For over forty years, El Cerrito’s Open House Senior Center was a community fixture and homegrown triumph. With the help of up to 140 volunteers, the center provided meals, activities, classes, trips, counseling, social services and more—at no cost to participants. On September 17, 2026, the historical society hosted a talk at Castro Clubhouse with Ellen MacDonald-Paasch, who led the center. A recording of the event is available below.