Senator Montgomery celebrates the opening of the new Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center

Senator Montgomery joins Shola Olatoye,Chair & Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), elected officials, the Spanish Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES staff and community members on the opening of the new Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center. 

The Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center is sponsored by the Spanish Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES. The Center was forced to relocate from 6 Wolcott Street after the building sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Sandy. The storm flooded the center with more than five feet of water and sewage; and destroyed furniture, appliances and computer equipment. The Senior Center was relocated to the basement of the PAL Miccio Center during the construction of their new permanent home. The new senior center building at 120 West 9th Street and is adjacent to the current location. 

The Spanish Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization that operates in New York City and currently sponsors 7 senior centers; 5 in Brooklyn and 2 in Queens. These programs provide valuable nutrition, health, educational, social and recreational services to a diverse elderly and minority population. The overall goal of the centers is to combat isolation and promote a healthy lifestyle so that they remain independent and engaged members of their community.

RAICES was founded in 1978 by retired Hispanic senior citizens who saw the need for an organization which would provide services, educate and organize the Latino, minority and low income aging community in the borough of Brooklyn.  RAICES’ mission is to respond to the unmet needs of the Latino, African American and low income community and seeks to improve their quality of life through advocacy and the direct provision of targeted services with work across the generations and a particular emphasis on the needs of older adults. 

For more information about RAICES, visit https://www.raices.us