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Inspiring Opportunities Free E-Newsletter |
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After the murder of her son, Khaaliq, Dorothy took both her personal and professional experiences as a grief and loss counselor to guide others towards healing. She founded Mothers in Charge, an organization against violence in Philadelphia.
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Learn Being engaged in the second chapter of life usually means learning new things. Whether by embracing a new hobby or returning to more formal education, keeping the mind and body active helps maintain health and well being—and a chance to meet new people and have some fun, as well.
Seeing the World Through A Barter System
There is a way to travel, stay in interesting places, and not spend your money on housing. This Wall Street Journal article is written by a couple who spend five months a year in foreign countries by exchanging their two-bedroom condo in San Diego with people living in places throughout the world. Their extensive traveling began at age 65 when, on the recommendation of friends, they went online and found homeexchange.com and homelink.org. They particularly enjoy living among the locals...and have good tips to offer others who are interested.
Philbrick Hall at Free Library Open
After nine months of restoration work, Philbrick Hall at the Central Branch of the Free Library has reopened with new seating, energy-efficient lighting, refurbished floors and ceilings, and the restoration of the historic grandeur of this Beaux Arts room. Additional modern additions include many new computers and videowalls that display information about upcoming programs and other library news. This project was made possible through a grant from the Annenberg Foundation. And it is just the beginning of exciting changes to come...
Find Your "Nook" at the Library
The Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901 Vine St.) is offering technology to keep its users age 50+ on the cutting edge and reading in style. The library started an e-reader lending pilot program that provides NOOK e-readers, pre-loaded with New York Times best sellers, as well as training on the Kindle and iPad. E-readers are available in the library's Central Senior Services area. Readers can also use their Kindles to access Coming of Age's e-book, The Age for Change, written especially for those in their "encore" years. To learn more about this program, call (215) 686-5331.
What's Your "Take" on 70?
David Brooks, New York Times columnist and author, is asking a favor. If you are over 70, he would like you to write a brief report on your life so far--an evaluation of what you did well (and not so well) and what you learned along the way. His reasons are: he believes we have too few formal moments of self-appraisal in our culture, and more importantly, that these essays will help the blessings of young people understand how careers and families evolve and modern adulthood. So, collect your thoughts and get your reports to dabrooks@nytimes.com. Watch for some columns around Thanksgiving.
Thanks Steve!
While Apple's iPads have been all the rage for the younger set, a Florida nursing facility is using this technology to jump-start residents' memories, mobility, and social skills that have diminished through age and various forms of dementia. Steve Jobs' creation provides a way for people of all ages to communicate throughout their lifetimes -- quite a legacy! While there are devices that monitor an older person's movements and remind them to take a pill, the iPad is the first that directly interacts with them. Residents can run their hands across the tablet's smooth surface to play games, read, and communicate with others. Click here for more.
Speaking of the encore years, here is a review of Marc Freedman's latest book, The Big Shift, that is both a call to action and a blueprint for creating a new stage after midlife, which Freedman calls the “encore stage.” He is the founder and CEO of Civic Ventures, a nonprofit think tank on boomers, work, and social purpose. Since people are living longer and healthier lives, this encore stage could span half a lifetime. The author believes that this underutilized resource can be a real force in meeting society’s challenges. To learn more about this book,
Getting Grandma to Tweet
Some might say that the older crowd is not Twitter-friendly. Or probably more correctly, don't see what all the fuss is about. What with the hashtags and abbreviated ways of sending a message, this form of communication is a long distance from a past of writing letters and talking on the phone. Well...it seems that the author of this article has identified 5 strong reasons to get older adults involved in this social media phenomenon, not the least of which is having control over what you receive. See if you are convinced...
Library Programs Lure Boomers
Libraries throughout the country are realizing that older adults are fast becoming the majority of potential users. In fact, by 2014, about 65 percent of U.S. library patrons will be 50 to 75 years old. So, its time to figure out what will keep the boomers coming back to the stacks. This article suggests a wide range of services being offered. Locally, the Free Library of Philadelphia has established a designated Senior Services area in its Central Branch and has established a Speaker's Series that is gaining a following. To learn more, click here.
Woody Allen Films: A Magical Misery Tour
At once prolific and profound, at times unnerving and uneven, Woody Allen's films lead to lots of interesting conversation and agreement on one point: no other filmmaker has spun so much cinematic gold from his own neuroses. Join this four-session program (10 a.m-1 p.m. on March 23, 30, April 6, and 13th at the Gershman Y (401 S. Broad St., Philadelphia) with Andrew Douglas, Education Director at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. The course will take you on a journey through Allen's forty-year career, with stops to view his paradigm-shifting Annie Hall (1977) to a look at his "comeback" film, Match Point (2005.) $125. To register, call (610) 527-4008 x107 or click here.
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