Harrison Township native returns to lead senior center

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — It is a new day at the Harrison Township Senior Center with a new leader at the helm.

Jessica Savage is the recently hired senior activities coordinator tasked with running the senior center and overseeing the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Savage is local to the township, graduating from L’Anse Creuse High School before going to college at Central Michigan University, where she played club rugby. After college, Savage moved to Oregon and began working sales jobs.

“It was nice to make money, but it wasn’t really giving me the fulfillment I was looking for,” Savage said.

She then took on a role for the Bend, Oregon fire and finance departments in an administrative capacity.

“In Oregon, I realized how much I enjoyed helping my community and having an impact on my community,” Savage said. “While I was out there, I was interviewing for different roles in the city, but nothing really stuck. I was also getting married at the same time and I just had a lot going on, but I realized I wanted to have a bit more control and be able to contribute more within my community.”

Savage ended up moving back to Harrison Township and, after seeing the open senior activities coordinator position, decided to apply.

As the senior activities coordinator, Savage said she wants to do what she can to build a reputation for the Harrison Township Senior Center that rivals its neighboring contemporaries.

“I want it to be something people can be excited about,” Savage said. “When you talk about the St. Clair Shores Senior Center or the Clinton Township Senior Center, people think that there’s just a ton going on and get really excited about it. At this point, not many people even know there is a senior program in Harrison Township, so I’m trying to switch that brand and make it somewhere fun seniors can go, form relationships with each other and enrich their lives with the programs we offer.”

Harrison Township does not have a millage dedicated to recreation or specifically for the senior center. To pay for programs and other aspects of the center, such as investing in new sign-up software, Savage is working with the township’s Deputy Supervisor Stephanie Mittelstedt to find sponsorships, grants and other fundraising opportunities.

Savage’s aims for programming includes at least one monthly trip, as well as an increase in programs that support “brain fitness.” Savage would like to set up a newsletter that would promote various senior — and eventually general — recreation activities in the township.

Savage can be reached by calling (586) 466-1497 or by emailing JSavage@harrisontownshipmi.gov.