Our History
Celebrating our organization’s past, present, & future
From HSC to CFPA
Fun fact: Our organization is almost old enough to qualify for our 55+ membership!
The Community for Positive Aging was founded as The Hollywood Senior Center in 1973, as a space for adults 55+ to receive support, have fun, and connect with one another in Northeast Portland’s Hollywood neighborhood. The last 50 years have been a winding road as we’ve endured changes of all kinds within our organization, our city, and our world, all the while giving and receiving support from our growing community of members and volunteers along the way.
In 2019, we changed our name and expanded our services, and though we’re now known as The Community for Positive Aging, our era as The Hollywood Senior Center will remain a beloved one for all. In the timeline below, we honor our past, while looking excitedly ahead to what’s in store for the next chapter of CFPA.
Explore CFPA Through the Years—
And here is a video about our history
2021
HSC expands its services through the absorption of the programs of The Giving Tree, a small not-for-profit organization supporting low-income properties with customized resident services to ensure housing stability, removal of isolation, health, socialization, and community building through partnerships with businesses and nonprofits.
2020
March: HSC closes its physical doors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff and volunteers work diligently to respond to increased community needs. We adapt existing programs as well as expands HSC services to include telephone reassurance, food delivery (including delivering 300 thanksgiving meals) and virtual programming. During this time, bathrooms are remodeled to include an all gender bathroom for accessibility and inclusivity.
2022
CFPA reopens its physical doors to the public once again providing onsite programming while continuing to offer virtual programming for those unable to connect in person. CFPA continues to provide wraparound support including housing assistance and quarantine and isolation support. CFPA launches the Asian Food Pantry at the Center, a monthly culturally specific food pantry for Asian Elders, the first in Oregon.
2000s (early)
Continuing education for older adults grows with the introduction of intergenerational language, art, computer, genealogy, and cooking classes.
Health and wellness classes like Tai Chi and Arthritis Foundation exercise programs, aerobic exercise for older adults, and a recurring health lecture series are added to community offerings.
2011
Hollywood Neighborhood Gleaners is established—in partnership with the Hollywood Farmers Market—to address the increasing need for senior access to high quality food that would otherwise be unaffordable. Since May of 2011, the Gleaners have distributed hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh produce for older adults.
2012
HSC becomes the lead agency in a newly established N/NE District consortium of senior centers, partnering with the Urban League of Portland and Native American Youth and Family Center to provide care coordination, Information & assistance, programs and activities for older adults in N/NE Portland. HSC opens a satellite office at the New Columbia housing development and later at the Charles Jordan Community Center in North Portland (now closed). Partners travel to Salem to advocate for senior services
2013
Hollywood Senior Center celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking the milestone with a health fair, an open house, and a big celebration attended by elected officials and community partners as well as many participants.
The Hollywood Ukulele Group (HUG) begins meeting and practicing weekly at the Center. (Ten years later, HUG is as strong as ever!)
Photo: Amber Kern-Johnson accepts celebratory award on behalf of HSC from elected officials at HSC's 40th Anniversary.
2015-2019
HSC expands programming to include more informational seminars, special events, pizza & movies, luncheons, and evidence-based health promotion classes.
In 2015, HSC is awarded a grant by the National Council on Aging to launch the Aging Mastery Program (AMP). HSC is one of only two organizations on the West Coast to pilot the comprehensive and fun approach to positive aging that focuses on key aspects of health, finances, relationships, personal growth, and community.
2021
Hollywood Senior Center officially re-launches as Community for Positive Aging (CFFA). The Community for Positive Aging was set up as a dba and approved by the State of Oregon January 2021, as an organization that includes Hollywood Senior Center as one of several core programs operating under the refreshed organizational name and structure.