Fellowship, fitness, food and friendship. 

These are the four things Columbia’s AARP president hopes participants got out of She Moves World, a women’s history month event designed to connect seniors. 

American Association of Retired Persons is a non-profit organization that connects and empowers senior community members. Lorraine Simmon, who leads the Columbia chapter, helped organize the community’s first annual She Moves World alongside her state director. But it’s not the only event new to Columbia.

“We’ll be doing a host of things that we want the community to engage and participate in, have fun, get some exercise, feed them and just show, you know, what the benefits are of the AARP,” Simmon said. 

Upcoming events include plays, concerts, a jubilee and a pride celebration.

Girl Moves World on March 19 aimed to empower women during Women’s History Month, said AARP state volunteer president Cassandra Addison. 

“The women are getting together, along with the men, just celebrating that we’re here, that we’re doing things, that we’re moving,” Addison said. 

Girl Moves World featured line dancing, food and informational displays from healthcare organizations such as Prisma Health and the civic-minded The Lions Club. The goal was to help improve seniors’ quality of life, Simmons said.

Dance instructor Michelle McDonald led participants through a series of line dances. She sees Girl Moves World as an opportunity to give back to the community. 

“I just happen to be gifted enough to come and teach the, teach line dancing, to others, because it’s a good form of exercise,” McDonald said. 

Many took to the dance floor, but not Joan Branney. Branney is a thoracic oncology “first navigator” for Prisma Health. She and her colleague, Sue Whitlock, were among the professionals spreading health awareness at the event.  

They emphasized mammograms and lung screenings for early cancer detection, Branney said. 

“If you find lung cancer when it’s Stage 1, you have an 80% chance of –  in five years – being alive, whereas Stage 4 lung cancer is spread through your body,” Branney said. “Yeah, you’re talking about like, 10% to 15% chance of being alive.” 

Prisma had other displays to promote life skills. The aim of Cathee Coker’s and Dawn Kimira’s presentation was to teach people about CPR in partnership with the American Heart Association. 

“When people collapse, they don’t know what to do when they’re missing somebody certified,” Kamira said. “So what we’re really pushing in the American Heart Association and partnering with them is to teach people in the community how to do something.”

Addison said the AARP’s goal throughout 2026 is to celebrate Columbia’s senior community. Columbia ranks last in most quality of life categories, she said, but she won’t let its seniors get left behind. 

“The community needs it,” Addison said. “… And we want to bring it out to the community.”