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

 
Work in Retirement
PhillyBurbs.com recently featured a story, "Some are not sitting still for retirement," about older adults returning to work for more than just the money.

Volunteer Tax Deductions
In the last issue we asked you what you thought about volunteers receiving tax deductions for volunteering. Eight-two percent of you said you were in favor. Sixty-three percent said the hourly deduction rate should be the same for everyone, while thirty-seven percent said the rate should reflect the type of work performed. Here are some reader comments on the subject: A Tale of Two Cities (pdf)
Did you know that Philadelphia is ranked 92nd out of the country's 100 largest cities when it comes to the percentage of college educated citizens (20 percent). In addition, 60 percent of the city's adults are considered low-literate. Coming of Age founding partner United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania co-sponsored a new report, "A Tale of Two Cities," produced by the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board. The report highlights the challenges and importance of educating our workforce to make the city economically viable.


And They Say Boomers Are the "Me" Generation!
A recent study found that a frighteningly high number of college students today show signs of elevated narcissism. That makes "current college students more narcissistic than baby boomers and Gen-Xers," the study's author concluded. So there!


Bill Clinton Calls Boomers to Action
"Baby Boomers grew up believing we can't lead authentic lives unless we look beyond the narrow scope of our own lives," said former President Clinton. "The difference today is we can actually do it." Clinton was introducing "Cause Change," a new public awareness effort from cable channel TV Land, aimed at encouraging Boomers to give back through philanthropy and volunteerism.


Nonprofits Worried About Retiring Boomers
The Inquirer recently ran a story about nonprofit organizations that are worried they won't have anyone to replace their workaholic boomer leadership.


Nonprofit "guns" for hire
The Inquirer also gave us a story about a new trend, nonprofits hiring professionals to come in, get things done and leave.

  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.”

VISTA Opportunity of the Week
Spend a year of service in the Ozarks. The Extension Youth Enterprisers Program is seeking AmeriCorps*VISTA members to work with Missouri communities and university centers on rural youth entrepreneurship, beginning July 2007.


Help Cover the Uninsured
More than 270,000 children do not have health insurance in Pennsylvania! That's 10.5% of all kids. April 23-29 is "Cover the Uninsured Week" You can help.


Help Fight Cancer
The Blue Cross Broad Street Run, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, relies on hundreds of volunteers. The event will be Sunday May 6 and over 13,000 runners are expected. A great opportunity to be outside and help out!


Work with Children
The Providence Center in the Fairhill/West Kensington section of Philadelphia provides after school and mentoring programs, ESL and sewing classes and more! Volunteers are needed. Call (215) 739-7269 or email providencecenter@verizon.net.


Become a Master Gardener
Master Gardeners spend time answering Garden Hotlines and presenting workshops, lectures, and demonstrations to garden clubs, school groups, civic organizations and the general public.  Many of these volunteers work with special audiences such as physically challenged adults, troubled teens, and youth at risk. Read an article about the program that includes links to locations where you can receive training and certification.

 
A Late Bloomer Boomer
We want to thank WHYY's Anne Standish for sending us "Goodbye Career, Hello Bliss," an inspiring story about Jay Rolphe, a lawyer who has found a new life in his 60s as an artist.



Untours Founder Gives Away his Wealth
Read about Hal Taussig, 81, a "21st Century Thoreau" who has chosen to live a simple life outside Media and give his fortune away to others.



Richard Dreyfus speaks to the Philadelphia Bar Association
The actor, activist and late-blooming scholar, didn't hold back as he attempted to inspire attorneys at the recent Philadelphia Bar Association quarterly meeting. Dreyfus spoke about the importance of civic education, dissent and making a difference. Watch a video of the speech here.


  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.



Help with an Egg Hunt
10am in Northwest Philadelphia
Awbury Arboretum is welcoming spring with an Egg Hunt and games on the Arboretum grounds. This event is free and open to the public. Volunteers are needed for setup, cleanup and to manage the games. Contact Mona Margarita at (215) 849-5561 ext 21.


Homeless Veterans and the VA Bureaucracy
11am in Center City
Michael Taub, Director of the Veterans' Project at Philadelphia's Homeless Advocacy Project, recounts the successes and failures he experienced in his efforts to provide legal services to homeless veterans on the streets of Philadelphia.


Woman, Money and Power
6:30pm in University City
Participate in the Salon, a discussion group for women with international interests that gathers monthly to exchange experiences and explore universal topics. This week they discuss: "Does money define our self-worth as women? Do women from different cultures and traditions deal with these issues in different ways?"

A First Hand Account of the Zapatista Uprising
8:00pm in West Philly
John Ross, one of the principal journalists covering the Zapatista movement, discusses his account of the insurgency's past six years.


America's Dialogue with the World
5pm on the University of Pennsylvania Campus
The editor of this new twelve-essay compilation by accomplished scholars will discuss America's place in the world.

Reality TV and Arab Politics
6:30pm on the University of Pennsylvania Campus
The director of the Arab Media and Public Life Project will tell the compelling story of how the Arab reality TV controversies have stirred and renewed Arab public life, opening a unique vista on the cultural, social and political tensions reshaping the contemporary Middle East.


Creating Opportunities for Youth
8:30am in Center City
Have a business? Learn the best practices for creating a summer internship program for Philadelphia youth at this free Chamber of Commerce Event. (Chamber membership is not required.)

Ethical Action Committee Meeting
6:30pm in Center City
The mission of this group is to offer an Ethical Humanist response to social problems, which includes community outreach programs and political involvement.

Building Community Wealth Through a Sustainable Local Economy
8:00pm in Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Judy Wicks, owner of the White Dog Café, will tell how her successful restaurant and gift shop became the jumping-off point for a national movement to re-shape economics on a human scale.


Net Neutrality and the Future of the Internet
11:30am in Center City
David Cohen, Comcast Vice President, discusses the hot topic of Network Neutrality. Companies like Comcast and Verizon, which control the flow of information on the Internet, want the ability to charge content providers fees. Google, Yahoo and just about everyone else wants to stop them.

The Rise and Fall of European Multiculturalism
5 - 6:30 pm on the University of Pennsylvania Campus
With hostility to immigrants on the rise, eminent political expert Ian Baruma explores the question of whether European multiculturalism is dead.

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."