Page 24 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

Joslyn Harney It’s A Beautiful Day in

the “NeighborHUB”

By Joslyn Harney - Program Coordinator

s a U.S. Army veteran, I’ve A new program offered by the City
always felt a bit guilty upon of Amarillo through the Parks and
Ahearing, “Thank you for your Recreation Department for Active
service.” After all, I didn’t serve during Adults 50+ is also committed to
war or conflict. I served during peace community. This program is the result
time in an engineer company motor of more than four years of research
pool. Just recently, though, I realized about senior programming. Following
that, because of my support service a Blueprint Study completed in January
and that of others, many important 2015, the City of Amarillo collaborated
objectives were met. At the time, with the Amarillo Area Foundation,
we had no way of knowing that the Mary E. Bivins Foundation and Baptist
outcome of a conflict was dependent Community Services to develop
upon the successful completion of those and deliver an infrastructure and
objectives. I was active. I contributed programming plan for senior services
to my military community and played in Amarillo. The Amarillo City Council
a part in a very large project that led to appointed 15 members to the 21st
victory in the Gulf War. Century Senior Services Development
Advisory Board to oversee the
Similarly, as adults, during our years development of the infrastructure and
of working and child rearing, we are programming plan.
active in the community; we contribute
on a personal and private level. With One result of the work and research
time, we find ourselves transitioning was discovering a “Center Without
from the role of active duty to the roll Walls” concept. This concept is a
of a reservist. We search for meaning program delivery model maximizing
in supporting roles such as encourager, resources and community partnerships
tutor, mentor, coach, creator or while leveraging technology,
caregiver. And while not actively including online communities and
engaged in building careers, we can social media. By implementing the
continue contributing to community. concept model, we have developed
Through the role of encourager, a an online community consisting of
marriage may be saved, or a child may upcoming events, a resource directory
stay in school. As tutors, we can help and links to local program providers
both children and adults bridge the – “The NeighborHUB”. Amarillo
gap between being illiterate or merely Parks & Recreation is now able to
functional to being diverse learners who provide a much-needed service to
achieve academic excellence. Those Active Adults 50+ in the Amarillo
who fill the role of mentor or coach area. At The NeighborHUB, we are
help children believe the best about connecting the community at large
themselves. Creators share beauty with creativity, knowledge, recreation,
through writing, painting, crafting and educational opportunities and the
dozens of other mediums. Caregivers fine arts. Likewise, we are providing
bring cheer and dignity to those who opportunities for our Active Adults and
feel helpless or hopeless, providing their families to connect with people
needed touch, positive conversation, and aspects of the community they
and a reprieve from the mundane. As might not know existed. Through a
reservists, we are bringing forth life by calendar of events, The NeighborHUB
contributing to community. is keeping Amarillo’s Active Adults

24 Amarillo Senior Link