center on Pierson Road. Wallace told the Courier he was “fine in either place.”
“The same people are here,” Wallace said, while at the new location on Pierson Road.
“I’ve gotten to know a few of these folks, and I’m familiar with all the faces,” he added. “So, it’s almost like home.”
Lewis said since the move took place “it has been full of excitement. The seniors that are coming in are excited about the new place. It’s larger. From what they’re looking at, there’s more space-and they’re happy about that. They’re excited about some of the new programming that we’re doing as well.”
Lewis stated that even within the first few days of the center opening in its new location, starting Monday, March 3, she and center volunteers were visited by seniors who hadn’t visited in months.
“They came in and said ‘we’ve been pulling for you,” Lewis said. “We’re glad to see everything worked out all right. You’ve got a new home for us, and we’re back!’”
Lewis said as part of their new programming, there is a new exercise/dance class that will be coming. She also said the center is now offering a regular “Movie Day” at least once a month.
“We’re also planning a grand re-opening at the end of the month, on March 31, to give us a chance to get everything set to make sure everything is flowing the way it’s supposed to flow.” Lewis said.
Hasselbring Volunteer Rosemary Morrow pointed out there had been no interruption in programs and new people were joining.
Lewis said she realizes the building she is in belongs to Mt. Caramel Baptist Church. She said the youth play basketball there in the evening, but during the day the seniors have the building to themselves.
“Being here is temporary, but it’s long-term temporary.”
Lewis said not all of the members of the old center came with her and her group to the new location, although many did.
“They can choose both, or either or. As long as they’re being served, I don’t care. As long as they’re getting their needs met, that’s what is important to me.”
Gardell Haralson, age 72, said he was a hustle instructor at Hasselbring many years ago and is happy to be returning to his position with the Eric Mays Senior Center, at the old location, at 1002 W Home Ave.
“We want to bring it back the way it was, and that’s when I was here,” Haralson said. “We’re taking it back to where we started, right here…This is going to be a good thing, what they’re doing now.”
James Richardson, assistant director of the Eric Mays Senior Center, said some of the programming will look similar to what was in the building before.
“But we’ve got a multiplicity of programming that we’re going to do, some intergenerational because we know we’re doing with grandparents that are dealing with their grandchildren…We’ve got a coffee bar coming, where seniors can do some socialization around that. We’ll also have a massage room as well.”
The City has applied for funding from the Genesee County Senior Service Millage, which the center now located in James E. Kennedy Christian Life Center has already secured. Richardson said “the mayor is committed to its senior center regardless of what happens.”
Richardson said the City of Flint was aiming to make it “more exciting for the seniors.”
Gennois Wiggins, director of the Eric Mays Senior Center, previously worked at Pierce Senior Center as a program coordinator/director. The building burned in September 2020 after ceasing operations in April of 2012 to become a banquet facility.
“In the city of Flint there were multiple senior center, including Pierce, Brennan Center, Hasselbring and McKinley,” Wiggins said.
On March 3, The City of Flint took legal action against the former vendor of the Senior Citizens Center, alleging the theft of multiple items from the facility. The City stated there was unauthorized removal of valuable property, including computers, audiovisual and recreational equipment, among other items.
Lewis stated the items removed belonged to her group and were purchased in the nonprofit’s name for the seniors.
“We’re moving on and moving up,” she said.
Additionally, Wiggins said senior centers were a place where seniors should be able to socialize, be educated, relax and “receive services they’re so deserving of.”
So, at this time, we have three senior centers in the city, and it’s amazing,” she said “I feel the seniors have won.”
