NISC Programs of Excellence 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• Programs of Excellence Name: The CSC Discovery Network
• Hosting Organization: Colchester Senior Center, Connecticut
• Colchester Population: 15,552
• 60+ Population: 3,589
• Senior Center Members: 1,792

About the CSC Discovery Network

Using the framework of the September 2023 National Senior Center Month "Discover Yours" theme, the Colchester Senior Center launched the "CSC Discovery Network." The television-themed, month-long celebration encouraged senior center members to discover the benefits of their hometown senior center.

The network featured four different "channels": the "Creativity Channel," the "Good Health Channel," the "Friendship Channel," and the "Inner Purpose Channel." Each "channel" offered up to five opportunities within each theme to participate in programs fitting the theme and also provided for unique opportunities for choice and personal expression. An "Emmy" sticker was provided to catalog participation for each program in a personal "TV Guide."

The month culminated in a Finale Party where people turned in their sticker-filled "TV Guides" for gift certificates for future senior center programs. The center offered a photo op TV prop for participants, and showed "commercials" featuring "stars" explaining what their involvement at the Colchester Senior Center means to them. These testimonials were filmed and shared with others on a TV, which was prominently displayed in the senior center dining room.

It was bold, fun, full of nostalgia, and most importantly, it helped members participate more fully with our programs and services in ways which were meaningful to them."

Whether it was any art class teaching about the life and work of Pablo Picasso, which gave a chance to create an abstract collage in the Cubist style (Creativity Channel), or a Falls Prevention Lunch and Learn sponsored by a community partner (Good Health Channel), there were many chances to make and deepen social connections, like during TV Trivia Night or a Back to School Breakfast (Friendship Channel). Finally, participants were encouraged to connect with their personal motivation, for example by volunteering in in a large celebration on the Town Green—Celebrate Colchester (Inner Purpose Channel).

Key takeaways from CSC Discovery Network:

• Throughout the month, senior center staff saw people consistently engaging with programs and being encouraged to try something they hadn't before.
• During September, the center had 1,823 event sign-ins, 117 participants in Creative Arts Programs, 232 in Community Education, and 124 in Special Events, all related to this programming theme.
• The effort resulted in  new community partnerships (a local attorney who presented a program on "Estate Planning: Wills & Trusts"), 21 new member registrations, and existing members enjoying the programs featured in the "CSC Discovery Network" celebration, with service totals for the month at 2,739. For a small, rural senior center, that's very exciting!

About the Colchester Senior  Center

The Colchester Senior Center has a mission "to support older adults (55 years+) by providing programs and services designed to promote their independence, health, wellness and overall quality of life."