About Us
The Hayes Senior Wellness Center is an adult activity center with social, recreational, and educational programs designed specifically for adults ages 60 and up in Washington, DC.
We are on a mission to promote physical, social, and emotional well-being through comprehensive programs and activities. These include physical exercise, nutrition education and counseling, health education, health promotion, medication management, and smoking cessation, which all lead to a healthy lifestyle.
About Hayes SWC
Open to residents in the District of Columbia age 60 and older, Hayes SWC is the newest of six senior wellness centers. It is located in Ward 6, which spans all four quadrants of DC.
The center includes a cardio/weight room, computer lab, multi-purpose room, kitchen, and library.
Meet the Hayes SWC Staff
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Greg Meeropol
HAYES SWC DIRECTOR
Greg has over 25 years of program development and implementation experience. He spent 12 years at the DC Housing Authority organizing and implementing programs to enrich the lives of seniors and youth in public housing. Prior to coming to the Hayes SWC, Greg served as the Senior Director of Programs for the National Society of Black Engineers. Before that he was the Assistant Superintendent for Postsecondary Education at the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. Greg lives in NW DC, just off Howard University’s campus with his wife of 12 years, Patrycja.
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Wolde Jordon
PROGRAM MANAGER
Helping my community has never felt like a job to me. The bulk of my work experience has been with non-profits that service minority communities. I started teaching engineering to low-income, minority students all over the nation with NSBE and eventually transitioned to working at their headquarters. I enjoyed every moment from being in the classroom to being behind the scenes.
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Darnell Goldsmith
FITNESS COORDINATOR
Darnell L. Goldsmith has over 20 years of fitness, coaching and leadership experience. His disclaimer is “I am not your typical instructor, so don’t expect your typical workout. I’m going to work out to the best of my ability, you work out to the best of your ability, and I’ll meet you halfway helping to motivate and push you the rest of your way”.
Darnell has worked closely with a variety of people of all ages and mobility issues encouraging them to reach optimal health and happiness in the body and mind by finding new and different ways to make fitness fun.
“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.”
- Jackie Joyner Kersee
History
The Hayes Senior Wellness Center officially opened on October 11, 2012. Dr. Thomas Obisesan, clinical research scientist, professor of Medicine at Howard University College of Medicine and chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Howard University Hospital, is the Principal Investigator.
Howard University continues to partner with Hayes SWC by providing health professionals and lecturers for events such as our monthly Medical Moments.
The center is housed in the beautifully renovated Hayes Elementary School, a landmark community structure.