It was a pleasure working with the Emory & Henry students on the Marion Senior Center Project. The students effectively utilized their specific course work and applied those principles to real life situations. The work the students completed will enhance the Town of Marion’s senior population in numerous ways moving forward. The partnership that exists between the Town of Marion and Emory & Henry College is already having a positive effect on our community and we look forward to continuing to work with the students on future projects.
Terry Jennings, parks and Recreation Director for the Town of Marion, VA
How would you describe the senior population in Marion?
I felt like the seniors in Marion were very active with what they wanted and thought. They weren’t a group that just sits there, content with getting older. They want to do as much as they can, they want inter-generational, and they want to help their community build and grow for the future too. They know it’s not just about them. - Sydney Owens |
I didn’t know the Senior Citizens were so vulnerable, economically. I think when you hear ‘Senior Citizens’ you think ‘oh, they’re retired, they’re fine'. Through talking with certain members of the community and focus groups, I realized that they’re not all okay and would really like to have a senior center opportunity where they can get together and have fun and be social. - Emily Jones |
What did you learn?
My favorite thing was going to the Francis Marion Senior Center and meeting this man, Ray. Eventually he started talking about this band he was in called The Jets, and these wild times being in a rock-and-roll band, playing on his porch. The neighbors would call and say ‘You’re being too loud’ but he didn’t care. Now he has arthritis and he can’t play, and he doesn’t really have anybody. But his voice was heard, even though he just told me. I can share that with people. I feel like a challenge is having that responsibility and keeping someone’s story alive. Not many people know his story, and now it’s my responsibility. |
As young adults, how did you connect with the Marion community?
I was really excited to get out and meet the people. I’m from a small town like Marion, so the more I saw about it, the more I wanted to help. I’m from this area, but you still don’t know everything and I really got excited when we would go in Marion and see Emory & Henry all over. I think we cared about them, but that showed that they cared about us, too. - Sydney Owens |