Inspiring Opportunities is a weekly 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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What's New
Have We Got a Volunteer Opportunity for You!
Inspiring Stories
This Week


 

Climate Action Day this Saturday
This Saturday there are over 1300 events planned across the country for Climate Action Day. See the 'This Week' section below for links to local events. Here's a story from the Inquirer on how climate change may impact our region.


Has Beijing Got a Volunteer Opportunity For You!
Here's a volunteer opportunity we haven't seen in the US yet -- at least not officially. It's the Moral Police. Retirees are donning red caps and armbands, roaming the streets to stop spitting, swearing, smoking and line-jumping.


"To the Barricades, Oldsters of the Republic"
The New York Times gave us a story this week about how for many people retirement means a chance to devote yourself to social and political causes. There's also an audio slide show.


How the Elite Transition
Another story from the Times gave us a look at the world of upscale life planning, where companies pay up to $50,000 for their retiring executives to make the transition to a mix of paid work, volunteering, leisure, travel and lifelong learning.


New 50+ Trends:
Here's a story about the growing number of older adults telling their life stories with internet video. Here's one about a community for aging hippies and the growing popularity of niche retirement communities. And here's another about the trend of bequeathing your life values and lessons through ethical wills.


Got the Reinvention Blues? You're Not Alone
From the Huffington Post:
Find Out What Matters
Coming of Age founding partner United Way has a weekly email called "What Matters." It's geared towards organizations, but there is quite a bit of information that would be of interest to people who want to make a difference. View the latest issue here and if you find it interesting, sign up here.


  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 also find one-time volunteer opportunities below under “This Week.”


This Week's Featured VISTA Opportunity
Spend a year of service in Ohio as a Benefit Bank Trainer. Training and other benefits provided. Learn More


Share Your Time, Energy and Love with a Child
As a Family Friends volunteer, you will visit a child with special needs at the child's home once a week. You can play a game, share your favorite book, or visit a playground. Volunteers meet monthly to share their experiences, successes and challenges. For more information contact Nancy Hale Stills at (215) 204-3193 or visit Family Friends.


Help Out on Election Day
Coming of Age partner Greater Philadelphia Cares and the Committee of Seventy invite you to volunteer for their non-partisan Election Day Oversight Program on Tuesday, May 15th. Visit Committee of Seventy.


Become a Tutor!
The Center for Literacy seeks volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math and English as a Second Language. Tutors can work with students one-on-one or in small groups. Scheduling is flexible. All materials are provided and no certification is necessary. Tutor trainings are held monthly at a variety of locations in Philadelphia. Contact Kate Stutzman at (215) 351-1670 or visit Center for Literacy.


Organize a Book Drive and Reorganize Your Closet!
Organize a book drive, clear up some space and most importantly, put books in the hands of Philadelphia’s children. Philadelphia Reads will provide the book bins; you supply the time, energy and desire to improve the quality of education for Philadelphia’s students. Call (215) 851-1748 or visit Philadelphia Reads.

 
Profiles in Sharing
If you are looking for inspiring stories about volunteers making a difference take a look at the profiles in sharing section of our web site. And while you're there, don't miss Rare Books, a short animated film that won first prize in the Coming of Age film contest.


  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.



Walk Against Hunger
9am in Center City
The Walk Against Hunger raises money that assists struggling families in our region by providing them with food.

National Climate Action Day
Various times throughout the region
The goal of the National Day for Climate Change is to tell Congress to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Here's information about the big event in Philly. You can find related events in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.



Walk for Autism Awareness
10am in Plymouth Meeting
April is Autism Awareness Month. The walk will raise money for the Family Resource Center, which provides early guidance, especially during the time immediately following diagnosis.

Darfur: A Matter of Local Conscience
1pm in Media
A 13-year-old eyewitness and poet talks about her experiences living in Darfur at this interfaith event, co-hosted by Media's Congregation Beth Israel and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County.




Joe's Coffee House Birthday
6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Center City
Joe's is the first fair trade coffee house in Philly. Join them for their fifth birthday celebration. There will be a birthday cake cutting around 10 a.m., special discounts and promotions, coffee tasting, and fair trade presentations, slides and photos from owner Joe's trips to Puerto Rican and Nicaraguan coffee farms.

Winning the War, Losing the Peace
12pm in Center City
Ali A. Allawi, former Minister of Finance, Defense, and Trade of Iraq and author of "The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace" will speak at the World Affairs Council.



Senior Issues for Philadelphia's Next Mayor
10:00am in Northwest Philadelphia
Coming of Age founding partner AARP Pennsylvania sponsors a forum at which candidates for mayor will present their positions on issues impacting older adults. To Register call AARP at (866) 389-5654.



Philadelphia Talks: Political Reform
7pm at the National Constitution Center
Some of Philadelphia’s leading advocates for change, including Zack Stalberg, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, and Carl Singley, counsel at Wolf Block LLP and former advisor to John Street, will discuss political reform.



Champions for Impact Celebration
5:30pm at the Convention Center in Center City
Coming of Age founding partner United Way will host a celebration and award presentation.

MORE ON BOOMERVISION!^® 2007


What's So Great About Growing Older?
Featuring Dr. Bill Thomas, whose revolutionary insights and vision are having an enormous impact on the way we age. Join a studio audience at WHYY on
Monday, May 7, 5:30pm To register call (215) 351- 0511 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 a Volunteer Opportunity For You."