Thomas Center for Senior Leadership

One of the core strengths of St. Mary’s has been the leadership and wisdom of our elders. For over sixty years, those who are our seniors today were the men and women who helped shape Alaska and the city of Anchorage. They helped create and establish many of the organizations that Alaskans rely on each day for a strong and vibrant quality of life. F.IS.H. (one of the city’s first food pantry and social service agencies), Alaska Refugee Outreach, Stellar Alternative School, St. Mary’s Creative Playschool, and Cook Inlet Soccer Club, to name but a few, are all organizations in which St. Mary’s members played a leading role. As their years have increased, their roles have changed but not diminished. Today our elders are often mentors and advisors to younger generations of leaders, while others choose to maintain active roles in various boards and commissions. To continue that level of active engagement as they age, sometimes people need to make use of additional supports that can come as a benefit of living in community.