Iowa City Senior Center September-October 2025 Program Guide

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS Create new friendships, find support, boost your resilience, prioritize joy!

Death Cafe Fridays, Sep 5, Oct 3, 1-2 pm Location: Room 309

Becoming Elder Fridays, Sep 19, Oct 17, 1-2:30 pm Location: Room 302 Register online or call 319-356-5220 Facilitator: Thomas Dean

A Death Café is a safe place for people to talk about death in order to make the most of life. New people are encouraged to join anytime. This is not a bereavement support group or grief counseling session. This is open to people of all ages, no membership or registration required. For more information on the purpose of this group, visit deathcafe.com or contact Michelle Buhman at 319 356-5222. SSRO Reader's Theatre Group Wednesdays, Sep 10 - Dec 10, 2-3:30 pm Location: Room 309 Register online or call 319-356-5220 SSRO (Senior Standing Room Only) is Iowa City's one-of-a-kind Readers Theatre troupe, sharing the talents of our performers through skits, stories, humorous anecdotes, and theatre and film parodies. Rehearsing every Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm (resuming Sep 10), our fall session features completely original scripts written and created by our own SSRO members, plus a showstopping Cliff's Notes version of the 1954 classic movie "White Christmas," culminating in a performance at the Senior Center on the afternoon of Dec 10. Previous theatre experience and memorization are not required. Membership required. Original Mature Groovers Wednesdays, Sep 17, Oct 15, 12-1 pm Location: Assembly Room This group aims to provide a safe and welcoming space for older people of color to share their diverse perspectives and stories and foster new connections. Through regular meetings and events, members have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and learn from each other. The OMGers group welcomes all people of color age 50+ to join. Lunch is provided at our monthly meetings. For more details, contact LaTasha at ldeloach@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5225.

Join us as we explore what it means to “become elder” and how we might bring our life wisdom and unique gifts to others. We base our discussions on short readings by various authors, though no preparation is needed. Elderhood involves much more than the accumulation of lived years. Elderhood evolves when those lived years contribute to a special wisdom and vision that are shared with the community and society. In many ways, elderhood is the pinnacle of developing one’s wholeness as a person. Coming into wholeness is a lifelong process, and it continues in elderhood. Our monthly discussion series follows Parker Palmer’s Circle of Trust® approach, which invites the individual soul to show up in a safe space, where it can be heard and supported by a trustworthy community. If you’re attending for the first time, arrive by 12:45 pm for a brief orientation. Membership required.

Gentle Stroll in the Park Saturdays, Sep 20, 27, Oct 11, 25, 9-10 am Location: Various Local Parks (TBA) Register online or call 319-356-5220 Group leader: Deb VanderGaast

Join our Gentle Walkers Group! We meet at a different park each time (or at Coral Ridge Mall when the weather doesn't cooperate) to enjoy a leisurely walk and good company. Our pace is relaxed, with plenty of opportunities to pause, rest on a park bench, and take in the scenery. All are welcome!

Stories from Ancestors Tuesday, Oct 7, 10-11:30 am

Location: Room 309 Facilitator: John Archer

Come and share a story with the group about events that happened in your ancestors' lives. The good times and hardships they faced. Stories that were passed down to you from your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts or uncles. How did your family come to live in Iowa? What world events affected their lives? What were their hopes for the future?

icgov.org/senior 319-356-5220 28 South Linn Street, Iowa City 52240

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