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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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.


The Inquirer recently reported that so far 1,000 men have signed up for "Call to Action: 10,000 Men: It's A New Day in Philadelphia" The objective of the program is to "organize 10,000 MEN to act in a proactive manner by going into designated communities and deterring unwanted and illegal behavior." October 21 is the kickoff for the event. You can learn more by visiting the Philadelphia Millions More Movement web site.


Rock star and Humanitarian star Bono accepted the Liberty Medal at the Constitution Center last Thursday.

Will Bunch of the Daily News blogged Bono's acceptance speech, emphasizing Bono's criticism of our current administration's torture and detention policies. "You do not have to become a monster to defeat a monster," said Bono.

Carolyn Davis of the Inquirer argued that the popularity of social movements, like those to end genocide in Darfur are due in large part to the work of celebrities like Bono.

And in case you thought otherwise, the LOVE park fountain's water turning red last Thursday was not to honor Bono's "Red" campaign against poverty but a publicity stunt for "Dexter," a series about a serial killer. The red was supposed to be blood. Just what Philly needs!

In more inspiring news, to coincide with Bono's visit, the Daily News spotlighted local heroes working on behalf of Africa. Did you know Ali B. Dinar, the grandson of the last king of Darfur, is a professor at Penn, and president of Philadelphia's Darfur Alert Coalition? Read about him here and other locals fighting for Africa here.


Did you know that "in Philadelphia alone, one in six children, more than 60,000, are being raised by a relative, often a grandparent?" Read this opinion piece in the Daily News to learn about the challenges grandparents in this situation face and what you can do to help.





The World Health Organization recently released the Global Age-friendly Cities Guides. Here's the guide. And here's a checklist of essential features.


Talk about a "right of passage" to mark your transition to a new phase of life! How about hopping on a motorcycle and doing a Philly to Nashville round trip with... your aunt and uncle! That's just how John "Hollywood" Creveling, one of the Explore Your Future guides for Coming of Age, "spent his summer vacation."




  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:




Kensington needs you. The Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center puts on camps, clubs, and service learning projects for kids, as well as English as a Second Language, high school equivalency (GED), and other classes for adults in Northeast Philadelphia. VISTAs at this project will reach out to the neighborhood, coordinate programs, write grants, recruit volunteers, raise funds, and plan events to make the community strong. This is a full-time opportunity with living allowance and benefits. Ideal applicants are fluent in English and either Spanish or Vietnamese. Send resume to Estela Reyes-Bugg at ebugg@chs-adphila.org. Call 215-426-9422 for more information.


If you want to help people who may be about to step off the edge, here are two options. First, Contact Greater Philadelphia will start training volunteers in November for its Bucks and Montgomery call centers; call Lenore Sherman at 215-355-6611. Then there's ContactLifeline in Delaware. Call Jessica Whitehead at 302-761-9800 ext 1004.


Quest Therapeutic puts kids with special needs on horseback. This Delaware County program is looking for volunteers who can groom, saddle, and lead the horses, or walk alongside and make sure the kids don't fall. Call Erin Freeman at 484-678-6047.


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.


West Park Cultural and Opportunity Center at the School of the Future, 4021 Parkside Avenue, needs volunteers to teach introductory classes and software training. The Center offers day and night classes. Call Betty Lindley at 215-473-7810, or e-mail blindley@verizon.net.


SCORE Philadelphia Chapter needs people who know success. This program helps community members get advice from retired (or active) entrepreneurs and executives. Call Mark Maguire at 215-580-2712.


The International Association of Jewish Vocational Services needs an administrative assistant. Required: Bachelor's degree, one year work experience. 15 hr/week. Salary based on experience. E-mail Genie Cohen, Genie.Cohen@jevs.org


If you're a retired teacher or social worker, consider working with one of our founding partners at Temple University's Center for Intergenerational Learning. Grandma's Kids' tutors work with children after school, and the program needs a part-time worker who can handle first - through eighth - graders and supervise assistants. Apply at www.temple.edu/hr




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!


8:00 am at Mt. Laurel, New Jersey
Enrich your life at Transformations first annual holistic learning conference -- 8am to 6pm, in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.


10:00 am at Ford-PAL Rec. Center, 7th and Snyder, South Philly
Community centered event includes health information and screenig. Contact: Rhonda Simmons, (215) 467-8700 ext 26. Sponsor: United Communities.


11:00 am at Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church, 20 W. Lea Blvd. Wilmington, Delaware
This year theme's is "Sisters Always Caring About One Another." Cost $20.00. Sisters On A Missions (SOAM), African-American breast cancer support group. Contact person: Cynthia Church: (302) 475-0708.


12:00 pm at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., West Philly
Are you familiar with 'zines -- small hand-produced magazines that have sprung up all over the city? If not, be prepared for the personal, the political, and the artistic. Read work from all over the country, meet the creators, hear music, and eat vegan food. Free. Part of the 215 Festival.


9:00 am at Free Library, 1901 Vine Street Philadelphia, Center City
Photographs by Harvey Finkle document the Re-Entry Program of the Philadelphia Prison System. Last day to see these at Central Library; exhibit moves to the West Gallery through December.


10:00 am at Trevose, PA
Are you caring for a spouse, caregiver or friend? This Family Caregiver Expo from 10:00am to 3:00pm could be just the thing for you! Call (215) 968-4593 for more info.


6:30 pm at 735 Fairmount Ave., Center City
Discussion of Children & Education sponsored by Wm Penn EPIC Stakeholder group, which is made up of individuals who live and/or work in a community and are actively involved in the continued development of that community. This session will focus on finding solutions to truancy. For more information, call (215) 923-1544 x 112.


6:15 pm at Philadelphia City Institute 1905 Locust St., Center City
Karen F. Zeltz will facilitate a hands-on program that explaining the details of ethical wills. For more information, call (215) 685-6621.


5:00 pm at Shore Memorial Hospital, Somers Point, NJ
This program will help you learn about heart disease and the minor changes in lifestyle that can add years to your life. Join Christina Kozmor, RN, director of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at Shore Memorial Hospital for this presentation. For more information, call (609) 653-4500.


10:00 am at Cohox Recreation Center 2889 Cedar Street, Kensington
This Senior Expo to provide a one-stop center for senior citizens and their families to obtain information on a wide range of topics. Call (215) 425-0901 for more information.




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.

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:


"49 Up" on P.O.V.
Tuesday, October 9, 9:00pm
The seventh installment in a look at the lives of British baby boomers
that began in 1964, when the subjects were 7 years old. They include a
cabbie; a former missionary; three girlhood friends.


"Mr. Philadelphia: The Story of Albert M. Greenfield"
Thursday, October 11, 9:00pm
Philanthropist Albert M. Greenfield's various careers, including adviser to four presidents, and how he managed to bring the Republican and Democratic Conventions to Philadelphia in 1948.