The Wisdom of Elders event was recently held at Patterson Park Community Center in Murfreesboro. The special program serves African American seniors in the Murfreesboro area.

In 2012, the City of Murfreesboro was awarded a mini research grant from the Meharry-Vanderbilt Community Engaged Research Core to gather data on the impact of a mental health intervention engaging African American seniors aged 65 years or in the production of an autobiography (through print and/or visual media) and intergenerational exchanges. The undertaking, initiated and spearheaded by Professor Ifeoma Nwankwo in collaboration with academic partners, James Powers, MD, Vanderbilt-Reynolds Geriatric Education; William Turner, Ph.D., Peabody College and community partners, The City of Murfreesboro Department of Parks and Recreation, Dr. Barbara Hodges and Leroy Hodges, Dr. George Smith, and Ms. Mary Watkins, developed the intervention to track the general health, mental health and social engagement of the seniors.

In the pilot year of 2012, 22-seniors signed up for the program.