Our Mission …
The Riverview Community Action Corporation is a non-profit agency whose mission is to promote community involvement, pride, and awareness through the provision of services and programs that will enhance the quality of life of the residents of Oakmont, Verona and the surrounding communities.

RCAC is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment and to prohibiting discrimination in all its programs and activities. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

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Member Stories …

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Riverview Community Action Corporation Sparks Life Back Into Aging Mom
By Sherry Girson, Oakmont Resident and RCAC Member

I cried for over a year when my oldest daughter Summer finished college and immediately left for NYC to pursue her career in the film industry. Simultaneously, her younger sister, Naomi and the baby of our small family left for college. The crying continued when my aging father passed away not long after my girls left. Somewhere in this time frame I had also lost my job of 15 years and all of the social contacts associated with a long held job. Who was I if I wasn’t a mother to my wonderful daughters or a daughter to the best Dad in the whole world? Yes, I was still a wife and had found another job at a local hospital. I had a fairly large home to keep clean, lawn to mow and dinners to cook. I had many interests, biking, yoga, walking in the woods, reading, gardening, baking and keeping up with friends. I was not bored….I felt lost.

None of these interests held my attention and certainly did not fill that hole I felt inside. I missed the daily interactions with my girls and the several times weekly of checking in with my Dad. I missed the camaraderie of coworkers I knew well. I felt sad all the time and very uninterested in pursuing anything new. This lack of interest for new learning really scared me because I have been a lifelong learner, always ready to try something new. I had just recently at the age of 59 obtained a certification in Horticulture from Bidwell Learning. Now here I was at 62, feeling completely useless, unattached to the community , and very unmotivated.

Little did I realize that by taking one small step my life was about to come back to me 🙂

That small step was signing up for a new class to help with pain issues. I found out about a Monday Somatics Class at Cooper Segal Library in Fox Chapel — an exercise movement class where you do not sweat and instead learn how to move your body without pain Tom, the marvelous instructor of the Somatics class, mentioned that he also teached this class at RCAC in Oakmont. I was interested since I live in Oakmont and RCAC is within walking distance from my house.

That Thursday, I showed up at RCAC for Tom’s Somatics class . The center was packed with women and men, mats lined up side by side. The air was charged with happy chatter, joking around -clearly this group knew one another well.

I was still feeling out of sorts, unattached socially and barely motivated on that Thursday morning. Cheryl, an RCAC participant of Tom’s somatic class and whose yoga mat was laid out near mine smiled in my direction. Cheryl also said some very kind words which gave me the courage to stay with the rowdy group and then also return the next week.

After taking only two classes at RCAC the most amazing thing happened to me! I found my sense of community again. I had a place of belonging where people notice you are there, call out your name and ask how you are doing. The members of RCAC genuinely care about you when they ask about your welfare. You can feel the warmth from this amazing group of people who all are interested in keeping fit, being creative and learning new things .

As a RCAC member, I am now participating in yoga, line dancing, Somatics, Tai Chi and crafts. I also volunteer at the front desk and am training to be a Silver Sneakers instructor. This is my first time writing an article, which is in alignment with a dream of mine to write. I hope to inspire others with my story. When you are feeling stuck, you have to reach out and take that first step which may lead you to what you really want to do in the last part of your life . I could not be happier to find a new purpose in my 60’s, meeting new people and giving back is truly uplifting.

RCAC offers over 40 programs monthly with rotations of speakers, seminars and outings. Stop by and perhaps you will make a new friend, find a new interest, be a teacher or just boost your longevity by staying engaged. RCAC is a Community Center with a focus on the senior citizen, but ALL ages are welcome.

For more information contact Riverview Community Action Corporation 501 2nd Street (corner of Delaware Avenue and 2nd Street), Oakmont, PA 15139. Phone : 412-828-1062

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RCAC Fitness Team: Meet Alice

We invite you to discover more about the Riverview Action Community Center, where our adult exercise classes continue to be a highlight for many in Oakmont, Verona and the surrounding communities.

To help you get acquainted, let’s begin by introducing the first in a series about our dedicated instructors.

Let’s Meet Alice

Alice has always led an active lifestyle, embracing walking, biking, swimming, skiing, dancing, and any activity that keeps her moving. Her passion for fitness led her to alternative yoga, and eventually, she approached the New Kensington YMCA to express her interest in teaching. Hired on the spot, Alice managed to balance her office day job while leading evening classes, eagerly taking on any opportunities available. Her expertise expanded to include programs such as Butts and Guts, spinning, TRX, and all Silver Sneakers classes. A decade ago, the YMCA sent her to Virginia Beach for Tai Chi training, and the following year, Alice advanced to become a national Tai Chi instructor.

Her enthusiasm for health and fitness motivates her to pursue ongoing education and certifications each year.

Now retired, Alice spends her free days biking—a sport she loves. Her travels have taken her to Italy, Amsterdam, Cape Cod, the MS 150 twice (a two-day, 150-mile ride supporting multiple sclerosis research), the Pittsburgh to Washington, DC journey twice, and the many picturesque local trails around Pittsburgh.

Alice finds joy in watching her students stay active and progress, which brings greater purpose to her life.