Seniors Strut Their Stuff

With a wry smile, Daniel Gant belted out a rendition of the bawdy ​“60 Minute Man.” Brunilda Roman led a 12-part group in a jubilant ​“This Little Light of Mine.” And Nilda Mercado crooned ​“Una Dia a la Vez,” as many of the 150 in attendance swayed along. There was a skit, a kalimba, or thumb piano, performance, a spoken word poem. 

The occasion was the third annual Senior Center Talent Show at the Q House gymnasium, with members from the three senior centers in New Haven — Atwater, Dixwell/Newhallville, and East Shore —showcasing their gifts. 

The mission for the Hawaiian-themed event, according to organizer Gwen Grady, an elderly services specialist at the Dixwell/Newhallville senior center, was simple.

“This is about bringing together seniors from different neighborhoods and backgrounds to meet each other and have fun and show off what they can do,” she said, as tablefuls of members clad in flowered headbands, leis, and grass skirts, engaged in spirited chatter and enjoying pizza-truck pizza. 

As for the larger significance of the gathering, which was held last week, ​“you have to remember the East Shore is predominantly Italian, Fair Haven [Atwater] is Latino, and Dixwell is African American,” she said. ​“We all need to come together, especially in this political climate, and given what these seniors are facing.”

New Haven Director of Elderly Services Tomi Veale said planning for the event had been in the works for months. This year, as a new feature, the organizers included resource tables with information ranging from an AmeriCorps program for seniors to volunteer as medical chaperones, to assistance on home care, medical benefits, and home grocery delivery provided by the South Central Connecticut Agency on Aging.

“We’re hoping this will help seniors with their independence, and with navigating through the different systems,” said Veale, as the crowd cheered the Atwater group’s performance of ​“Praise Dance.” 

Back in the audience, Betty Fludd, a retired educator from the Bronx, expressed gratitude to the organizers. ​“I think this is a rejuvenation for all of us,” she said, as volunteers distributed mini cups of ice cream amid the lively beat from the line dancing at the other side of the gymnasium. 

“We get a chance to showboat, show off our talents, and with people from different backgrounds, different neighborhoods,” she went on. ​“There is just a beautiful sense of camaraderie, and with the Medicaid and everything else that’s coming around the corner, we’ve got to enjoy life while we can.” 

Beside her, Robbie Potter, the spoken word artist, agreed. She’s been writing poems for years, she said, but rarely with a platform to perform them. ​“It was an experience,” she said. ​“I’d like to do it next year as well.” 

Then, at an attendee’s request, she shared her poem, ​“I Was Your Grand Prize” again. ​“I’m still a queen/I’m still a masterpiece,” she recited. ​“I’m still a trophy/I’m still everything that someone needs.”