By The West 13th Street Alliance
The West 13th Street Alliance announces a unique pilot program for July/August 2019 for neighborhood seniors, elders, old hippies (or whatever folks want to call themselves!), to enjoy an array of activities at The Church of the Village, The Integral Yoga Institute, and Lenox Health Greenwich Village, all founding members of The Alliance.
“Summer Senior Space is based on the wisdom that the isolation and loneliness many elders experience are bad for health and that togetherness and enjoyment promote wellness,” says Birgitte Philippides-Delaney, President of the West 13th Street Alliance and co-founder along with Vlady Oliveros. “We help improve the quality of life on West 13th Street between 7th and Greenwich Avenues and its surrounding areas,” Birgitte said.
“The goal is to have something to do each morning, noon and night right here on West 13th Street,” said Chandra/Jo Sgammato, Executive Director of Integral Yoga and West 13th Street Alliance board member. “There is so much strength in community, connection and fun.” Activities include many elder-friendly yoga classes at Integral Yoga, community health events and cultural lectures at Lenox Health Greenwich Village and Bird Bingo at Church of the Village where players can “learn the names of bird species from all over the world while playing a fun game of Bingo,” Vlady said. “The winner will receive a gift certificate to a local restaurant.”
Four cultural lectures throughout July/August will take place at Lenox Health Greenwich Village:
- Lecture and presentation by Alfred Pommer, West Village historian and author of Exploring The Original West Village
- Lecture and presentation by Jason Haber, author of The Business of Good: Jane Jacobs, Robert Moses and The Battle for New York
- Historical lecture and presentation by Alice Sparberg Alexiou, New York City journalist and author of books on Jane Jacobs, The Bowery and The Flatiron District
- An Introduction to The Whitney Biennial by a curator from The Whitney Museum of American Art. A free pass to the museum will be given to all seniors who attend.In addition to stimulating the mind with these lectures, seniors can improve nutrition through a workshop at Integral Yoga called “Eating Well on a Budget with Healthy Foods” with Karen Ranzi; food educator, motivational speaker and award-winning author. The Church of the Village at 7th Avenue and West 13th Street is a Progressive, Radically Inclusive, and Anti-Racist Expression of God’s Love and Grace. Lenox Health Greenwich Village is devoted to providing local residents with a new model of community-based care. The Integral Yoga Institute offers yoga classes for every age, body, background and condition, along with ten free open meditation sessions every week. The West 13th Street Alliance hopes that with enough attendance and participation this summer, the Senior Space initiative can expand in the fall and into a full-time program next year.
For a complete schedule of Summer Senior Space activities, please visit iyiny.org/Senior Space.
