NCRC’s National Neighbor’s Silver presents a webinar on the Northwest Side Housing Center’s (NWSHC) pilot demonstration of their “Senior Ambassador Program”. Located in Chicago, IL, the Senior Ambassador Program is part of the organization’s larger Age-Friendly Banking initiative, a major program focus of NCRC’s National Neighbors Silver that concentrates on empowering older adults to be leaders in the enhancement of economic security of older adults in their communities. The older adult ambassadors participating in NWSHC’s program bring community resources and facilitate helpful banking services to better serve low- to moderate-income seniors in the Chicago area. Learn how Northwest Side Housing Center designed, launched and currently sustains their Age-Friendly Banking Senior Ambassador Program.

Learning Objectives:

Participants understand how to create and launch a senior ambassador program, including budget, staffing, partnership, logic model, and outcomes.
Participants understand how to engage older adults and build community leaders to be involved in their community.
Participants will understand the importance of working with financial institutions and other local partners, as well as learn about strategies to engage partners. Participants will learn about building partnerships with financial institutions and other organizations.

Presenter Bios:

Rev. Elaine Bellis joined the Northwest Side Housing Center in November 2014 and organizes around issues relevant to Older Adults, including the Age Friendly Banking Program and preventing fraud and scams against older adults. Elaine was born and raised in East Grand Rapids, MI and attended Roosevelt University; she also received a scholarship for Interior Design from the Art Institute of Chicago. Prior to joining the NWSHC, Elaine worked for Xerox Corporation in their Finance division and as an Older Adult Organizer for the Community Renewal Society.

James Rudyk joined the Northwest Side Housing Center as Executive Director in May 2012. James came to the NWSHC with over four years of experience in the non-profit housing sector. James was previously the Director of Community Organizing for ESOP (Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People), an Ohio based non-profit community organizing and housing counseling agency. A native Clevelander, James is a graduate with honors from John Carroll University with a BA in Race and Identity Studies and a minor in Political Philosophy. James also holds his Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, writing his thesis on the influence of race, socioeconomic status, and parental involvement on children’s educational attainment.

Rev. Gwendolyn Byrd became the Secretary for the Montclare Steering Committee in January, 2014. She was born and raised in Chicago and attended John Marshall High School and attended Loop College, studying Humanities. She continued studies at the Central YMCA, in English and music. Rev. Byrd worked at Rush Medical Center being promoted to several positions in their Administrative department and retired in 2000. Rev. Byrd received her call to the ministry in 1999 and was ordained as an Associate Sr. Pastor in 2012 at the Zion Tabernacle Church of Deliverance, where she teaches and preaches. She has become a strong Older Adult leader around the Age Friendly Banking initiative and issues voiced at the Montclare Senior Residence, where she lives.

Moderated by Bob Zdenek

Bob Zdenek brings over 30 years experience in leadership, strategic analysis, program design, and teaching experience at the national, state, and local levels to NCRC. His diverse and significant leadership experience includes serving as executive director of the Alliance for Healthy Homes and president of the National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED), the former national trade association of community development corporations. He was also interim executive director of the National Housing Institute in 2007 and 2008. Additionally, he was a senior program officer at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and vice president for Community Building at United Way of America where he helped launch the community partnership model for asset building for United Ways. Bob has a doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

WEBINAR | Age-Friendly Banking Senior Ambassador Program at Northwest Side Housing Center in Chicago

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