Erica (Brown) Drummond
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
What if the happiest place in Melrose isn’t a restaurant, a park, or even a coffee shop... but a community center where laughter, friendship, and connection happen every single day?
If you’ve ever walked into the Milano Center, chances are you’ve seen the person behind that welcoming energy — Erica (Brown) Drummond — usually with a wide smile, endless patience, and a genuine warmth that makes everyone feel like they belong.
Erica is the Executive Director of the Melrose Council on Aging, serving the city’s older adults through programs, outreach, transportation services, and connections to vital resources for residents age 60 and older.
A graduate of Stonehill College with a degree in psychology, Erica remembers her first day at the Milano Senior Center five years ago. Ironically, the building was being fitted with air conditioning, so the senior center temporarily moved to the Horace Mann School grounds for what she describes as “summer camp.” There were games, visits from Barn Babies, and intergenerational activities — a joyful start that perfectly captured the spirit of what the center would become.
Under Erica’s leadership, the department:
- Runs social, educational, and wellness programs for seniors
- Provides transportation and referrals to state and federal benefits programs
- Hosts daily activities, lunches, and community events
And the impact is real.
Erica has helped secure over $200,000 in grant funding to expand transportation and programming. She’s also leading efforts to make Melrose more age- and dementia-friendly, including training for local businesses and city staff (another session is scheduled for April 7–8). The team also created a community resource guide highlighting public seating, restrooms, and welcoming businesses throughout the city.
But Erica is most proud of something simpler: the people.
Attendance and membership at the center have doubled, the calendar is packed, and newcomers quickly discover how welcoming it is. Everyone is treated with kindness and respect — and if you’re new, it won’t be long before you feel like part of the community.
Getting there is easy too. The center offers free curb-to-curb mini-bus transportation, making it accessible for anyone who wants to join.
And the programming? It’s anything but ordinary.
There are 16 different exercise classes each week, all adaptable to individual abilities. Special events bring people together in fun ways — from Red Sox Opening Day on April 3 (complete with hot dogs, popcorn, and Cracker Jacks) to a festive Kentucky Derby celebration with fabulous hats.
The Milano Center has also become a hub for the entire community. Recently it hosted:
- A Repair Café and holiday swap with Zero Waste Melrose
- A Heat Pump Pizza Party
- A program on Accessory Dwelling Units
- In February, the center held its first Memory Café — a safe, welcoming place where caregivers can bring loved ones with memory loss and relax without pressure
Many programs are recorded and available in a digital library on the center’s website so residents can watch from home. Weekly blood pressure clinics are offered, and SDM Foundation volunteers help answer tech questions.
Outside of work, Erica recently celebrated some exciting milestones — she got married and moved into a new home she shares with a cat and a dog.
The Milano Center today is so much more than bingo. It’s a vibrant, welcoming community center filled with laughter, learning, movement, and friendship.
And much of that energy comes from Erica — the smiling leader making sure everyone who walks through the door feels seen, supported, and part of something special.
You might come in as a visitor...but chances are you’ll leave feeling like you’ve found a community.
