Cultural Clubs at Brooksby Village Enhance Senior Well-Being Through Language and Heritage
Residents at Brooksby Village are fostering community and improving well-being through diverse cultural clubs that celebrate Asian American, German, French, and Italian heritage.
Residents at Brooksby Village, an Erickson Senior Living community in Peabody, Massachusetts, are actively engaging with diverse cultures and languages through various clubs, enhancing their social connections and overall well-being. Resident Services Manager Melissa Luke emphasizes that these cultural activities are vital for residents, providing opportunities to socialize and engage with each other, which ultimately enhances their overall well-being.
The Asian American monthly group dinner, initiated by Dora Chu shortly after her move in December 2021, regularly attracts 12 to 14 residents. The group shares meals and camaraderie, offering support and exchanging cultural backgrounds. While most members are Chinese, they represent different regions, showcasing diversity in customs and dialects. The group has also welcomed Korean, Japanese, and Indian residents, broadening their understanding of traditions across Asia. For special occasions, they occasionally dine at local restaurants and participate in community events like Brooksby's annual Unity in the Community Festival, which showcases cultures through arts, crafts, food, and demonstrations.
Dorit Sandorfi, a native Swiss-German linguist, co-founded the German club about 12 years ago with resident Cliff Kent, a former high school German teacher. Initially with 28 members, the group aimed to keep the language alive by watching German movies, dining at German restaurants, and hosting guest speakers. Recently reformed as The German Table or "Stammtisch," it meets monthly for lunch and conversation exclusively in German. The group includes not only Germans but also Americans who worked in Germany, grew up there, or served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Cercle Français, or French Club, is facilitated by resident Fred Carlo and consists of 10 members with diverse backgrounds, including native speakers from Belgium, Haiti, and Quebec, as well as long-term students of French. The club's primary goal is to maintain and improve members' command of the French language. They meet weekly to discuss daily lives, current events, read and discuss French publications, and occasionally enjoy music and films, fostering a joyful and educational environment.
Resident Frank Tino, from Italy's Calabrian peninsula, teaches a weekly Italian class with about 30 attendees. Having lived half his life in Italy and half in the U.S., Tino instructs residents on speaking and writing Italian, focusing on nouns, verbs, and sentence structure. He notes that even non-Italian students are progressing well, highlighting the accessibility and appeal of language learning. Luke observes that these cultural and linguistic clubs continue to grow as residents seek to learn more about their neighbors and broaden their skillsets, helping them meet new people and foster a deep sense of belonging.