In the May/June issue we spoke with Carisa Heiss, the CEO of the Barshop JCC of San Antonio, about enhancing member well-being.
Detail the programs at your JCC which aim to improve the overall well-being of members.
CH: Everything we do at the JCC aims to improve the well-being of our members. Some programs are aimed more directly at our members’ physical well-being, such as our group exercise classes and youth recreation programs, while others are more focused on mental or social well-being, including our early childhood and arts and culture programming. These, and a variety of other programs, are intended to help individuals develop their potential.
To pinpoint a couple programs primarily aimed at physical well-being, I would go beyond the basic and obvious of our sports and recreation programming and call out our older adult programming. It includes fitness classes, such as Fit 4 Life which incorporates chair exercises, less than two-pound weights and the instructor’s mindfulness that our participants may be less mobile or agile.
Our most visible program aimed at the physical well-being of our older adults is the Texas Senior Games which draws over 2,000 athletes from across Texas and neighboring states every year. JCC membership isn’t required for participation. Most of the events are held in the spring. However, over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in 2024 we hosted 16 teams at the annual women’s basketball tournament. Our most senior competitors were in the 80 to 84-years-old bracket. The ladies who compete in the tournament are fierce competitors with a very strong sense of camaraderie and love of the game.
To watch them compete is to watch teamwork at its very best. The games include 20-plus individual and team events for adults 50 and over and encourages participants to remain active with a goal of living stronger, healthier and better. We have been committed to hosting the event since its inception in 1990 because of the focus on the well-being of individual participants, especially as they age.
Which of these programs have been the most successful with members and why?
CH: Programs such as Fit 4 Life and the Texas Senior Games have been successful year-in and year-out. In part, the success has been a credit to our staff who are mindful about the timing of the program, outreach to our participants, and thoughtfulness in finding key staff and volunteers who will best serve individual participants. A key factor in the success of programs like Fit 4 Life are the additional opportunities surrounding it.
In addition to Fit 4 Life, we offer transportation for those who need it and subsidized senior lunch three times per week. So, a member participating in Fit 4 Life can enjoy a healthy, subsidized kosher meal following their exercise class. The individual can spend their day at the JCC with a workout geared specifically to their needs, lunch and socialization.
In what ways do you think your JCC can better assist member well-being in the future?
CH: To best serve our members’ needs, I believe it’s important to listen and explore opportunities with them. What are they looking for? What keeps them here? We know we can’t meet every need at every moment, but if we listen to their questions, concerns, feedback and observe the trends in our program attendance, we’ll be more in tune with them. Additionally, staying up to date on the latest trends in the fitness and recreation industries will offer opportunities to provide new classes and programs that might strike a chord with our members.
We often refer to a tagline that states, “Community is our middle name.” Through active dialogue and engagement with our members, we’re able to remain true to that mindset.
