Senior Leadership... It Matters

by Bernie Fratto
April 2004
 

When Kathy Crawford’s March 19^th retirement party came to a close, it marked the end of 24 years of service to the City of Novi, and it’s residents. A type of service characterized by honor and distinction that crosses several rubicons, and multiple generations. 

A lifelong native, Kathy was actually born in Novi, before they even called it Novi! And, she attended high school while living in Novi, even though there was no Novi High School at the time. So, as a lifetime resident, she became acutely aware of everything the city has to offer, and even some things it needed to add.

In 1980, Kathy Crawford had a dream to create a vehicle for senior citizens to enjoy their golden years, while remaining in Novi. For all the amenities that graced the burgeoning city of Novi, there were little or no provisions for senior adults.

She’d already worked for numerous organizations overseeing activities as a “Senior Citizen coordinator,” and she thought to herself, “There could be so much more in Novi.”

So, in 1980, with little funding and very little resources, she founded Novi’s first “Senior Center.” Her philosophy was simple; “Provide services and programs for senior adults, ranging from opportunities that would include education, information, activities, employment, transportation and recreation," just to name a few.

She truly believed these endeavors would “extend life and the quality of life for older adults,” and she felt strongly that  “older adults in every community have a lot to offer.” In fact, “many of a City’s volunteers come from adult communities, and senior center organizations.”

Her theory is sound… The resources provided from a Senior Center, in turn make it possible for senior adults to maintain productive lives, while also adding value and giving back to the community in which they live.

Kathy also believed strongly, the “longtime residents of Novi should not have to move out of the city so they could enjoy the benefits of a senior center.” So, because of her vision and her efforts, her retirement party was a homecoming of sorts, featuring luminaries from Providence Hospital, the Novi Library, the Novi Ice Arena, Novi Parks and Recreation Staff, and the City Council, just to name a few.

The Novi Senior Center has positively impacted the lives of the members of each of the aforementioned entities.

Today, on Meadowbrook Road, just north of 10 Mile and adjacent to Holy Family Church, there sits a beautiful Senior Center that opened in 2002. Over 120,000 members have been served in the areas of transportation, meals, education, fitness, and even dance and recreational opportunities. All of them have enjoyed an enhanced quality of life as a result of this progress.

This development has touched the lives of countless family members as well, providing peace of mind and the assurance that the City of Novi has a vehicle that will allow senior adults to enjoy their golden years in prosperity and productivity, while remaining valued residents of the City of Novi.

As Kathy Crawford transitions into a well-deserved retirement, she can take pride in knowing that perhaps now more than ever, Novi, Michigan is her home.

She has now come full circle… The very environment she worked so hard to help create, is something she can now benefit from, as well as take pride in its majesty.

Welcome Home, Kathy…