Cultural Clubs at Brooksby Village Foster Community and Well-Being Among Seniors

Residents at Brooksby Village, an Erickson Senior Living community in Peabody, Mass., are actively exploring various cultures and languages through numerous clubs and activities, which significantly contribute to their social engagement and overall well-being. Resident Services Manager Melissa Luke emphasizes that these cultural activities are vital for residents, providing opportunities to socialize and enhance their quality of life. The community offers a range of groups, including an Asian American monthly dinner, a German club, a French circle, and Italian classes, each fostering camaraderie and cultural exchange.

The Asian American group, initiated by resident Dora Chu shortly after her move in December 2021, regularly attracts 12 to 14 residents for monthly dinners. Chu notes that the group offers support and shares diverse cultural backgrounds, with members from various parts of China and other Asian countries like Korea, Japan, and India. This diversity allows for learning about traditions across Asia, and the group occasionally dines at local restaurants for special occasions or participates in community events such as the 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, aiming to keep the language alive through activities like watching German movies, dining at German restaurants, and informal conversations. The group, which started with roughly 28 members, has since reformed as The German Table or Stammtisch, meeting monthly for lunch and German-only conversation. Sandorfi highlights that not all members are German; some are Americans with connections to Germany, such as through work or military service, enriching the cultural exchange.

The Cercle Français, or French Club, facilitated by resident Fred Carlo, 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 through weekly meetings where they discuss daily lives, current events, read French publications, and enjoy music and films. Carlo emphasizes the joyful and laughter-filled atmosphere, which strengthens bonds among members.

Resident Frank Tino, from Italy's Calabrian peninsula, teaches a weekly Italian class with about 30 attendees, focusing on speaking and writing Italian, including nouns, verbs, and sentence structure. Tino, who has lived half his life in Italy and half in the U.S., finds it rewarding to see non-Italian students picking up the language quickly. Luke notes that these clubs continue to grow as residents seek to learn more about their neighbors and broaden their skills, fostering a deep sense of belonging and community through shared experiences and cultural heritage.