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.



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Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
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Forget what you were told about finishing everything on your plate! Restaurants pride themselves on serving giant-sized portions that unfortunately lead to ever-expanding waistlines, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and more. The Philadelphia Dietetic Association recommends "ball-sized" portion examples to get you started on eating healthy -- a "tennis ball"-sized pasta serving; a "baseball" one of fruits or veggies; "ping-pong balls" of peanut butter. Note: no beach balls!


Six years ago, at 62 and 48, Pat and Catherine Patterson decided to leave it all behind. They sold their real estate business and cars, gave their furniture to their children, and offered their home for rent. Strapping their remaining possessions to two bicycles, the couple set off to tour the world. Catherine explains their decision to plunge into the unknown: "I think you just have to be open-minded and willing to take chances... and not be afraid." Read on to find out more about their trip, plans, and what this adventure has taught them about life.


Register now for interesting, mind expanding online courses being offered by SeniorNet. Check out the catalogue of instructor-facilited topics, including "Photographing People with Your Digital Camera," "Creating Web Pages," "Instant Italian," "Luscious, Low-Fat, Lightening-Quick Meals," and "Building Wealth." To see all of the courses and register, go to their Online Education website and click "Courses" at the top of the page. Membership is $30. We think it's a great way to learn, grow, and expand your skills!


Nearly one in 10 older U.S. adults is an “unhealthy drinker,” according to a study of 12,400 Medicare recipients and published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. But what may come as a surprise to the over-65 set -- and the boomers about to enter that stage is the level of consumption it takes to nudge an older person into the risky drinker category. Per this MSNBC article, moderation is the answer.




 
There are a lot of exciting events to look forward to in April thanks to the creative efforts of Coming of Age and our partner, First Person Arts. To learn more about these opportunities, click on Read More.

Memoir Writing for Beginners
Memoir at Middle Age: An Introductory Workshop for Women, 50 and older, is being taught by Dianna Marder of The Philadelphia Inquirer, starting April 3.

Now or Never: The Lost Photos of Diane Arbus
On April 5, First Person plans a one-day excursion to Phillips de Pury Gallery in New York to see extraordinary "lost" photos by photographer Diane Arbus.

Finding Your Story
On April 30 at WHYY, Boomervision!, a Coming of Age program-- with this session co-sponsored by AARP and First Person Arts-- presents "Find Your Own Story," a workshop that asks you to "mine the treasures of your own experience" ... and transform them into a personal narrative. (More about that soon!) Read More.




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




Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC) seeks an AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader to manage and support 28 full-time VISTA placements at higher educational institutions throughout Pennsylvania. The PACC*VISTA Leader will serve in the PACC office in Grantham, PA. Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents -- representing some 6,000,000 students -- dedicated to fulfilling the civic dimensions of higher education. For over 20 years, Campus Compact has led a growing movement to ensure that students graduate with knowledge and experience to tackle society's most pressing issues. Read More.


The American Cancer Society’s Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research is inviting men and women throughout the United States, between the ages of 30 and 65 who have no personal history of cancer, to join a historic research study called CPS-3. The ultimate goal is to better understand the lifestyle, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer and ultimately, eliminate cancer as a major health problem. For more information, e-mail or call (toll-free) 1-(888)-604-5888.


Vote For Homes! is a nonpartisan coalition organized by Project H.O.M.E., that registers and mobilizes thousands of people who are homeless or living on low incomes and helps them get to the polls on Election Day. Volunteers are needed to get out the voters... and are required to attend a two-hour training covering the following topics: voter protection, transportation, assistance in the voting booth, and ID issues. Information about training dates and contact numbers follows. Read More.




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 953 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville, PA
The more you know about the natural world, the more impact you can have on preserving it! Join Naturalist Vincent Smith at Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville for a morning bird walk to explore the meadows and wetlands of this unique site along the Atlantic Flyway. Learn about fine-feathered friends that inhabit our natural areas and those who just stop-by for a winter visit... about the techniques used to identify birds such as color, shape, song and habitat. Open to beginners. FREE. Call (610) 469-1916 for more information.


9:00 am at Germantown Friends School, 31 W. Coulter Street, Philadelphia
Find out how to preserve the past. Gather with others who love the charm of squeaky floors and wood burning stoves... and take advantage of this opportunity to visit 70+ booths of vendors and preservation professionals, attend demonstrations by specialty craftspeople, consult with "experts," and gather information at the Preservation Resource Center. The Fair, sponsored by the Preservation Alliance, encourages restoration and re-use of historic buildings. General admission $10.


10:00 pm at Longwood Gardens, Route 1 and Route 52, Kennett Square, PA
Nature and art together! What better way to nourish the soul and re-charge your commitment to give back! The fragrance of hundreds of Easter lilies will surround you at Longwood Garden's Conservatory where you also can enjoy a concert by the Copeland String Quartet performing Bach’s "The Art of Fugue" in front of an "orchid" curtain at 1 pm and 3 pm (Free with admission). Call (610) 388-1000 ext. 100 for reservations or purchase tickets online. May your reverie inspire you!


6:00 pm at White Dog Cafe, 3420 Sansom St., Philadelphia
What do the words "trans", "transgender" or "transsexual" mean? What is it like for a "trans" person in the workplace, in the community, or as an artist involved in social change? Attend this session of "Real Stories by Real People" at the White Dog Cafe to hear more about the "trans" world from a panel that has confonted these issues. Call (215) 386-9224 for reservations for dinner at 6 pm and/or program at 7:30 pm.


8:00 pm at Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania’s longest serving U.S. Senator and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, never considered giving up his position when he was diagnosed with an advanced form of Hodgkin’s disease in 2005. Join him at the Free Library as he discusses his new book, Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate and describes his treatment and his decisions about how to handle life with a potentially fatal disease. FREE. No tickets required. For information, call (215) 567-4341.


6:00 pm at Physick House, 321 S. 4th Street, Philadelphia
Join Dr. David Brownlee, Professor and Chair, University of Pennsylvania's Department of Art History, as he discusses his book, Building the City Beautiful: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Brownlee will examine the great civic movement that created Philadelphia's Parisian-style boulevard and the triumphant rescue and remaking of Society Hill. To register for this session of the Landmarks Architecture Lecture Series, click here.


6:00 pm at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Learn the hidden story of the things we eat, breathe and touch from Dr. Kevin Osterhoudt, Medical Director of the Poison Control Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Osterhoudt will present background on the toxins that lurk in our environment. This lecture is part of the Academy of Natural Sciences' series called Town Square: Science of Citizens that promotes thoughtful exchanges with the public on important issues that relate to science, sustainability and the environment. RSVP for tickets. FREE


10:00 am at Philadelphia Senior Center, 509 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Senior Center (PSC) will host an informative and interactive Conversation about Women's Health and Aging featuring a panel of physicians discussing depression, heart disease, diabetes, and other concerns for women as they age. This free event is presented by the Drexel University College of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership and co-sponsored by PSC and the Coalition of Advocates for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE). Refreshments inlcuded. To register, call (215) 255-7373.


1:00 pm at Center in the Park, 5818 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia
Visit Center in the Park, an organization that promotes healthy, positive aging, to hear a candid discussion between the “Grandmothers” who are part of the Center's community, and the "Granddaughters," who are students at ESI Education Services & Learning Institute. Through a facilitated give-and-take about self-esteem, education, relationships, and other topics of mutual interest, the older generation will impart wisdom as they interact with the younger one. For women only. FREE.


8:00 pm at Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
Don't miss author Chinua Achebe's visit to the Free Library to mark the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking 1958 novel Things Fall Apart -- one of the most frequently read books in the world. Things Fall Apart is an unsentimental portrait of colonization's devastating effect on the Ibo people of Nigeria. Author Lorene Cary will interview Mr. Achebe. $14 General Admission; Call (215) 686-5322 for tickets.


7:00 pm at Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 South 18th Street, Philadelphia
Does art lead to understanding that engenders action? We think so, and want you to enjoy this yearly event at the nation’s oldest multidisciplinary arts center, the Philadelphia Art Alliance (PAA). The Last Friday at PAA series presents a reading in association with the American Poetry Review, a performance by a local singer/songwriter, and extended gallery hours for the current exhibit, featuring Gijs Bakker and Jewelry. FREE with admission, $5. Call (215) 545-4302 to order tickets.





For You and Those You Care For


The Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging the growth of community-based collaboratives working to develop a patient-focused marketplace for health care. These community collaboratives -– called Community Leaders -– are making strides to bring together stakeholders, including employers, health plans, providers, and consumers who pledge to support the Four Cornerstones of Value-Driven Health Care. Read More.

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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."