January 8 - January 14
Inspiring Opportunities is an e-mail from Coming of Age for people 50+ who are making a difference in the world, in their communities and in their lives.
Editor: Mady Prowler
In celebration of the release of Coming of Age's new free E-Book, Kevin McConnaughay, AmeriCorps VISTA in the Philadelphia office, shares a new side of himself in Coming of Age Around the Country's latest blog post, "An Auto-Gizmography!"
Inside:
What's New
Coming Soon
Info4Orgs
Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
Past Issues
What's New
With the arrival of 2011, the news is that 10,000 boomers a day will be turning 65 this year...and that many are not going to be retiring. Sixty-five used to be the age when Americans stopped working, kicked back and embarked on serious leisure to make up for all those decades of the daily grind. But, as boomers have shown at other times in their lives, this stage of life will be done with boomer-centric flair. View this NPR article and video for a snapshot of one family's experience and the situations facing others at this age.
Entrepreneurs whose businesses can jump start the economy have become the darlings of foundations, MBA programs, and the government. Savvy and smart kids are being encouraged to work for themselves, but new research indicates that older entrepreneurs are really the group to be pursued to create successful start-ups. Contrary to conventional wisdom, entrepreneurship is increasingly a priority of older workers—even in the youth-obsessed technology sector. To learn the reasons for the elders' success, click here.
Dick Bolles wrote THE job-finding book, What Color is Your Parachute, forty years ago. His latest edition is now out to provide hope to people seeking work during this difficult time and advice for how to pursue personal passion in making a career change. Bolles emphasizes that knowing yourself...your skills, interests, and what you can bring to a new job, are first steps, followed by a commitment to working hard to find the career that you want. To hear a conversation with the author, click here.
Coming Soon
It is time to sign up for a course in “Intergenerational Storytelling” on January 8 and 9th, at WHYY's Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons. Bring an older – or younger! – partner and learn how to operate a video camera, frame interview shots and edit video as you conduct a professional interview of your loved one. Then package the interview with photos, music and titles to create a DVD to treasure. A special incentive: bring your guest for free! ($140 for WHYY members/$190 for non-members). To learn more, click here or call Jennifer Wheeler at (215) 351-1235.
JEVS Career Solutions for 55+ is a free, non-profit program that helps Philadelphians age 55 and older find jobs, update skills, or return to the workforce. JEVS will host an orientation on January 10th, 1 p.m. at PA CareerLink, 990 W. Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, for unemployed or underemployed Philadelphians. The workshop will focus on how to effectively market yourself and find job openings in this region. Registration required; call (215)560-5465, ext. 268 to reserve a space.
Life's persistent and most urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?" This statement by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. underscores the call for action for the upcoming MLK Day of Service on January 17th. There are still many openings for volunteers to take part in projects throughout the Philadelphia area. Residents of Southeastern Pennsylvania wanting to get involved should visit the MLK Day of Service website to learn more and sign up to take part in a project. Make MLK Day "a day on, not a day off!"
Edmund Morris won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, published in 1980, the first book of a definitive Roosevelt trilogy, that includes Theodore Rex, and his new biography, Colonel Roosevelt. The latest volume tells the story of an extraordinary American President who, among other things, wrote 40 books, hunted lions, founded a third political party, and survived an assassin’s bullet. The author will be speaking on January 18th, 7:30 p.m. at the Free Library 1901 Vine St., Philadelphia. Cost: $15 Click here for tickets or call 1-800-595-4849.
Info4Orgs
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging recently released Ready to Serve? The Aging Network and LGB and T Older Adults, a national report that provides an overview of the specific needs of the growing numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults in this country. The report paints a detailed picture of aging providers’ experiences and capacities to serve LGBT elders. Responses came from 320 agencies nationwide, based in 45 states and every region of the country. To download the report, click here.
Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
Mastery Charter School seeks to partner with parents to turnaround failing neighborhood schools and start new Mastery schools that will provide a quality college preparatory education. They are looking for an exceptional leader to organize parents and community leaders to advocate for neighborhood school turnarounds and new charters. The Community Organizer will mobilize parent, community and faith leaders to demand change and better options for their children. Continue Reading
If you are able to communicate clearly, and would like to promote a great children's resource, you may be just the person to be the Communications Specialist at the Please Touch Museum. Created in 1976, the museum was the first in the nation whose target audience was families with children seven and younger. This job includes writing and editing a wide variety of projects, including news releases and newsletters, and managing web and social media content. To learn more and to apply for this position, click here.
The Campaign for Working Families still needs more volunteers to reach its goal of 600 in the Philadelphia area by January 17th. Volunteers will help families receive the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, as well apply for food stamps, utility assistance, educational funding and free or low cost health insurance. Volunteering just once a week for the tax season (January 24th - April 18th) can produce more than $60,000 in tax refunds for low-income people. No experience necessary. For more information, call (215) 851-1759 or click here.
The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, one of the premier LGBT arts organizations in the Delaware Valley, is seeking a part-time administrative assistant to support the Board of Directors in serving the Chorus’s membership and audience. Reporting to the President of the Chorus, the part-time administrative assistant will be responsible for entering and maintaining data, communicating with the Chorus and audience members, and assisting with proper processing of financial and administrative records. To learn more, Continue Reading
Second Circle Improv Players is a diverse, intergenerational ensemble of performers, who use interactive, improvisational theater techniques and role-play to help audiences address social, organizational, and other important issues in a powerful and engaging way. This nonprofit is looking for a "creative" retired accountant to help them file their income taxes, set up records, and create systems to report back to their fiscal sponsor. This is an intermittent, flexible position. To learn more, e-mail Ruthie or call (215) 779-1943.
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Coming of Age Radio Portraits, produced by WHYY, feature age 50+ Philadelphia-area people who have made exciting life transitions. Click here to see and hear their wonderful stories and to submit your story!
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