The Shepherd Center, an interfaith volunteer organization, brought together 18 people from across the community on October 25, 2006, to address the question of what it means to age well in the Greater Fall River community. Funded by a Healthy City micro-grant, the event engaged participants in a three-hour process that sought to identify some of the components that assist healthy aging as well as some of the potential resources that the Shepherd Center could nurture to improve the life course of older people. Meeting at the St. John's Episcopal Church social hall, the group reflected on the question of what contributes to healthy aging and then broke into small discussion groups to describe specific activities that could help to make that happen. The results of the meeting will be used by the Shepherd Center board of directors to shape future programs. For more information about the group, e-mail Kathy Brennan or call the Shepherd's Center office at 508-678-7575.
 

(Top row, left) Dr. Elizabeth Sullivan, Shepherd Center Director Kathy Brennan, and Shepherd Center office manager Veronica Humphreys share a laugh at the start of the session. (Top row, center) Rev. Donald Mier, Sue Correira, and Juraci Capataz enjoy a group ice-breaker. (Top row, right) Sue Correira listens as Juraci Capataz clarifies a point to Rev. Jim Hornsby. (Middle row, left) Rev. Smolley and Dr. Sullivan listen as Bristol Elder Service Director Nancy Munson makes a point. (Middle row, center) Fall River Health and Human Service Director Michael Coughlin leads the group through the visioning exercise. (Middle row, right) Rev. Jim Hornsby and Rev. Dr. Edward Soares listen as Rita Verespy summarizes her group's recommendations. (Bottom row, left) Mr. Coughlin gives instructions to Rev. Donald Mier, Dennis Hurley, Norman Zinger, Nancy Munson, and Rev. Smolley prior to a small group session. (Bottom row, center) Rosa Oliveira, Rev. Jim Hornsby, Rev. Soares, Joyce Sunderland, Dr. Sullivan, Rita Versepy and Ginny Senna-Davis share a light supper. (Bottom row, right) Joyce Sunderland bids farewell to Betty Novacek at the end of the session.