Every first and third Friday of the month, the Davis Senior Center (DSC) is filled with the sound of music from its biweekly event called the Dance and Jam Session. The event is made up of community members in a band called “Music from the Back Room.”
“It is for people who want to come and listen to music or to dance,” said Alisa Fisher, program coordinator of the DSC. “They change up the music all the time, but it’s pretty much big band music from the ’30s and ’40s.”
The number of participants range between 15 and 20 seniors, Fisher said.
In addition to the Dance and Jam Session, there are many opportunities for members to take part in exercise classes, art classes, dance classes and other recreational projects. Among the recreational activities are Nintendo Wii tournaments which happen every Wednesday, and oil and acrylic painting.
“The City of Davis Community Services Department provides a variety of programs and services which help strengthen our community image and create a sense of place,” according to the Davis Senior Center website.
Not only does the DSC provide recreational activities, but it also provides seniors assistance with information regarding tax, computer tutoring and other areas.
“We have legal consultation during tax season,” Fisher said. “The center is recreational and informational; it’s a place to come to recreate and get resources from the community.”
According to its monthly newsletter, seniors are provided with information such as a driver safety renewal class, help with yard work, affordable housing lottery and support groups.
The DSC has four staff members: two coordinators, a supervisor and a front desk assistant. There are also about 10 part-time instructors.
In addition to four staff members and 10 part-time instructors, there are also student volunteers from UC Davis. Volunteers range from members of sororities, fraternities, Band-Uh! and Circle K, an international community service organization.
Recently, Band-Uh! led the National Senior Health and Fitness Day walk with a march around Central Park Wednesday.
“Some of the groups help with an array of things such as our Nintendo Wii program,” Fisher said. “They make decorations for the dances and treats for some events.”
The DSC is a public facility that is put on by the city of Davis. The DSC receives funds from both the city and from a nonprofit group called “Senior Citizens of Davis,” Fisher said.
About 100 to 300 people come to the DSC daily. During the day, the majority is made up of either retired or part-time seniors.
The DSC is located on 646 A Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome and most programs are free with the exception of certain events such as luncheons which require an individual to be at least 60 years of age.
For more information, visit cityofdavis.org/cs/seniors.
MEE YANG can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
