One Voice
Making a difference within the community is something that many people strive for. For this particular group of individuals within the Marshall community this type of impact is a reality.
One Voice, is a group of local professionals who promote senior services.
One Voice is a group of dedicated/passionate individuals that represent over a dozen agencies serving Marshall area seniors in variety of fields. One Voice began in 2012 as a way to bring the organizations that serve individuals 55 and best together. Professionals from a wide variety of fields such as social work, grant writing, office managers, dieticians, marketing, and financial planners, healthcare meet to discuss ways to create a healthier and more engaging community for seniors as one united voice.
One Voice has teamed up to do a variety of projects within the community. Some of these projects include: working with local physicians to make rounds within the seniors housing units, creating a senior resource guide that is at the fingertips of consumers, coordinating activities to promote healthier lifestyles and engagement in the community for local seniors, sounds of summer event that this year will include SMSU Mini GOLD morning sessions followed by Back to the Blue Moon Dance, working with the Marshall School District to bring an informational program to the Marshall High School. The purpose of this programs is to alert upperclassmen to potential job opportunities in the Marshall area that relates directly to the population of 55 and best.
“There are many opportunities to serve those 55 and best in a multitude of jobs within our community. I looked around the room at this One Voice group meeting and I realized wow, there’s a lot of jobs working in the field of aging that are not necessarily related to healthcare,” Barb Lipinski said
One of the of the opportunities within Marshall are the positions at the Marshall Adult Community Center.
Heather Radke, program specialist at ACC, and Lipinski the ACC coordinator, work together to provide programming for area seniors. Lipinski and Radke are an unlikely team, not because of personality differences, but because neither intended to work in the field of the aging.
Radke originally intended to become a journalist.
“When I started college, I was intending to major in mass communication/ journalism at St. Cloud State,” she said. Radke decided to switch majors and took on social work and as her new desired field. “I ended up in the aging field when an internship opportunity became available at a nursing home. The internship became a job and something I fell in love with because of the seniors I got to work with.”
After 13 years working at a nursing home as a licensed social worker/activities director, Radke seized the opportunity to take on a position with the Adult Community Center. Over the years, Radke has not only come to love the seniors she has worked with but also their families, and all aspects of working with aging populations.
Lipinski laughed as she sipped her coffee, listening to Radke’s story.
“Barb always laughs because she has the same story,” Radke said. “She never intended to go into the field of aging either.”
Lipinski continued to smile as she shared her journey to working with aging populations.
“I didn’t intend to work with the aging population either. I graduated from SMSU with a marketing degree,” she said. Out of college, Lipinski said that she took a job in the cities working with a publication firm.
Lipinski later found herself back in Marshall and soon found a job at Hill Street Place, a local senior housing complex. That’s where Lipinski found her true calling.
“I realized while working at Hill Street that one of my most important connections growing up was with my grandma. So I always had that personal connection with that aging generation, and I just wanted to reconnect with them,” Lipinski said. Later Lipinski took on job with the Adult Community Center as coordinator and has been there ever since.
“We need to start thinking of the next generation aging and what that might look like as the boomers being to retire and the additional generations continue to age.” Radke said. “Barb and I talk about this a lot. How are we going to meet their needs, and what are their needs going to be like? It’s going to be very different than the current population.”
Lipinski chimes in, “and speaking as a boomer, we’re not going to be ‘forever young,’ as the song goes.” Radke laughs and Lipinski grins.
“It’s fun every day,” Lipinski said. “You go to work and you play. Well, it looks like play. There’s a lot of work behind it, but it just fills our cups up, but it’s fun to see their joy overflow and that’s why we do what we do.”
The Adult Community Center offers a wide variety of activities and events to appeal to any personality. Frequently, foreign exchange students, elementary youth and other youth groups visit to bond with the members. For those who want to stay more active, various exercise classes, such as walking and stretching, are offered along with blood pressure screenings. For the more competitive members, a broad range of game-playing events including Mah Jongg, bridge, pool, and bean bags are often held during the week. Their book clubs and community meals allow for even more social interaction. Special monthly events give members even more to look forward to throughout the year.
The Adult Community Center has been a staple among seniors in the community for years.
“With 657 members, this vibrant community location hosts or manages over 100 events each month for area seniors. ACC serves folks age 55 or best,” Lipinski said. “And I mean that. They truly are the best in the community.”
The Adult Community Center strives to enhance the quality of life for all older adults. For further information or to find out how to participate today, contact Lipinski or Radke at 507-537-6109 or www.facebook.com/adultcommunitycenter.
COMMENTS