Shelby Bowen to oversee Gifford’s independent living activities program
Shelby Bowen, Enrichment and Events Manager
There’s one key difference between life in a traditional apartment building and life in an independent living community. Here the goal isn’t just to provide you with a comfortable apartment. It’s about enabling you to lead an active lifestyle and explore opportunities to be involved in the community you live in.
And while we offer activity spaces both indoors and out, like fitness rooms, an arts and crafts studio, a woodshop, and a number of gardens for residents to enjoy, we also aim to provide opportunities for our residents to interact with one another.
We’re excited to announce that Shelby Bowen has joined our team as our new Enrichment and Events Manager.
A native New Englander who grew up in Litchfield, N.H., Bowen recently moved back to the east coast after spending five years as the Programs Manager at the Colorado Restaurant Foundation in Denver, Colo. She has an associate’s degree in culinary arts, a bachelor’s in food service management, and a master’s in hospitality from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.
A field she chose because of the enjoyment she receives in creating experiences.
“I love being a part of the reason people enjoy and remember an experience, whether it be going out for a casual meal or one of the most important days of their lives.” And as Strode’s Enrichment Manager, she’ll be doing just that as she manages the day-to-day resident activities and events and oversees dinner service in our dining room. “I’m ready to use my skills and expertise to better our residents’ everyday lives. And I’m excited to get to know them in a chapter of their lives where they’ve earned the opportunity to relax. I want them to enjoy their time here.”
With pandemic restrictions lifting, activities within the Strode community are slowly resuming and Bowen is preparing for a return to a more normal events schedule. Monthly musical performances for residents have restarted and plans for Third Thursday lectures are in the works. New topics being explored include jewelry making, stained glass art, and cake decorating. Bowen is also working with Effie Farnham, our wellness nurse, to plan a new slate of Health Talks. Both the Third Thursday lecture series and the Health Talks are open to the general public.
“I’m meeting with residents individually to find out what they’re interested in so we can plan things that everyone will hopefully want to participate in,” Bowen shared. “But I’m also learning more about the skillsets of our residents. There are some knowledgeable and talented people here and I would love to give them an opportunity to share their skills with their neighbors.”
These resident interviews have already resulted in one new resident-led activity, a movie club. This new group will come together to watch movies or documentaries and follow the viewing with a discussion.
“Coming back to the east coast, to where I’m from, has been really nice. Randolph is so tight-knit. Everybody knows everybody. Everyone at Gifford has been amazing. It’s such a wonderful group of people who genuinely care about what they do,” she says of her time so far at Gifford. “Being here and being able to use my skillset in this setting on a larger-scale basis while still giving back to a great community is really fantastic.”
When not working, Bowen enjoys baking, swimming, being outdoors, and home-brewing.
Learn more about our Activities Program.
