Committee Report CR-4

The Civic Unity Committee held a public meeting on August 14, 2008 at 10:20 A.M. in the Ackermann Room.  The purpose of the meeting was to receive information about the Purple Hats Club at Roosevelt Towers and to determine whether this program could be replicated at the Senior Centers and at other multi-family residences where seniors live in Cambridge.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Marjorie Decker, Chair of the Committee, City Clerk D. Margaret Drury, Gregory Russ, Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA), John Lindemore, Resident Services, CHA, Faith Mershell, Director of Elder Opportunities, CHA, Sothea Chiemruom, Tenant Liaison, CHA, Eileen Ginnetty, Director of the Council on Aging, Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP), Stephanie Ackert, Director of Planning and Development, DHSP, Emma Watkins, Director of the Senior Center, DHSP, Lee Pedro, 126 Jackson Place, founder of the Purple Hats Club, Lee Pedro, 126 Jackson Place, Patricia Goodrich, 382 Evereteze Way, and Amy Thomas, 5 Harrington Terrace.

Councillor Decker convened the meeting and explained the purpose.  Lee Pedro then described the inception of the Purple Hats Club.  Ms. Pedro explained that she works in the Head Start program at Roosevelt Towers, and on her way to and from her job, she would encounter unhappy-looking women just sitting in the hall day after day.  She had heard of the Red Hat Club, and thought that the residents might enjoy getting together to socialize and do crafts.  She asked whether she could use the community room at Roosevelt Towers, got permission and had an open house to invite anyone interested.  Thirty people came.

Now 14 to 20 people come regularly.  She anticipates that there will be more in the winter.  They have worked with the social workers who use the community room to devise a schedule that does not conflict with their usage.  They have come such a long way that there are now two resident members who have keys and they run the program when she cannot be there.  All are looking forward to upcoming Tai Chi classes, and they are talking about starting a movie night.

While they love to do the activities, what is most important is the social aspect of the program.  Women who would never even speak to each other before have become friends.  Ms. Pedro said that they use the time to bring up issues that are of concern for members of the group.  All of the members agree that the social, emotional and physical benefits of the program have been enormous.  The manager of Roosevelt Towers has been very supportive, as has Greg Russ, Executive Director of the Housing Authority.

Councillor Decker invited Mr. Russ to provide his perspective.  Mr. Russ said that the program has clearly been a big benefit to all of the people who participate.  The participants have told him that they are happier and more positive because of the program.  It has seemed to restore a social aspect that was missing before.  He has seen the beautiful handcrafts that they have made; he has some of them on display in his office.  Mr. Russ said that he made a small budget available to Ms. Pedro and it has been one of the best investments he has made.  He would like very much to have the model replicated in as many CHA developments as possible.  However, he emphasized the importance of slow and sustainable growth.  This is one of those small things that have very big impacts.  He wants to be sure that by trying to grow it too fast, they don’t kill it.

Councillor Decker agreed that it is very clear that you can put in as much money as possible, but ultimately, it is the will of the participants that makes a success.

Mr. Russ said that he has been in discussion with Ms. Pedro about the Truman Apartments senior housing development being the next location.  Ms. Pedro has been working with Sothea Chiemeruom, CHA Tenant Liaison, on a budget for materials, food and staff time.  He is willing to support such a budget.  If they can get the program off the ground at the Truman Apartments, that will teach them a lot about what is needed for replication.

In response to a question from Councillor Decker about what kind of City support would be helpful, Mr. Russ said that he would have a better idea after the program at Truman gets a successful start-up.  One thing that he could see being helpful is assistance with transportation for outings.

Ms. Pedro said that she would like to see this program developed in all of the senior housing developments eventually.  One of the things that the Roosevelt Towers group has talked about a lot is the importance of being respected at the place where you live.  This program has enabled them to feel respected by the CHA and by each other.

Amy Thomas, 5 Harrington Terrace, said that she was born and raised in Roosevelt Towers and she has known many of the other women in the group for many years.  The positive changes that have happened to all of them have been wonderful.

Patricia Goodrich, 5 Everteze Way, said that lately she has seen members of the Purple Hats Club interacting with the Head Start children and parents, which is something that is good for the children and parents as well as the seniors.  Before the Purple Hat program started, there were lots of negative people in the hallways.  She herself retired a year ago from her position as a cook at Cambridge Hospital, and after a couple of months of retirement she became depressed.  The Purple Hats Club has changed all of that.  Ms. Goodrich emphasized that there are a lot of seniors with disabilities that make it very difficult for them to get out to the senior centers, even when transportation is available.  There are also seniors who will come to a program in their building because they know they can get home quickly if they feel ill or exhausted.

Emma Watkins, Director of the Citywide Senior Center, congratulated the members of the club on the success of this program.  She asked about the schedule and Ms. Pedro responded that in the summer they meet three days a week.  When school resumes, it is more difficult.  They have a meeting with scheduled activities on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Tuesday and Wednesday there are drop-in meetings.  They have coffee and bagels in the morning and lunch once a week, usually something that Ms. Pedro has cooked herself, or pizza a couple of times.  They started with a small budget and she cooked all the food for lunch herself and then spent her evenings searching for bargains on craft materials at various stores.

Ms. Watkins said that Ms. Pedro is doing a wonderful job with exceptional dedication.  She asked why these women do not come to the senior center.  Ms. Pedro said that some have physical disabilities and some are afraid.  Many are much more likely to go to an activity right in their own building.  She does not believe that even a community room in an adjacent building in the housing development would work for the seniors who want the security of their familiar building.  Ms. Pedro added that she talks about the senior center activities a great deal and would like to find a way to be more connected with the senior center, but she knows that this program will not work the same way if it is based in the senior centers.  Eileen Ginnetty, Director of the Council on Aging, said that there is no reason to try to make them come to the senior center if they do not want to. She would be very happy to have a Purple Hat Club lunch at the senior center where the members could show the beautiful crafts that they brought to today’s meeting if they would like that, but there is no pressure for them to come to the senior center.  It is clear that this program plays an important role for all the people who want activities at their home.  DHSP does not want to change a program that is working as well as the Purple Hat Club, rather, she would like to explore ways in which they can support the program.

Councillor Decker asked whether there was a way to consolidate purchasing of supplies to enable the small Purple Hat budget to go further, especially now that they are planning a second site for the program, agreed that they should look into some sort of consolidation.  Ms. Watkins said that she would like to arrange for a way for the leader of the very successful Wednesday crafts and discussion program at the Citywide Senior Center to look at sharing crafts ideas and materials with the Purple Hat Club.  Perhaps this leader could visit a meeting of the Purple Hat Club.  She believes that this would be a good relationship to foster.

Councillor Decker thanked all those present for their participation and enthusiasm.  She said that she believes that some important connections between the City and the Purple Hat Club and also with the CHA have been made today, and she is confident that the people at this meeting can continue to build on those connections.  If at any time, they believe that another meeting of this committee would be helpful, they should feel free to contact her.