If you’ve met Yemi, you know she’s all about community. Yemi Kibret, CEOC’s Program and Advocacy Coordinator, has recently started “Ethiopian Hour,” a community group for Ethiopian seniors to meet in North Cambridge, build community, and connect to resources. Yemi is an immigrant from Ethiopia herself, she came to the U.S. as a teenager. Her lived expertise, as well as her deep ties to her community in Cambridge, were the catalyst for the formation of this group. So far, the group has met five times at the North Cambridge Senior Center. The first meeting focused on hearing from the seniors about their needs, what they hoped to get out of the Ethiopian Elder Group, and what programming they would like to see during meetings. Each meeting has also prioritized building social connections among members to combat isolation and foster social support.
Topics and programming have ranged from immigration issues to SNAP benefits to knitting to wellness. They’ve even hosted a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony! We’re looking forward to seeing how the group moves forward, what topics are of interest to them, and how they want to broaden their reach.
We are so thankful for the partnership with the North Cambridge Senior Center. They have provided a dedicated space for this group to meet and have been so supportive with helping us meet the needs of the group. We’re very excited to continue collaborating with their incredible staff and leadership!
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