Past Experience Leads to Future Success at Rural New Jersey Center

Information by State  Print version   Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace staff member Gloria Weldon helps a young resident prepare a snack. Weldon joined the center's staff through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the nation's oldest program that provides training and employment opportunities to low-income Americans over age 55.

Newton, NJ—Virginia Shamlian's professional career may be best described as a buffet of employment experiences that have not only provided her with professional growth, but have also offered personal enrichment. Over the years, she has held positions as a teacher, a restaurateur, a human resources generalist, a communications specialist, and a counselor.

Six years ago, Shamlian launched a search for her next challenging career, one that capitalized on her nurturing personality and ability to encourage people to become involved. She found what she was searching for at Brookside Terrace. Today, Shamlian applies the skills and experience she has obtained from her past careers to successfully plan and coordinate programs and activities for the 450 residents living in the 10-story, 220-unit housing community in rural northwest New Jersey.

It All Began with Tea at Two

When Shamlian established the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace in 2002, her first goal was to increase resident participation by encouraging more residents to take advantage of the center's resources, including its six Internet-ready computers. Drawing on her past experience in the restaurant and marketing fields, Shamlian launched Tea at Two.

"You cannot expect people to know what you have to offer if you do not tell them about it," explained Shamlian. "However, to tell and show residents what the center had to offer, I had to first create an opportunity that would form friendships and establish relationships. I came up with Tea at Two. To draw people to the center, I would offer coffee and tea at 2:00 every Monday through Thursday. To sweeten the deal, I baked banana bread in the community room's kitchen. The aroma of the bread baking would waft through the halls and lead people to the center." Shamlian went on to say, "I knew if residents visited the center, they would return. I just needed to get them in the door so they could see for themselves what was right here in front of them. Even though getting residents to come to the center is no longer a challenge, we still have Tea at Two every Monday through Thursday. It gives us all a reason to come together as a community and has become a tradition."

Old Habits Die Hard

Once Shamlian captured the interest of residents, her next step was to begin planning programs and activities that residents needed and wanted. This is where her past professional experience really came in handy. Shamlian adopted a program planning strategy that put to use all of the skills she acquired during her professional career. Drawing on her teaching and counseling experience, Shamlian planned a variety of programs that she could self-instruct and manage. She also used her human resources and marketing skills to recruit top-notch staff and volunteers, and to form valuable community partnerships.

"My program planning strategy also included a tactic I call 'dovetailing,'" described Shamlian. "Before a program ends, I am already promoting the next or another program with participants. I have found that it is easier to motivate residents to participate in programs and activities if they are already participating. If they are already visiting the center, all you have to do is make an announcement and put up signs in the center promoting a new program. However, if the program they are participating in ends, you have to conduct a bigger promotional effort to get them back." Shamlian went on to explain, "This is also true with partners. If you keep your partners continually engaged, they are more likely to develop a stronger commitment to your programs. It becomes more personal to them."

Do-It-Yourself Programming

As a former teacher, Shamlian is always on the lookout for no-cost, worthwhile curricula and materials. When she discovers new resources, she determines how she can use them to launch new center programs.

"There are a lot of good materials online for educators or anyone who is looking for ideas, curriculum, and resources," said Shamlian. "You just want to make sure the source of the information is a reputable one, and you want to review the material carefully before implementing a program. I found a wonderful curriculum that addresses character education, volunteer service, and career exploration online at the Tiger Woods Foundation Web site. It is called Tiger's Action Plan, and it is a character development program for youth ages 8 to 17. Using this curriculum, the center established a teen program that meets every Monday after school. It is one of our most successful programs."

Shamlian also uses her past counseling skills and experience to moderate a weekly adult discussion group that meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Participants discuss topics of interest to them, including education, communication, relationships, stress reduction, and dealing with difficult people. To enhance parenting and life skills, Shamlian also facilitates a parenting program that meets every Monday night, and addresses topics such as community and conflict resolution.

A Little Help from Some Friends

Shamlian also used her experience as a human resources professional to recruit staff members that would help expand and strengthen the center's programs and activities. The Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace's staff includes Gloria Weldon and Elizabeth Quinn, who joined the team through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the nation's oldest program that provides training and employment opportunities to low-income Americans over age 55. Linda VanOrden teaches hands-on domestic arts classes and offers one-on-one coaching, and John Heemer serves as the center's computer lab assistance. Janell Carr is the director of spiritual development and activities coordinator. While Shamlian and her team personally conduct and lead numerous center programs and activities, including job training, computer literacy, and Internet/e-mail classes, their efforts are supported by numerous community partners.

"There is no way the five of us could offer all of the programs and activities by ourselves, so we formed partnerships with several community businesses and organizations," stated Shamlian. "However, because a partnership really is not a partnership unless both parties are contributing, it was important that I become involved in our partners' projects. To get to know the community resources, I attended a lot of our partners' planning meetings and volunteered on countless committees. This was actually very beneficial because it allowed me to form stronger relationships in which our partners want to work with us, and spread the word about our center."

One major partner of the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace is the Sussex County Center for Prevention and Counseling, which conducts the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) program at the center. A six-lesson curriculum that is facilitated by trained prevention specialists once a week, WISE is a wellness and prevention program targeting older adults. The program aims to help seniors celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices, and avoid substance abuse. On December 2, 2008, the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace graduated 22 seniors from its WISE program. Senior residents and neighborhood members who attended every class received a certificate of completion and gift certificate.

The First Presbyterian Church of Sparta has also been a big supporter of the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace. In addition to conducting regular worship services and Bible study sessions, the church supports the center's arts-and-crafts sessions. For the sessions, the church and the local Wal-Mart donate materials and supplies. Parishioners also provide guidance.

"We always have a good turnout for the weekly crafts night," said Shamlian. "Residents of all ages come to the center to work on their projects. Even though the residents are not well off financially, many use the time to make hats, blankets, mittens, and socks for local homeless shelters. It offers them a chance to do for others."

Shamlian and her team also rely on the support of local partners, including the Boy Scouts, the Girls Scouts, Project Self-Sufficiency, Family Intervention Services, and Norwescap.

A Community Is Created

When Shamlian began her career at the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace, she had a vision. Her idea was to establish a computer center that would provide residents with a venue to interact and congregate. Her goal was to encourage more residents to take advantage of the resources the center offered, and in the process, become more familiar with their neighbors. Today, Shamlian's vision has become a reality, and the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace is the heart of the housing complex.

"Everyone on our team works hard to deliver age- and audience-appropriate programs to residents, but we are also careful to design programs that do not exclude anyone," concluded Shamlian. "For example, our teen program includes a drama class. During the class, the teens practice their acting skills and learn about the theatre arts, and then perform a play for the community. We also encourage intergenerational fellowship by empowering the youth to be computer instructors for the senior residents and teaching them how to be patient. I encourage the seniors to share their life experiences with the youth and share some of their wisdom. Our center is unique in that it provides residents what they need, but in the process of getting what they need, the residents also provide something of value to other residents."

For more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in New Jersey, contact:

Pamela M. Breitenbach
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Newark
Multifamily Program Center
One Newark Center, 13th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 776-7254

For more information about the Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace, contact:

Virginia Shamlian
Lifelong Learning Center at Brookside Terrace
33 Mill Street
Newton, NJ 07860
(973) 300-5398