Title
Vote to approve and present a Resolution Honoring the Siler City Center for Active Living for Receiving the 2025 Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The North Carolina Senior Center Alliance (NCSCA) annually recognizes one exceptional senior center across the state with the Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award for Excellence in the Field of Aging. In 2025, that honor has been awarded to the Siler City Center for Active Living, a facility that has undergone an extraordinary transformation over the past two years and now stands as a model of community-centered innovation, inclusion, and excellence in aging services.
Discussion & Analysis: When a senior center is rooted in the heart of its hometown, it becomes more than just a facility, it becomes a reflection of the community it serves. Since assuming the role of Center Manager in July 2022, Kathryn Walters, a lifelong Siler City resident and former educator, has led a remarkable cultural and operational turnaround. Upon her arrival, alongside Activity Coordinator Olivia Hayden, the Center was emerging from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff and participants alike faced uncertainty about when and how to resume the full breadth of programming. Early efforts focused on rebuilding trust, providing essential services like daily meals, and simply offering a safe place to gather.
But for Walters and Hayden, returning to “normal” wasn’t enough. They saw an opportunity to create something better.
The Center reinstated long-missed programs, including the Center’s beloved Gospel Choir, added new activities based on participant interest (like line dancing and basket weaving), and empowered Hayden to revamp and expand the Center’s fitness programming. The motto they adopted during difficult moments was “we’re not stopping for a broken leg on a keyboard” symbolizes the tenacity with which they have rebuilt the Center.
That relentless spirit has yielded real results. In 2024, the Center served 831 unique individuals, an 84% increase from 2022. Daily attendance has more than doubled, and participation in the congregate lunch program has tripled, with an average of 80 seniors sharing meals and meaningful conversations each day.
The staff also responded swiftly to emerging health needs in the community. After observing a concerning pattern of vision loss among participants, including stories of blindness and personal experiences with vision impairment, the Center established a Low Vision Support Group in collaboration with the Siler City Lions Club. The group meets monthly, advocates for individuals with visual challenges, and shares tailored resources, including a dedicated low-vision activity calendar.
Recreational opportunities have expanded too. Following a successful pickleball clinic co-hosted with Chatham County Parks and Recreation, the Center transformed its main room into a regulation-size indoor pickleball court twice weekly. In December, the Center hosted its first double-elimination tournament, “Dink the Halls,” drawing players from across Chatham and even neighboring Alamance County.
Technology and outreach have played a key role as well. In 2024, the Center launched “The Art of Aging” podcast, which streams weekly on the Chatham County Aging Services Facebook page and discusses topics ranging from fall prevention to Senior Games. Speaking of which, Chatham County Senior Games & SilverArts saw record participation in 2024, with the Siler City Center hosting the SilverArts events and helping coordinate audiovisual logistics.
Additional programs include:
• A popular Friday Night Dance, led by volunteer Helen Maness, bringing seniors together for music, fun, and community connection;
• A full fitness schedule, including Zumba Gold, strength classes, and timed walk/run events like the Holly Jolly Fun Run;
• A fully utilized craft and sewing room, supported by 2022 grant funding;
• A book club, garden club, and monthly Spanish activities calendar to reflect the needs of a growing Hispanic population.
It’s clear that the Center's success is no accident. It is the result of hard work, creative thinking, and a deep commitment to the people of Siler City.
In recognition of this work, the Center has received a commemorative plaque and a $300 grant from the NCSCA to support future programming.
To formally acknowledge this remarkable achievement, the following resolution is submitted for your approval.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: Goal 10: Foster a healthy community.
Budgetary Impact: No impact on the budget.
Recommendation/Motion: Vote to approve and present a Resolution Honoring the Siler City Center for Active Living for Receiving the 2025 Ann Johnson Senior Center of the Year Award.