Description:  The Center was founded in 1973 with fifty clients and was originally called the York Street Senior Center.  In 1979, with funding from Catholic Social Services, the Center constructed a new building for seniors to meet. 

Norris Square is a Catholic Social Services-run senior center, housed in a new building on Norris Square in North Philadelphia.  This site offers lots of activities for seniors, mostly social activities such as exercise classes, theater groups, dominoes, billiards, and subsidized lunch and breakfast every day.  Tutors should confirm the Senior Center schedule throughout the semester, as the Center observes Catholic holidays that are not on the Temple calendar. 

The atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming and also very busy.  The seniors connect so much with the tutors that they’re usually sad to see them go when class is done.  The Center has a library and computer lab where tutors can take their learners and it can also provide notepads and pencils if needed.  Tutors are also welcome to spend time with the seniors in the library.  Knowing some Spanish can be helpful to learn about the learners’ customs and culture.  The learners are usually the tutors’ favorite part about Norris Square.  They enjoy the friendships that develop and appreciate the seniors’ desire to learn a second language so late in life. 

Learners tend to be at beginner and intermediate levels.  Most of the learners are literate in their native language.  Norris Square learners are primarily from Puerto Rico and Colombia, but there are other people from various Latin American countries.  Learners here mostly want to learn English for healthcare needs.  They tend to be interested in learning how to say different parts of the body and express what part is in pain.