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Iowa City senior center commissioners hear operational update, preview Black Future Fest and facility upgrades
Summary
Staff outlined the commission's advisory role, upcoming Black Future Fest programming and partnerships, rising class participation, and facility work including finished windows and pending HVAC digital controls; commissioners agreed to help with outreach and volunteer shifts.
Latasha Delochstaff gave commissioners an operational update and asked for their help publicizing and staffing events as the Iowa City senior center prepares a busy program calendar for early 2026. She said the commission’s role is advisory to the city council and asked commissioners to act as ambassadors at large events.
The update focused on outreach and programming. "You all advise, you advocate, and you help me set directions," Delochstaff said, describing the commission's advisory role. She previewed the Black Future Fest, an Afrofuturism-themed series that includes a day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a food drive, a film festival on Feb. 12, two book-club sessions, readings and a gallery opening tied to the historic post office gallery at the senior center. Delochstaff listed partners including the Iowa City Public Library, Public Space One and the North Liberty Library and asked commissioners to help get the word out.
On inclusion, Delochstaff said targeted programming has increased participation among people of color. She summarized membership numbers by saying participation by people of color has risen from under 5% historically to roughly 10–14% of members and that use of the low-income membership discount is about 15–17%; she described those figures as part of a broader outreach effort rather than as finalized census counts.
The center also reported increased class attendance. Commissioners and staff praised Frank Murray’s film class and noted many offerings are full; staff said word-of-mouth and printed program guides remain primary recruitment tools. Commissioners discussed creating a year-long volunteer sign-up sheet so two commissioners can attend larger events and suggested name tags and photos to help members identify commissioners in the building.
Staff briefed commissioners on facility work: windows and exterior doors have been replaced and staff are installing digital HVAC controls to manage temperatures across multiple building zones. Delochstaff said the controls should be in place in the next month or two and that interior renovation planning will follow. She also invited commissioners to an institutional renovation award event in March given by the historic preservation organization.
The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Kate Elster moved to adjourn and the commission approved the motion by voice vote with no opposition recorded.
The commission scheduled follow-ups on master-plan involvement and will host agency presentations in coming months, including a rotation to explain services housed in the building (SHIP and tax-aid were mentioned). New program specialist Angela, on staff about eight days, will be introduced at a future meeting.
