Board Member Focus: Christine Clemons

Chris Clemons is one of our founding board members, who has been with Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging since the beginning in 2019, and even before with her friendship with the Founder, dreaming of how we could bring health and vitality to older adults in Peoria. Here is Chris' story for her continuing engagement with Graceland Center! 

I am a retired Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. I spent my 35 year career working with Seniors in clinical, residential, and community settings here in Peoria. I remember conversations with my friend Peggy Jacques (Graceland founder) many years ago about the lack of a Senior Center in our community. I remember wishing I had a place like Graceland that I cold refer to my patients. I remember the difficulty in trying to help a senior couple from my church who were new to our area find a place to meet people and be busy. When Peggy stepped up and took on the challenge of creating a Community Based Senior Center for Peoria, I wanted to help. I am an original board member, And it has been an honor to watch the progress of our organization, and to see Peggy’s dream come true through her hard work and dedication. We need a place in Peoria where all Seniors can find Connections and Sense of Purpose. My life and work experience have convinced me how important these things are, and research now tells us they are vital to our health as we age. I can envision all the fun and friendship that will grow as Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging reaches its potential and blesses our community, and I am so very grateful to my friend Peggy.