Inspiring Opportunities is an email from Coming of Age for people 50+ who are making a difference in the world, in their communities and in their lives.



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Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
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Philly for Change, the 4,000+ member grassroots political group that fights for progressive public policy, has some recommendations for Philadelphia Mayor John Street as to what his legacy should be when he leaves office: that he continued to clean up neighborhoods, helped homeless families, and fully funded city health centers. We second that emotion.

May we remind Mr. Street and all those 50+, psychologist Erik Erikson nailed it when he said, "I am what survives of me." If you'd like to add your name to those sending a message to Hizzoner to put down that iPhone and do what's right before we get regime change, click here.


Sure, we're big boosters when it comes to Our Town (Think the Constitution, Restaurant Week, the Phillies... well). But The Washington Post recently one-upped our dailies with a feature promoting volunteering that we wouldn't mind seeing emulated here. To read the article, you may need to subscribe for FREE to the Post online. Like that's a bad thing?


Many gay Americans may be OK if they're young, funny, or on the screen, but when they grow old, it's a whole different story. The New York Times shows what happens when an aging generation abandons its own. (This is not to say that the younger members of the LGBT community may always have it easy.) Also: check out the BiUnity Discussion Group below in our "Make a Difference " calendar and take a look ahead in our website's Calendar for the Glitterati Drag Competition, Mornings OUT LGBT Senior Social and other out and proud events later this month.


An estimated 38 million women age 40 and over didn't get mammograms in the past year. Coming of Age partner Siemens Medical Solutions is working to change that statistic. Promise to have your regular breast cancer screenings, and Siemens will donate $1 to the American Cancer Society.


Kathleen Casey-Kirschling looks pleasant enough, but USA Today casts her as an omen of impending doom. When she signs up for Social Security benefits on Monday, the newspaper writes, "it will represent one small step for her, one giant leap for her baby boom generation -- and a symbolic jump toward the retirement system's looming bankruptcy."

We beg to differ: Coming of Age predicts (with some basis in research) that boomers will be giving more to our country in real value via civic engagement than draining its coffers. Stay tuned.




  If you know of a volunteer opportunity in the Greater Philadelphia area that you would like featured here, email details to havewegot@comingofage.org. You can find more opportunities at:




Philly has a lot of artists. Philly has a lot of poor families. Want to bring them together? BuildaBridge International uses arts to build relationships with kids in transitional homes. A VISTA for this project will assess the needs of 25 homeless shelters, lead an impact study that shows how art changed children's lives, recruit and manage volunteers, and revise marketing materials. This is a full-time opportunity with living allowance and benefits. It requires a bachelor's degree. Send resumes to J. Nathan Corbitt at ncorbitt@msn.com. Call 215-842-0428 for more information.


Painted classrooms, working playgrounds, safer schoolyards: That's what Philadelphia Cares Day is about. Join thousands of volunteers at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 123 S Broad St # 1930. Complimentary meals. Register online.


Lead discussions with older adults on health and wellness, life stories, and preventing depression. Volunteers must be at least 55. Journey's Way, a part of Intercommunity Action, coordinates the group. Call Aviva Perlo at 215-487-1296, or e-mail aperlo@intercommunityaction.org.


For the just-curious-about life, social butterflies, and armchair journalists: Mid County Senior Services needs a volunteer reporter for its newsletter. Mileage paid. Call Loretta Wilson at 610-353-6642, or email lwilson@senrs.org.


Laurel House is the only emergency domestic violence shelter in Montgomery County. Victims call in all the time, but sometimes they speak only Spanish. If you're bilingual, you can help the people who need care get the care they need. The next training is Nov. 6 in North Wales. Call 610-277-1860 or e-mail development@laurel-house.org.


Donating an hour of your time could be worth $5,000 to a family in need. Become a part of the "Coming of Age Make a BIG Difference Team" working with The Benefit Bank and connect families to the benefits and tax credits for which they may be eligible.




We list events and opportunities here we think will interest people 50+ who want to make a difference. If you know of such events, please send us information. If you attended an event you learned about here, please send us a review.

And don't forget to check out our website Community Calendar too!


10:00 am at The African American Museum, Center City
Led by Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, people in Philadelphia will pay tribute to the ancestral heritage of free and enslaved Africans at Congo Square (a/k/a Washington Square) located between 6th & 7th and Walnut & Locust Streets. The event will be followed by brunch, and the first of a series of Community Conversations with archaeologist Cheryl LaRoche, Ph.D. about the First African Baptist Church Burial Grounds and the President’s House Archeological Dig. Free.


2:00 pm at Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Center City
Rutu Modan is an award-winning Israeli cartoonist and a co-founding member of Actus Tragicus, an internationally acclaimed collective and independent publishing house for alternative comics artists. Exit Wounds, nominated for the Quill Award’s Best Graphic Novel of the Year, tells the story of a Tel Aviv cab driver trying to find out if his estranged father was the victim of a suicide bombing. Free.


6:00 pm at Mitchell Auditorium, Bossone Research Enterprise Center, 3160 Market St., West Philly

Made in L.A. (Hecho in Los Angeles) tells how three Latina immigrants from L. A. garment sweatshops embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from their trendy clothing retailer employer. Free. For more information, call (215) 895-6478.

6:30 pm at Temple University Main Campus, Anderson Hall Room, 1114 W. Berks St., Room 14, North Philly
Come learn about the Pan-African Studies Community Education Program, Temple University's flagship community education program, which is celebrating 32 years of success and excellence. For information, call Yumy Odom at (215) 204-3449.


7:00 pm at The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Center City
This is a public forum on making Philly the greenest, most livable city in America. Mayoral candidates Michael Nutter and Al Taubenberger are confirmed. Daily News columnist Flavia Colgan will moderate. Free. Refreshments provided by Whole Foods. RSVP to Joe Soprani at Pennsylvania Horticultural Society by calling (215) 988-8788 or emailing forum@pennhort.org.


5:00 pm at 1238 West Erie Avenue, North Philly
Inmates at Graterford, students from St. Gabriel’s Hall, and victims groups collaborated on this mural, which was inspired by Kevin Johnson, a victim of violent crime, who forgave his own assailants and became an advocate for reconciliation as a necessary part of healing. For information contact Amy Johnston at (267) 258-9128 or amy.johnston@phila.gov.


7:00 pm at The William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Center City
BiUnity Discussion Group, Philadelphia’s only social and support network for bisexual people, their families, and friends. Free.


1:00 pm at Temple University TECH Center, Bell Building (12th St. and Montgomery Ave.) Room 205A (Green Lab), North Phillly
Sponsored by Paley Library, University Libraries.


6:00 pm at The African American Museum
Featuring Umar R. Abdullah-Johnson. October is National Domestic Violence Month, and this lecture topic is "Keeping Secrets with the Devil: The Tragedy of Childhood Molestation & Domestic Abuse." Call (215) 574-0380 for more information.


12:00 pm at Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Center City
Gary Kasparov became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of 22, a title he held until 2000. In How Life Imitates Chess, Kasparov offers a primer on successful decision-making based on lessons from the chessboard. No tickets required. For info, call (215) 567-4341.




9:00 am at various locations throughout the city
In a single day, volunteers will devote more than 70,000 hours to public schools. That adds up to our children knowing we care about them. Invest a little of your time to make aging schools more beautiful places to learn.

Imam Abdur-Razak Miller
Is 50+ the Age of Creativity? We think so. Which is why we're launching our year-long Boomervision! lecture/community dialogue series next month with an incredible tale of re-invention and an evening about how to enrich your life -- and your community-- by becoming more creative. Learn More.



SPONSOR:




VISTA is looking for experienced, energetic individuals who want to make a full-time, year-long commitment to fight poverty. If you’re retiring soon, already there or want to take a year off for a year of service, VISTA may be for you. Living allowances and other benefits are provided. More About VISTA

See this week's featured VISTA opportunity under "Have We Got an Opportunity For You."







Involved with a nonprofit that could use more 50+ people in compelling roles to further the group’s mission? Here’s info about an upcoming Coming of Age Learning Lab that will help such organizations do just that. Give your group a call or shoot ‘em an e-mail with this link. When people 50+ talk, nonprofits listen.


Coming of Age presents a half day workshop plus technical assistance designed to help senior centers explore new identities, attract boomers and other older adults, develop enriched volunteer experiences, and more! Learn More


Of Interest on WHYY
Coming of Age founding partner WHYY has some programs coming up that may interest you:


NOW "Child Brides: Stolen Lives"
Friday, October 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
In the next 10 years, an estimated 100 million girls will be married before they turn 18. In this special, Maria Hinojosa travels to Niger, India and Guatemala to bring viewers a closer look at the heartbreaking global phenomenon of forced child marriage.

WHYY Presents On Stage at Curtis
Sunday, October 14 at 6 p.m. on WHYY TV12
Watch this special of the recital of gifted young violinist José Maria Blumenschein, 22. A native of Freiburg, Germany, he was appointed associate concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra shortly before graduating from Curtis in May 2007.

The Mysterious Human Heart
Monday, October 15 & 22 at 9 p.m.
This three-part series from filmmaker David Grubin explores the most common misconceptions about the heart and looks at the latest discoveries transforming our understanding of this engine of human life.