Tips for Getting Community Leaders Involved with Your Senior Center

Good connections are important for the success of any community-based organization. Influential people in your area can become ambassadors for you. This is why it’s important for your team to build ties with trusted community leaders.

Leaders like politicians and pastors typically attend local events as guests or even speakers. But how do you get them to work with you? Here are some tips.

How to Invite Community Leaders to Join Your Senior Center Programs

1. Politicians
Ideally, your first option is local politicians. Reach out to the town’s mayor, council members, city manager, or town hall administrators. Since community outreach is part of their role, they are willing and happy to get involved.

Check your mayor’s website to find out the process for submitting this type of request. Extend invitations at least two weeks before the event and include a brief background of your organization. Share the key details of your event such as the date, location, and purpose, along with the subject and speech length. This will give your speaker time to prepare.

2. Directors of aging-related organizations
People who run aging-related organizations are also likely to accommodate invitations to community gatherings. The Area Agency on Aging director in your county and heads of local caregiver services, elder care resource centers, or similar foundations are options to consider. They can educate your senior members on navigating support services available for their use within your area.

Since you’re serving the same demographic, talking to these people about community involvement is easier. They’re naturally open-minded and supportive, so feel free to invite them to your programs or ask for suggestions to improve your center. In turn, you can support them by sharing details of their upcoming events on your social media.

3. Church leaders
People serving the Church have vast knowledge about spirituality and other meaningful topics. They can talk about life purpose, give counseling, or teach catechism at your senior center. Once or twice a year, a priest can come over to hear confessions.

Establish rapport with a priest, pastor, or nun. Let them know you enjoyed their homily and thank them for their dedication to their work. After establishing that connection, invite them to your center.

4. Educators
There are two ways principals, teachers, and school administrators can help your organization: recruiting student volunteers and being volunteers themselves.

School leaders can make your senior center events more enjoyable and informative. Teachers and principals, for example, can teach supplemental technology classes. Your members may be interested in learning how to use apps to track health or learn a new language.

When inviting educators, emphasize how their contribution as volunteers can make a difference in the lives of your senior members and the community in general. People respect educators, so involving them in your organization’s happenings can help establish a good reputation.

5. Local business owners
Successful entrepreneurs can share their inspiring stories with your members who are looking to start a business. (Older adults account for an increasingly large part of new businesses!) They can also advise on pursuing business ventures, managing finances, and turning passions into a career.

Get ideas on who to invite by asking your membership. For instance, find a restaurant your members love to visit. Then call and speak with the owner. Let them know their restaurant is a favorite among members and ask if they would be interested in a meet and greet at the center.

The Role of Community Leaders in Your Senior Center

Senior centers can create a wonderful community by encouraging people with leadership roles to get involved in local senior programs. They can volunteer, speak at an event, or participate in outreach programs. If older adults are happy, it means the whole community is doing an excellent job of promoting a good environment for them.

Updated on 03-21-2024