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Kingsbridge Armory community-center plan and senior programming highlighted at Fresh Start event in Morris Heights
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Summary
At a Fresh Start "Seniors at the Table" event in Morris Heights, Council member Althea Stevens urged senior engagement while Vanessa Gibson announced a planned Kingsbridge Armory community center that she said will include a pool and expanded swim and CPR classes.
At the Fresh Start "Seniors at the Table" event in Morris Heights, Council member Althea Stevens urged older residents to engage with officials and program leaders, and Vanessa Gibson said a planned community center at the Kingsbridge Armory will include a pool and expanded classes for residents, organizers said.
"I am as strong as the community makes me, so I need you guys to be involved," Council member Althea Stevens told attendees, asking for feedback on her work and encouraging seniors to remain active civic participants. Vanessa Gibson, introduced at the event as a key speaker, described programming tied to the armory project: "We have a new community center that will be coming to the Kingsbridge Armory, and we are getting a pool there as well." She also emphasized swim and CPR classes among the center’s offerings.
John Pinder, identified at the event as program director and president of the nonprofit Fresh Start, was credited by the moderator with the organization’s longstanding work serving older adults in the borough and with helping organize the gathering. A self-described retired volunteer coordinator with Volunteers of America urged follow-up on cultural-arts programming in Morris Heights, saying arts activities help keep seniors connected.
Organizers framed the meeting as part of Black History Month programming that combined celebration with solicitation of older residents’ needs and ideas. Speakers and attendees described the event as an opportunity for officials, community groups such as Bronx Works, and seniors to exchange feedback about programs and services. The moderator also noted media coverage by BronxNet Community Television.
The announcements at the event were presented as speakers’ plans and priorities; the transcript records no formal vote or funding detail for the Kingsbridge Armory project. Organizers did not provide a timeline, budget, or implementation schedule at the event. Attendees were urged to "show up" and remain engaged so officials can refine programming for older residents.
