Janada Carter has seen the same success story play out over and over. As the manager of the Star Harbor Catholic Senior Community Center, she will greet a hesitant first-time visitor, who has typically been prodded to be there by one of their adult children. The newcomer stands in the foyer, arms crossed, scowl across the face, skeptical of the place, the people, even the entire concept of senior citizens bonding with other senior citizens.
“I don’t want to be here,” Janada says, quoting the visitor as if reciting a well-known verse. “I don’t want to be around old people.”
It’s a sentiment that Carter once felt herself. When she first came to Star Harbor to help with an event, she was not yet 50-years-old and had her own skepticism about “old people” places.
“I was really surprised that it did not have that stigma that I thought it did,” she said. “I was confusing it with an adult daycare center. The community scene is totally different, coming and going as you want, very vibrant, very vital. They come, they go, they shop, they still take care of other family members.”
Carter is one of the thousands of people serving their neighbors every day through their work with the Catholic Church of Philadelphia. Some help provide housing for those without or feed the hungry. Others work in education or help those with special needs. Still others work or volunteer in parishes to help bring people closer to God.
“The Spirit in the Building”
Located in the diverse University City area of Philadelphia, Star Harbor offers opportunities for socialization, recreation, physical exercise, education, and nutritional support with a focus on overall health, wellness, and independence, supporting the agency’s mission of stabilizing and enriching the lives of seniors. It is one of five senior community centers in Philadelphia operated by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
“We’re part of the Catholic Church, but that’s not necessarily why people come,” said Janada. “They come for the energy. The spirit in the building. They walk in and say, ‘Wow, this place is nice.’ And they don’t mean the furniture.’”
They mean a sense of purpose supported by a sense of community and an atmosphere that embraces faiths of all kinds. Star Harbor is operated by the Catholic Church, but it caters to all denominations and all forms of worship and prayer. Bible study, religious outreach programs, and simple human interaction encompass and welcome all expressions of spirituality.
Unspoken by Janada, but understood and celebrated by her peers, colleagues, and the seniors themselves, is who keeps that flame flickering.
It’s not a stretch to say that Star Harbor has become a calling for Janada as much as a career.
As manager, she heads the operations at Star Harbor that range from making sure the building runs smoothly to making sure the people inside it – some in their 60s, some pushing 100 – feel like they belong, that they have a reason to get up in the morning and leave the house.
She’s got game in both aspects, so to speak.
And the walls do speak; testify, in fact. “You have to be a certain type of person to work in this atmosphere,” said Darlena Clarkson, a program aide at Star Harbor. “Because you do have seniors who are strong-minded and strong-willed. They want what they want, and Janada is always smiling, and taking it in. You never know if she’s frazzled or not because she always approaches it in a pleasant way. It’s amazing.
“I’ve never seen a person able to operate around so many different types of people without letting any of them get to her. She’s just driven to make sure that everything works right.”
Comfortable, Safe and Happy
Janada Carter
Inside Star Harbor there’s life, movement, chatter, and above all, a sense of purpose. One room has a ceramics class, another has a group playing Rummikub. There’s line dancing, a nutrition class, even a visit from the district attorney’s office to talk about scams targeting the elderly. A little bit of everything, designed to keep minds and bodies active.
Having previously worked for AARP and in other jobs serving elderly populations, Janada has a good feel for what works and what does not, what resonates and what is irrelevant. For example, when community members were reluctant to return to the center as the fear and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, she organized day trips to places like Atlantic City to bring them back. Her first announced trip in 2021 sold out so quickly she needed to order a second bus.
“The average person that comes here is looking for something,” Janada said. “They’ve retired, and now they’re figuring out what’s next. We make it so they’re comfortable, safe, and happy. A lot of these folks would be isolated at home. We give them a reason not to be.”
It all starts at the front door, and on most days, that’s Janada, handing out high-fives to familiar friends and newcomers alike, creating the vibe that makes the place special. “You just have to get them through the door once,” she said, laughing. “By the time the day is over, they are like, when can I come back?”
And come back, they do, sometimes well into their 90s. Sometimes well short of that. Janada has seen people pass away, people she grew to know and love. That’s a part of managing a place like Star Harbor, a part she has learned reluctantly and often painfully to handle too.
“It’s hard,” she admits. “But it reminds you to be present. To be kind. To build relationships while you can.”
She keeps going because the work matters – and because there’s always someone new to welcome. Someone new to convince that life isn’t over at 60, 70, 80, or even 90.
“I pray every day,” Janada said. “I ask God to use me in the best way He can.”
Then, she gets to work.
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Faces of Hope is a series of stories and videos highlighting the work of those who make the Catholic Church of Philadelphia the greatest force for good in the region. If you have someone you’d like to see featured, please reach out to editor@catholicphilly.com.
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