Central Harlem Senior Citizens' Centers, Inc. (CHSCC) was founded in 1973 by a small group of local church and social leaders, and well-known Harlem activists; their names: Rev. Emerson J. Moore, Ms. Elois Banks, Ms. Delores Grier, Rev. George W. McMurray, Mrs. Alberta Barnes and Mrs. Elaine Marius.
Successful in advocating for public funding toward the creation of new senior center nutrition sites in under and unserved communities, CHSCC was a catalyst which precipitated the creation of a community based service model; that standard became the blueprint for the expansion of services for seniors living in these communities, a model which has been replicated citywide.
In the nearly 50 years since its inception, CHSCC has grown from one site to now encompass four (4) sites (Central Harlem/Kennedy, St. Nicholas Center, Lincoln Houses Center, and Beatrice Lewis Center), serving a population of approximately 4,000, with an extensive offering of programs, activities, and services across a wide range of interests and needs.
CHSCC’s mission remains to provide quality services that enhance healthy living among Central Harlem seniors through education, socialization, and advocacy, and to maintain, acknowledge and affirm their dignity, self-worth and pride throughout the 21st century and beyond.
