THE DIFFERENT STYLES WERE SHOWCASED AT THE SENIOR JAZZ CONNECTION HOLIDAY FASHION SHOW, DEC. 29, 2023.
Brenda Tate hosts Senior Jazz Connection Holiday Fashion Show
Retired Pittsburgh Police Detective Brenda Tate and the Senior Jazz Connection Program hosted a Holiday Fashion Show featuring 100 senior models, at the Energy Innovation Center on Bedford Avenue, Dec. 29, 2023.
But there’s more to the story.
As the COVID pandemic started to ease in 2021, Tate, a lifelong resident of the Hill District, in conjunction with her goddaughter, Tonya Ford, developed a concept to bring both entertainment and socialization to seniors living in high rise complexes. Tate, an active senior herself, according to a press release, recognized how many of her friends, neighbors and seniors in high rises were struggling with the lack of socialization. Tate and Ford designed a plan that would bring both socialization and entertainment into the housing communities. Every first Friday of the month, the Senior Jazz Connection shows up at a high rise in the Hill District or Oakland with a jazz band and a healthy lunch. Local renowned musician Tony Campbell performs for the seniors for two hours as they dance and enjoy music that they have been sorely missing.
Tate and Ford have also enlisted the support of many partners who believe in Senior Jazz Connection’s concept to make financial investments so they can provide seniors with a safe environment to express themselves socially.
“My entire career as a police officer for 40 years was about service to my own community and the city,” said Tate, who made the decision to return to the Hill District late in her career to make it a safer community for seniors. “When I retired, my life didn’t change, only the job. I was still serving my community, but I could now focus on seniors. With Senior Jazz Connection we do just that every month.”
Then the decision was made to have the fashion show.
“The Hill District has been my lifelong home, and it gives me great satisfaction to be able to serve the seniors,” Tate said. “This program has rebooted my life. As I age, I realize being a senior has many challenges, both physically and mentally. But you still have a strong desire to be as active as you possibly can and enjoy each other’s company. With the Senior Jazz Connection, you can do just that.”
In addition to all the runway strutting, the event included a free lunch and performance by Tony Campbell Jazz Surgery. Many resources were available for the seniors, including McAuley Ministries, UPMC, Hearing and Deaf, Duquesne University law students, Senior Grandparents, Salem’s Market and more. Tate also tapped into her own scholarship (Brenda Tate Scholarship) recipients to serve as volunteers.
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