Around Barbara Lendsey’s 70th birthday in 2023, she was approached by her son-in-law, DeAndre Smith, co-founder and executive director of the local organization OneBodyEnt.
“The question was, ‘are you ready to be a senior?’” Lendsey said.
The two discussed bringing seniors under the OneBody umbrella, which at the time already consisted of Men of Influence and Women of Impact.
“So, we met and started brainstorming about what we would name ourselves as the elderly group. And what we came up with, was [DeAndre] wanted to have an M, like the Men of Influence, and a W, like the Women of Impact. So, we kept saying, [M for] mother … We had already been mothers forever … So, we said, okay, let’s just go with ‘moms.’ And he already knew that he wanted the W to stand for wisdom, because as elderly people, once we get a certain age, you know, we’d be wise with experience. That’s how we came up with ‘Moms of Wisdom,” Lendsey said.
In just over a year of existence, Lendsey said the group has grown to approximately 25 regular attendees and typically meet once a week to participate in games, celebrations and meals together. The weekly senior gatherings are two hours, from noon to 2 p.m. at the organization’s location inside the Citadel Mall within Unit 2300.
“We have a slogan: There ain’t no party like a daytime party!” Lendsey said.
According to the organization’s website, OneBody’s mission is, “to serve youth and adults by helping to prevent criminal offenses and re-offenses. Through community outreach, education, mentorship, violence interruption, performing arts, entertainment, and social gatherings, OneBodyEnt provides positive outlets for community members to occupy their time and surround them with like-minded peers. OneBodyEnt is passionate about changing negative behaviors and promotes wholesome entertainment activities and events that affect positive change and unify the community as one body.”
It made sense to include the senior population within OneBody’s community-building initiative. According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging in 2023, one in three adults between ages 50 and 80 reported experiencing isolation from others in the past year. Additionally, 37% of the U.S. senior population reported a lack of companionship and 33% reported infrequent contact (once a week or less) with the outside world.
In Colorado Springs, seniors account for 14.7% of the population, according to the U.S. Census report.
“Advocating for senior community-building is crucial because it fosters a sense of belonging, combats isolation, and supports the well-being of older adults,” said Jason DeaBueno who heads the nonprofit Silver Key Senior Services. “Seniors often face unique challenges, such as reduced mobility, loss of loved ones, and health concerns, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. Community-building initiatives provide opportunities for engagement, purpose, and access to resources that enable seniors to thrive.”
Founded in 1970 by a concerned group of citizens looking to improve the lives of Colorado Springs’ older populations, Silver Key provides services surrounding health and wellness, transportation, and affordable housing for seniors.
“Unfortunately, [senior care] is not always prioritized due to competing societal demands, misconceptions about aging and limited funding. Many view seniors as a less visible or urgent population compared to others, which can result in underinvestment in programs and facilities that cater to their needs. Advocacy and celebrating aging help to raise awareness of these gaps and highlight the contributions seniors make to our communities,” DeaBueno said.
As the group evolved, Moms of Wisdom enriched what it offers.
“I would say that our vision was to create a space where a senior community can come and have fun and enjoy daytime activities. And then our mission became serving, helping and presenting access to resources that would help the needs of the senior community,” Lendsey said.
While the group is made up of mostly woman, Lendsey said they are hoping to grow their male members, or “kings” as they’re called, in the upcoming year.
“As we’re building the cohesiveness between senior gatherings, we only have had one man that hangs in there. And every now and at events, we get more men,” Lendsey said.
In 2024, nearing the group’s two-year anniversary, Lendsey said she’s looking forward to getting out in the community more, hosting group dinners at local restaurants, rather than just catering to the OneBody headquarters. Additionally, the Moms of Wisdom’s ever-popular Senior Prom will be making a return this spring.
“The prom was one of our most popular events. It was amazing to me that some of our members had never been to a prom!” Lendsey said, reflecting on the boastful attire, and even the appearance of a glammed-out limo at last year’s event.
She said one of the big, overarching goals of the organization is to inspire seniors to create community beyond the events organized by Moms of Wisdom.
“Yeah, you can come see us, but we want you to start something similar, right?” she said. “We don’t want the senior gatherings to just be in one place at one time – we want them to be across the city, in different neighborhoods, too.”
To find out more, go to the Moms of Wisdom Facebook page Facebook.com/Moms.of.Wisdom or OneBodyEnt.org.
