Mission  

The mission of Vida Senior Centers (formerly EOFULA - Spanish Senior Center) is to improve and maintain the quality of life of Latino seniors living in isolation or within a family context in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Vida Senior Centers aims at improving the wellness, self-sufficiency and independence of seniors by effectively providing culturally and linguistically competent programs and services.

Vision Statement 

 

Vida Senior Centers seeks to create a system of comprehensive senior service centers and housing facilities throughout the Washington, DC metro area. It is a community-based organization that serves Latino and other seniors through a wide range of bilingual and multicultural services and support. Vida Senior Centers seeks to ensure that seniors have an opportunity to live productive and fulfilling lives.

 

History

Vida Senior Centers is the oldest non-profit organization serving Latinos in Washington, DC. The organization took on its current name in 2009 after thoughtful reflection upon its mission and vision. The Educational Organization for United Latin Americans, or EOFULA as it was previously known, was created in 1969 by Carlos Rosario and a group of fellow Washington, DC Latino leaders to assist the local Latino community to overcome cultural, economic, social and language barriers. In 1974, EOFULA established the Spanish Senior Center and became the first Latino organization in Washington, DC to specialize in providing bilingual, bicultural services and programs to meet the unique needs of the aging Latino community.

Why the Name Change?

 

In 2009, the organization changed its name from EOFULA - Spanish Senior Center to Vida Senior Centers in order to more accurately convey its mission and vision to the community. The previous name, while steeped in local Latino history, became outdated and no longer represented the day-to-day activities of the organization. In addition, many community members faced difficulty pronouncing the acronym, EOFULA. The name, Vida Senior Centers, was chosen for its simplicity, reference to the Spanish language (“Vida” means “life” in Spanish), ease in pronunciation and memory, and to showcase the daily energy and vibrancy of the seniors.