Adult & Senior Program Overview

Meeting a Community Need:

Empowering Seniors; Aiding Independence

The Urban League of Portland Adult & Senior Program has a successful track record in serving low income and seniors of color in North and Northeast Portland. For more than 30 years it has promoted health, well-being, and economic security for people aged 60 years and older. We have expanded our initiatives to include advocacy projects that enhance seniors’ ability to impact policies and programs that affect their lives, as well as intergenerational projects aimed at strengthening community relationships across age boundaries.

The need for services provided through the League’s Senior Program is increasing daily. In 2006, the first ‘baby boomers’ turned 60 years old. This age group is the fastest growing in the US.

African American and Latino elders are primarily low income and under-resourced; and suffer higher rates of poverty related illness and lack of natural support systems. The growth in population of the elderly poor is occurring at the same time that resources from national, state and local governments have declined. The Senior Program has address these issues by working with Multnomah County and other community partners to provide a range of support services.

Accomplishing The Urban League Mission
The mission of the Urban League of Portland is to empower African Americans and other to achieve equality, education, employment and economic security. The Senior Program’s aim to connect underserved populations to the resources and information they need to reach their fullest potential is consistent with the League’s over-arching goal.

Key accomplishments
1. Successfully developed the region’s only Grandparents Support Program.

2. Successfully conducted forums on Medicare Fraud and Elder Abuse

3. Increased the number of seniors served by over 25%

In the coming year our goals include:
1. Initiating a Junior Senior program that will encourage increased involvement of seniors between the ages of 50 and 65.

2. Provide skills training to 20 seniors in advocacy skills, including lobbying elected officials, letter-writing and public speaking

3. A minimum of 350 to participate in exercise and health education classes; and for at least 20% to modify their eating and exercise habits

Adult & Senior Program partners
We work with a number of community partners to accomplish our mission.

Multnomah County Aging and disability Services
Loaves and Fishes
Ride Connection and Trimet
Senior Law Project
Faith-based organizations such as the Albina Ministerial alliance
The Salvation Army
Elders in Action
AARP
The African American health Coalition
Alzheimer’s Association
Diabetes Association
American Red Cross
Heart Association and Cancer Society
Oregon Food Bank
Arthritis Association, State of Oregon
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods

For more information contact:
D’Norgia Price
Adult& Senior Services Director
503 280 2638
dprice@ulpdx.org