Provides physical, emotional and spiritual resources in a multicultural, intergenerational environment, supporting older adults, their families and the community. History
The existing Central Area Senior Center (CASC) was originally built as a nursing home in 1959. When the nursing home closed in 1968, several African American community leaders and activist approached the City of Seattle to ask th
at the City acquire the building for the purposes of offering programs and services to a growing population of African American elders who resided in Seattle’s Central District. Through their perseverance the City of Seattle agreed to purchase the building for use as a senior center. In 1969 with minor renovations the former nursing home was converted and adapted to its new reuse. In 1975 CASC partnered with United Way's Senior Services (now Sound Generations) to facilitate a month-to-month lease agreement with the City of Seattle to continue the delivery of services to older adults residing in the Central District as the designated 501 c 3 organization who served as the fiscal sponsor for CASC. By 1993, CASC was itself a 501 c 3 nonprofit corporation. Sound Generations, formerly Senior Services continued to maintain the lease agreement with the City of Seattle and CASC continued its delivery of programs and services to the Central District maintaining its service delivery focus on African American elders. Today, CASC is recognized as delivering program services to older adults as they simultaneously meet the needs of serving a wider community need within the Central District area neighborhoods of Leschi, Madrona, Squire and Junkins Park, Mt Baker, Madison Park and Madison Valley. CASC's service delivery area for programs and activities meeting the needs of older African American adults and communities of color extend north to Shoreline and south to Federal Way. Sound Generations (SG) and the Central Area Senior Center (The Central) announced on January 1, 2020 a separation in their partnership. The Central assumed all administrative responsibilities to become an independent organization. In 1975, Mayor Wes Uhlman used state funds, donations, and money raised in the community to purchase the property at 500 30th Avenue South as The Central’s permanent home. It is anticipated that in 2020 the City of Seattle will transfer the deed—and the responsibilities—for the site to the organization. This transfer aligns with the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative goal of returning control of community institutions to the communities being served. In late September 2020, Mayor Durkan transmitted Legislation to the Seattle City Council to permanently transfer ownership of The Central to the organization representing community ownership. According to Dian Ferguson, Director, "CASC represents 50 years of the Black experience in Seattle and the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity in the service to seniors. We salute the Mayor and her team for hearing and listening to our desire to own the facility and to continue in service to seniors and the community." Services
The Central now serves over 2,600 seniors each year and is a vital part of the lives of many older Seattleites. Younger generations participate in evening programs designed for working adults. Partnerships with local schools and youth organizations ensure that our community is connected to the elders that founded it. Activities include exercise programs, computer classes, guitar lessons, card clubs, language lessons, recreational trips, special events and much more. Café Central, The Central’s in-house kitchen, serves hot meals five days per week including special meals like Soul Food Tuesdays and monthly Birthday Lunches.
