When anti-Asian hate incidents surged during the pandemic, many older adults in Asian Community Center (ACC) Senior Services’ community became afraid to leave home. With Stop the Hate support, ACC launched the Senior Escort Program, pairing seniors with trained volunteers who could accompany them into the community and help them feel safe again. Over four years, the program provided more than 5,000 assisted walks and expanded to serve people across races, ethnicities, abilities, genders and generations. The numbers are powerful, but the deeper impact is visible in the relationships built between participants and volunteers. Many seniors regained confidence, reconnected with community and moved through grief, isolation and the aftermath of discrimination with someone beside them. For volunteers, the program created opportunities to bridge generations, build empathy and take an active role in combating hate. The Senior Escort Program showed that safety is not only protection from harm; it is belonging, connection, improved mental health and care.
