2025 Transition
Northern Wake Senior Center to transition to Town of Wake Forest July 1, 2025
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Town of Wake Forest will assume operational and programming responsibilities for the Northern Wake Senior Center (NWSC).
To help ensure a smooth transition, the Town has assembled a Senior Center Operations Transition Team chaired by Assistant Town Manager Candace Davis. Comprised of staff from Risk Management, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources, IT, Budget, Finance, Facilities, Human Resources, and Communications, the team is working with Resources for Seniors and NWSC Director Jennie Griggs and her staff on a plan that will – as seamlessly as possible - add the NWSC to the Town’s municipal structure as its own department.
We have created this page as a resource you can reference to stay informed on the status of the transition and up to date on transition-related news.
Please take a moment to review our Transition Tenets, which highlight the benefits of the transition and emphasize our commitment to the Senior Center's continued success. Also, to help you separate "fact" from "fiction," we provide answers to several Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have a question about the transition you don't see answered below, click on the "Contact Us" button to access our online form and submit your question. We'll do our best to respond within 24 hours.
Message from Mayor Vivian Jones
Since 1994 the Northern Wake Senior Center (NWSC), 235 E. Holding Ave., has offered members of our aging community a place to come together to connect - and enrich and enhance their mind, body, and spirit.
The Town of Wake Forest owns the facility and the land on which it sits. Throughout our partnership with Resources for Seniors, we have maintained the facility and the land, while they provided operational support and programming, including an impressive array of educational classes and social events.
Beginning July 1, 2025, Wake Forest will assume those same responsibilities for the NWSC. Resources for Seniors will continue to provide service coordination and human services efforts here, as has been their county-wide model and commitment to other town-operated senior centers. Read the full message>>
Transition Plan Presentation
On January 17, 2025, Assistant Town Manager Candace Davis presented the Northern Wake Senior Center Transition Plan to the Board of Commissioners during their annual retreat. The PowerPoint presentation is provided below. Additional details about the transition will be provided in the days to come.
Northern Wake Senior Center to become Wake Forest Center for Active Aging
During her February 17 State of the Town Address, Mayor Vivian Jones announced that beginning July 1 the Northern Wake Senior Center will change its name to the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging.
The name change was suggested by Senior Center staff who say the term “senior” too often has a negative connotation that denotes ageism and frailty. When asked to recommend an appropriate new name, Director Jennie Griggs and her team suggested that “active aging” be considered to promote a positive view of aging and emphasize the center’s array of active adult programs and initiatives.
As a useful example, in a recent month, the senior center offered 50 fitness classes, 18 arts & crafts classes, and nine computer and language classes. Additionally, 18 health and support groups met, along with 17 different clubs. It’s clear the center serves a very active community!
The new name will take effect July 1 when the Town assumes operational and programming responsibilities for the facility.
Transition Tenets
The Town of Wake Forest recognizes and values the Northern Wake Senior Center as the focal point for programs and initiatives that educate and engage our community’s aging population.
Our Commitment to You
We are committed to continuing to offer the high-quality programming you currently enjoy.
Initial Operations
For the first 12 months of operations, we intend to keep intact the classes, programs, support groups, and other initiatives the Senior Center currently offers. We will use this time to gather input, assess classes, and evaluate needs and other issues. We will work together to adjust programs and processes as needed to ensure any issues are resolved in advance of 2026-2027.
Funding & Management Stability
We believe that in addition to providing a reliable funding source, the transition of the Senior Center to the Town will improve the stability of operations. As a future Town department, the Senior Center will participate in the Town’s annual budget process which will help ensure sufficient funding to hire staff, effectively manage operations, and expand programming, as needed. The Senior Center will also have access to other Town resources which will allow it to pursue grants and partnerships in our community and beyond.
Enhanced Capacity
We understand the Senior Center is at capacity, so in the short-term, we will work to address current space limitations by exploring opportunities to utilize other Town facilities. We believe this will be a huge step towards increasing the availability of programs to more participants. Looking forward, we have included a second senior center in the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.
Local Advantage
Being able to manage operations locally and utilize the Town’s assets and resources will improve communications, enhance transparency, and help ensure the Senior Center continues offering programming that meet the needs of our community.