Award-winning author, Gail Sheehy, wrote an article in USA Today about Lee Kravitz, a 54-year-old "master of the magazine publishing universe," who unexpectedly, ""brutally," lost his job, but managed to find a silver lining...and discover an invaluable life lesson. Following the initial shock, the realization that he had lost contact with his family...and himself...while totally immersed in his work, hit home. Lee began a journey into the next phase of his life that included a true understanding of the word, "compassion," a focus on connecting in many different ways, and a book chronicling his transition.

Retirement may not be all that it is cracked up to be. Once free from the day-to-day work responsibilities and stress, you may find that there is a gap needing to be filled. This article from AARP provides a number of good ideas for part-time jobs that can meet the need for staying involved and making a few more dollars...and give you something to look forward to when you wake up in the morning.

American cities are designed for the young and sprightly. But, the growing number of boomers turning 65 is pushing the need for more age-friendly cities that make it possible for aging adults to stay active and independent in their own homes. This article focuses on how this challenge is being addressed by New York, Atlanta, Portland, and Philadelphia (the "oldest" of the nation's 10 largest cities) with the leadership role taken by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) cited. For more on PCA's age-friendly efforts, click here.

Writing a memoir sounds like an easy assignment; after all, it's all about you. But, this article, an NPR interview with author and memoir writing instructor, Marion Roach Smith, points out that aspiring memoirists often err on the side of including every memory on the page, rather than focusing on broader themes. Roach believes that writing a memoir that will keep a reader's interest calls for choosing one area of expertise rather than exploring a lifetime, which is the job of an autobiography. To get some more tips from the author of The Memoir Project, click here.

The Economy League's FastForward Philadelphia Video Contest
is accepting original short videos about life in the Philadelphia area in 2026. Competitive submissions will be inspired by aspects of the four futures described in the 2026: Future Histories of Greater Philadelphia report. Entrants can win a cash prize of $2,026 and have their work viewed on Philly.com! A panel of local film and creative industry judges will award up to four cash prizes and the public can vote for "people's choice" winners online this August. Due by July 31st. Read more...

It's never too early to learn about money, saving, spending, and investing...and the Please Touch Museum is launching a financial literacy program to teach young children these concepts and make it fun!  This program runs from Tuesday, August 2nd through Friday, September 30th. Finance-related activities will include a theater show, story time, banker PTM Puppet Pal, interactive workshop, and Design Your Dime activity. Activities are included in the regular price of admission. To learn more about this unique program, call Emily at (215) 581-3161.

After the 2009 arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates by police sergeant James Crowley, President Obama invited the two to the White House to discuss the incident. At the same time in Philadelphia, Global Citizen and MLK365 organized a Beer Summit for concerned citizens to meet, mingle, and discuss race relations.  You are invited to join the 3rd Annual Summit on Tuesday, August 2nd, 5-7 p.m. at the Reading Terminal in Center City, along with special guest, Yale professor Elijah Anderson, to talk about ways to overcome the barriers that divide us. Click here to register for this event or call (215) 665-2655.

NPR fired longtime news analyst Juan Williams for stating on The O’Reilly Factor that seeing people in “Muslim garb” on airplanes made him nervous. Williams called it a “chilling assault on free speech" and has written a book called Muzzled:The Assault on Honest Debate that he will discuss at the Free Library, 1901 Vine Street, August 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. The book addresses Williams's view about how the nature of debate is choked by political correctness. Prior to his stint at NPR, he spent two decades at The Washington Post and is the author of six books. Cost: $15. To buy tickets online, click here.

The August Philly Net Tuesday will be focused on Google+, the brand new social networking service from Google. The discussion will take place at 6 p.m., August 2nd in the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia. Questions to be discussed include what is Google+ and how does it work, why is Google important (or not), will it rival/surpass;Facebook, and how can Google+ help nonprofits and social change? No RSVP necessary. For more information, click here.

KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Charter Schools are known for turning children's lives around ... and they are looking for volunteers who want to be a part of that mission. KIPP runs two Satuday sessions a month for their fifth and sixth graders at their West Philadelphia Prep, 5900 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia where children get to experience the arts, crafts, hobbies ...and lots more. Adults who enjoy working with this age group and have a skill or passion they want to share are needed to lead these small group workshops (perhaps sharing the teaching dates with 2 or 3 friends) from 9-12 p.m., with lunch to follow. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, contact Lia Brunner at (215) 694-2495.

CAEL (the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning), a national nonprofit organization, has an opening for a part-time Consultant who is well-versed in issues relating to the mature workforce. CAEL received funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies to provide technical assistance to ten sites that received demonstration grants from the U. S. Department of Labor (through its Aging Worker Initiative) to improve services to mature workers. The Consultant will help develop policy recommendations based, in part, on the sites’ on-the-ground experiences. 

The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM,) the only nonprofit arts organization in the United States devoted to creating new work in new materials and new media in collaboration with nationally, and internationally recognized artists, seeks qualified candidates to fill the position of full-time Project Manager and Construction Technician. This position requires exceptional skills in management and fabrication of artist projects, as well as knowledge of traditional and non-traditional materials. Salary commensurate with experience and references.

Touching Lives Over 55, a program of Journey's Way, is recruiting volunteers, who are at least 55, to facilitate peer discussion groups about health and wellness, aging issues, retirement, and life stories. Volunteers must enjoy working with people, have good listening skills, and provide their own transportation. Discussion groups meet weekly in senior community centers in Philadelphia and are scheduled to begin in September. Volunteer training and meetings will be held in August at 403 Rector Street in Roxborough. For more information, e-mail Karen Rouse, or call her at (215) 487-1750 ext. 1214