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


 

The Philadelphia Sustainability Awards take place this evening, April 26th, at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The awards recognize people and organizations in our region who are leading the way to a more sustainable future. We checked, and there is still plenty of room for walk-ins.


If You Can't Make the Ceremony . . .
Be sure to take a look at the list of finalists for details about impressive movers and "sustainers," such as Greensgrow Philadelphia, "a jewel in the crown of the Philadelphia sustainability movement," and Philadelphia Fry-O-Diesel, where they convert restaurant grease into fuel.


Baby You Can Drive My Car . . .
Philly Car Share is another finalist for a Sustainability Award. If you're not familiar with the car sharing movement, take a look at Should You Share a Car?, an article from Coming of Age founding partner AARP.


"This isn't a Community Center. It's a Senior Center"
So says Anne Hogan-Shershevsky, 86, who doesn't want her senior center name changed to make room for boomers. She may be part of a growing backlash from those in the Greatest Generation who aren't thrilled with boomers joining that generation's ranks and changing things. "The boomers come up now and try to shelve the seniors," says Anne. "This isn't right . . . If they recognize we still exist and have talents and can share things, then they're OK. But just OK, you understand?"


New Orleans Mayor Talks Trash About Philly
In case you missed it, Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans, told a community group from the hurricane devastated city : "You all ought to go to Philly, and you will appreciate how clean New Orleans is . . . . we definitely beat them by a long shot." Ouch! He did eventually apologize for his remarks, saying that he "intended no disrespect." The Inquirer's Monica Yant Kinney then wrote that he didn't need to apologize because he was right.


You Doesn't Have to Call Me Grandpa
You can call me Papa. You can call me GG. (Remember that guy?) Well, it seems boomers are taking up a similar mantra, resisting all "grand" titles because of their "rocking-chair image" and looking for better alternatives. How about calling them "in denial about getting older?"


Prostate Pandemonium
Feminist icon Germaine Greer isn't thrilled with the show Menopause the Musical. "No thanks," she writes. "I'm thinking of a money spinner called Prostate Pandemonium, where we get to see aging men celebrating their urinary chaos."


Are You in the Loop?
Coming of Age founding partner WHYY has a free weekly email called "In the Loop." Sign up to learn about upcoming programs, local events and other interesting news. This week's issue features a contest that may be of interest to anyone thinking of an encore career in radio. Have you always dreamed of being the next Terry Gross or Ira Glass? Well, now's your chance.

 

If you know of a volunteer opportunity in the Greater Philadelphia area that you would like featured here, email details to havewegot@comingofage.org.


This Week's VISTA Opportunity
Instead of featuring a specific VISTA opportunity this week, we would like to let you know about VISTA's opportunity search engine. Here you can search by interest or where you would like to spend a year of service. For those looking for a "retirement" career in the nonprofit sector, a year as a VISTA volunteer is a great way to get started.


Share Your Expertise with Kids
ASAP, the After School Activities Partnerships, is looking for volunteers to start an after-school club or volunteer at an after-school program. Help a kid learn to play chess, shoot a jump shot, dance or sing. Learn More


Help Kids in Need
Genesis II, a nonprofit that provides housing, education, child care, counseling and substance abuse treatment services for single women and their children, seeks volunteers who can tutor, create special activities and read to children. Contact Barbara Kelly at (215) 978-5191.


BINGO!
The AIDS Fund raises money for HIV awareness. Volunteers are needed for GayBINGO, a monthly event that raises money for the fund. GayBINGO gained national recognition after being featured in a WHYY documentary. Volunteers are needed to help with the games. Call (215) 731-9255 or visit aidsfundphilly.org


 
A Walking Symbol of Hope
The Inquirer's Art Carey gives us another inspiring story this week. It's about Osceola Wesley, 80, a "local hero" who has spent decades helping those addicted to drugs. He "spent the first half of his life surrendering to them, the last half battling them on behalf of others."


Boomer Biking to Florida
Peter Knoop, 57, is living his dream, biking 10 hours a day on a 1200 mile ride to Florida. Next year he's planning to raise money for charity by riding to California.


  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.




Learn to Compost
11am in Roxborough
Receive a free compost bin for your backyard and learn to turn your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into valuable mulch and fertilizer.



Take it All Back
12pm on Kelly Drive
This event will celebrate the stories of survivors of sexual abuse and the friends and family members who help them heal in the aftermath of violence. In addition to speak-outs from survivors, there will be live music, refreshments, raffles and children's activities.

Drumbeat for Darfur Public Rally
1pm at Philadelphia City Hall
March and rally organized by activist groups fighting to stop the genocide in Darfur.



Encounters with Islam
5:00pm in Northwest Philadelphia
The Neighborhood Interfaith Movement presents Laura Berg, an American woman diplomat who served in Islamic countries, and Karim Chaibi, a Tunisian man who journeyed from fundamentalist to moderate Islam.

Women and Faith in "Caroline, or Change"
6:30pm at the National Constitution Center
As part of “Caroline Conversations," a series of community-minded events inspired by the play "Caroline, or Change," women who are faith leaders in the African American and Jewish communities will lead a discussion.



Where Do You Stand? Stories from an American Mill
7pm in University City
Join the Bread & Roses Community Fund and local activists for a screening of Where Do You Stand? followed by a discussion on the contemporary state of labor organizing.



Islam and Europe —Professor Bernard Lewis
5:45pm in Center City
Professor Lewis is one of the world's foremost experts on the Middle East. At this program he will share his thoughts on how Europe should deal with its growing Muslim population while balancing the desire for a tolerant society.

Barbara Kingsolver on Local Food Economies
8pm at the Philadelphia Central Library
The acclaimed novelist will discuss her latest non-fiction work, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life



Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concert
7pm in Jeffersonville
A benefit concert featuring the oldies Rock and Roll band the Fabulous Hubcaps.

MORE ON BOOMERVISION!^® 2007


What's So Great About Growing Older?
Hear Dr. Bill Thomas, whose revolutionary insights and vision are having an enormous impact on the way we age and think about aging. 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."