BRENDA TATE, FRANCO HARRIS
The Senior Jazz Connection program is hosting a New Year’s jazz and free lunch event for Pittsburgh seniors on Thursday, December 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Energy Innovation Center on Bedford Avenue in the Hill District.
It’s hosted by 40-year Pittsburgh Police veteran and community activist, Brenda Tate, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively.
As the COVID pandemic started to ease this year, Tate, a lifelong resident of the historic Hill District, in conjunction with her goddaughter, Tonya Ford, developed a concept to bring both entertainment and socialization to seniors living in high-rise complexes. Tate, an active senior herself, recognized how many of her friends, neighbors and seniors in high rises were struggling with the lack of socialization.
Tate and Tonya Ford designed a plan that would bring both socialization and entertainment into the housing communities. Every first Friday of the month, the Senior Jazz Connection shows up at a high rise in the Hill District or Oakland with a jazz band and a healthy lunch. Local renowned musician Tony Campbell performs for the seniors for two hours as they dance and enjoy music that they have been sorely missing. Tate and Ford have also enlisted the support of many partners who believe in Senior Jazz Connection’s concept to make financial investments so that they can provide seniors with a safe environment to express themselves socially.
“My entire career as a police officer for 40 years was about service to my own community and the city,” said Tate, who made the decision to return to the Hill District late in her career to make it a safer community for seniors. “When I retired, my life didn’t change, only the job. I was still serving my community, but I could now focus on seniors. With Senior Jazz Connection we do just that every month.”
Added Tate: “We made the decision to close out 2022 with a bang, by hosting a New Year’s lunch party for seniors residing in the City of Pittsburgh. The Hill District has been my lifelong home, and it gives me great satisfaction to be able to serve the seniors. This program has rebooted my life. As I age, I realize being a senior has many challenges, both physically and mentally. But you still have a strong desire to be as active as you possibly can and enjoy each other’s company. With the Senior Jazz Connection, you can do just that.”
The New Year’s event on Dec. 29 will include a free lunch and feature a performance by Tony Campbell Jazz Surgery. In addition, many resources will be available for the seniors, including McAuley Ministries, UPMC, Hearing and Deaf, Duquesne University law students, Senior Grandparents, PAWS Across Pittsburgh, Incarcerated Sons, Salem’s Market and more. Tate also tapped into her own scholarship (Brenda Tate Scholarship) recipients to serve as volunteers.
“We will be dedicating a prayer memorial for our friend Franco Harris, a real champion for Pittsburgh’s seniors,” Tate said.