4 minute read
Community Health
ATHLETICS
St. Philip’s Homecoming Makes a Big Comeback
St. Philip’s Homecoming Parade is back! In October, Saints from the School AND Community Center, along with their families, enjoyed a festive parade and Homecoming games. Homecoming was canceled last year, so this year’s effort was intentionally big and inclusive of the entire St. Philip’s Community. As Texas/OU fans drove East on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard toward Fair Park, approximately 200 Saints, led by Dallas’ Kickin’ Brass Band, danced, walked, drove, and cheered West on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from Madison High School back toward St. Philip’s campus. It was an eventful day and the Saints football teams won all but one of their
games of the day.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT TROY VINCENT
A former first-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, Troy Vincent played 15 seasons in the NFL and is a past president of the NFL Players Association. He currently serves as the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations. In recent years, he’s become a supporter of St. Philip’s celebrated athletics program. This is due in most part to one of his former mentors, St. Philip’s very own Athletics Director, Coach Eddie Fletcher.
“Troy and my son (Eddie Jr.) played football together at the University of Wisconsin and they were roommates,” Fletcher says. Vincent spent a lot of time at Fletcher’s home where they would often talk about football and life. “Troy was very polite and outgoing and always positive, regardless of the circumstance.”
Vincent served on the board of Pop Warner Little Scholars Football, the league that St. Philip’s has been a member of for well over a decade. “It’s great to see him giving back,” says Fletcher.
AT A GLANCE: SENIOR SERVICES
St. Philip’s has provided programs serving its elderly neighbors for over three decades. In addition to Meals on Wheels, our elderly neighbors take part in a weekly transportation program, computer classes, health and wellness activities, and social programs.
Quality and affordable housing has long been a priority for our South Dallas neighbors. Since the mid 1980’s, St. Philip’s has fostered collaborations and partnerships with various development and housing organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and the Forest Heights Neighborhood Development Corporation (FHNDC). The establishment of dignified, affordable housing for the elderly has been a significant priority for FHNDC that opened its Elderfriendly Phase 3 community a few blocks from St. Philip’s last year.
“It’s great for seniors to have affordable housing in this area and a community that cares about their well-being, their safety, and needs,” explains Brenan Morrison, who has served as property manager for FHNDC for six years. It didn’t take long for these quaint homes to reach full occupancy. Residents are senior citizens living on fixed incomes. “The elderly want to live with dignity. They want to be a part of a community,” says Morrison.
The presence of Elderfriendly housing in our immediate neighborhood not only provides a solid roof over the heads of vulnerable senior
citizens, but opportunities for social interaction, community involvement, and participation in several neighborhood community services, some of which are provided through St. Philip’s School and Community Center.
The majority of St. Philip’s neighbors are elderly. We have found this to be an asset instead of a burden. The contribution of their
experience, leadership, and participation moves St. Philip’s closer to cultivating an inclusive, safe, healthy community for all.
AARP Collaboration Puts Technology in Seniors’ Hands
For well over a decade, the AARP has partnered with St. Philip’s in the establishment of computer classes for area senior citizens. The classes are held in the Senior Center, located on St. Philip’s campus. Three days a week AARP offers classes for elderly in the DFW area in need of technology skills for employment and two days a week, classes are offered for the elderly in South Dallas.
VeEtta Powell has served as the technology instructor for the last two years. “It’s wonderful helping seniors and serving the community with what they need,” she says. Powell, a senior herself, assists participants with resume and online job submissions. “Some come in just for fun and to learn the computer.”
Ms. Edna Geiger is one of the regulars. “I come so I can learn the computer again. I retired many years ago,” she explains. “I’m now seeking employment and need to gain a few skills so I can be hired.”
The program currently serves 40 – 50 seniors, ages 55 and older, regularly.
