Scott Emmons, chair of the Kirkland Senior Council, said the volunteer body runs about eight committees and will continue focusing on senior-centered art programming, education seminars and partnerships on housing and transportation.

The council’s work reaches local seniors through recurring events and advocacy. "We have about 8 committees on our council. Yeah. 1 of the things that I always enjoy doing is the art show over at Merrill Gardens. We have it's all senior artists over there and from around the community," Emmons said, describing one of the council’s signature programs.

Why it matters: the council’s programs provide direct services and information to older residents and coordinate with regional partners on issues that affect seniors’ daily lives, such as transportation and housing access. Emmons said the council also organizes educational presentations on topics that affect seniors’ finances and independence.

Emmons listed a sample of recent and planned activities. He said the council partners with the Bellevue Network on Aging on advocacy and on joint work related to transportation and housing for older adults. The council’s education efforts, he said, have included presentations on Medicare and Medicaid, aging-in-place topics and an emergency-preparedness seminar. Emmons added that a fraud-prevention seminar is scheduled later this year. "We have, we partner with the Bellevue Network on Aging, with advocacy relating to legislative actions at the city, state, and federal levels. We also work with them on transportation and housing issues too for as it relates to seniors," he said.

Emmons noted the annual senior art show at Merrill Gardens as a recurring outreach feature. He described the event as focused on senior artists from the community; he also said the council’s education committee arranges several presentations each year. "We do several presentations a year, that are focused on issues that are important to seniors. So, we've done Medicare and Medicaid," he said.

The council is also working on advocacy related to AARP’s livable-community framework. Emmons said the council’s pillars overlap with AARP’s and that the council has a committee focused on investigating and advocating for Kirkland to pursue AARP livable-community recognition. "We have committee focused on investigation and advocating with the city of Kirkland to become an AARP livable city. And so a lot of our pillars overlap with their pillars. So I think it's a good match," he said.

Context and scope: Emmons said he joined the council after retiring from the tech industry and volunteering at the Juanita Friday Market; he is entering his third year on the council. The interview took place on the This Week in Kirkland podcast and featured the council chair and the show host.

Looking ahead, Emmons said the council will continue its existing committees and programming, with more education seminars and continued partnership work on housing and transportation. He emphasized continuity rather than major new initiatives, saying the council expects "a lot more of the same."