46. Southwest Detroit Elderly Empowerment Study.

This needs assessment, was designed as a service learning project with Madonna University students and faculty focusing on the elderly residents of Southwest Detroit. Because of the history and evolution of this community, information was gathered by conducting two focus groups - one from the traditional European residents, consisting of 7 senior parishioners that remain in the community and another with the newer Hispanic immigrants that have become predominant in the community (consisting of 11 senior parishioners). Transportation, Health Services, Safety, Recreation and Social Support were issues of concern for these residents. It is hoped that the information collected will help in creating new neighborhood linkages with other neighborhood institutions. The overall goal of this research is to provide a voice for seniors on their ideas on improving their community within Southwest Detroit. Our research will hopefully strive to give power to the seniors to help themselves in a long term community development process to address the needs that they themselves have already identified. It is anticipated that additional focus groups will be conducted with the rest of the parish community in Southwest Detroit, with the overall goal of providing advocacy training with seniors in this community in order to empower them toward positive social action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]