Intercultural Senior Center

About Intercultural Senior Center

The Intercultural Senior Center was founded in 2009 by Carolina Padilla with the goal of welcoming diverse older adults to learn, grow, and laugh together. ISC initially served mainly Latinx seniors. In 2013, the center started welcoming refugee older adults from Sudan, Somalia, Bhutan, Nepal, and Burma (Karen population), as well as native English speakers. In 2019, ISC moved to its current location at 5545 Center Street, starting a new journey of multicultural learning and understanding. With bilingual staff members and interpreters and door-to-door transportation by van, ISC ensures everyone can fully participate in its programs regardless of language ability, income, or physical mobility. Today, ISC serves older adults from more than 20 countries speaking more than 12 languages, including English. As the center’s participant population has become more diverse, ISC staff has grown to include seven staff interpreters to ensure participants can maximize the benefits and enjoyment gleaned from its services and programs. Currently, staff members are fluent in Spanish, English, Nepali, Karen, Karenni, Burmese, Swahili, Pashto, Dari, and Ukrainian.