Center for Modern Aging presents growth, new programs and AmeriCorps plan to Princeton council
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Summary
The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) reported a year of program expansion, new language-based groups, a social services team with on-site support, and plans to host an AmeriCorps cohort; council members praised the work and asked for more details about seniors' use of medical marijuana and AmeriCorps operations.
The Center for Modern Aging Princeton presented its annual report to the mayor and council on June 9, highlighting expanded programming, growing participation and plans to host an AmeriCorps cohort to support older adults.
Drew Dyson, executive director of the Center for Modern Aging Princeton, told the council the organization has broadened language-specific friendship and conversation groups and expanded social services and transportation support. He said the center registered 288 older adults in support groups, provided more than 1,100 hours of free social work or case-management support, and counted 594 Princeton residents in the Crosstown Transportation program. He also said the Evergreen Forum program serves roughly 1,200 students across two semesters.
Dyson said new and expanded groups formed in the past year include Nihao (Mandarin conversation group, 46 members), Conversations from the Heart (Spanish speakers, 35 members), Chai Tea Talks (Hindi speakers, 14 members), Tea Social (Russian speakers, 31 members) and Cafe Francais (38 members). He said an ESL program served 16 students speaking six languages from nine countries. Dyson described the organization’s social-service model as unique in Mercer County because the center has dedicated social work staff embedded with on-site programs and residential partners.
On future programming, Dyson said CMAP has been approved at the state level and recommended federally to host an AmeriCorps cohort next year. He said the plan is to bring an AmeriCorps cohort of 14 volunteers (equivalent to about eight full-time equivalents across different service levels) to assist with digital-literacy training, benefit navigation, intergenerational programs and other services. Dyson noted the recent federal budget restoration that restores some AmeriCorps funding and said the center is pursuing alternative funding to make the placement sustainable.
Council members asked questions. One councilmember asked if older adults in Princeton are using medical marijuana; Dyson said there was high interest in education on the subject and that national and New Jersey statistics show older adults are among the higher-using groups for medical cannabis. He said the center’s medical-marijuana seminar drew strong attendance and that participants were most interested in the effects for chronic pain and chronic disease management. Councilmember David Cohen expressed interest in the AmeriCorps plan and asked for a fuller briefing at a future meeting.
Council members also praised CMAP’s intergenerational programs, including Grand Pals, which pairs older adults with kindergartners for weekly reading; Onstage Seniors, a performance ensemble based at CMAP; and Community Without Walls, a peer-to-peer support network for older adults. Dyson said the center is planning facility improvements to accommodate growth and will continue partnerships with Princeton Human Services, Princeton Health Department and Princeton Public Library.
No formal council action was required on the presentation. Council members commended the center’s growth and asked staff to return with more details on the AmeriCorps operations and outreach for benefit programs and utility assistance when those become available.
