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 an Opportunity for You!
This Week


 

The Sandwich Generation
Twenty million Americans are taking care of their children and their parents. Watch this compelling film by a local filmmaker who moved her family from California to take care of her ailing father. For more information about the Sandwich Generation check out this page on The Boomer Chronicles. And here's a related article that reveals the counterintuitive fact that more people in their 60s and 70s are giving care than receiving it.


The Club Sandwich Generation
If taking care of parents and children isn't enough, there is also the Club Sandwich Generation, those who take care of parents, kids and grandkids. Who knows? With increased longevity, we may soon have a triple decker sandwich generation, those taking care of grandkids, kids, parents and grandparents.


It happened Last Night: Delaware County Adults 50+ Brainstorm How to Enrich Their Community
If the conversation at the Upper Darby Senior Center was typical of the other Boomers Night Out! sessions held all over Delaware County last night, Delco must be abuzz today with creative ideas for connecting people 50+ with meaningful opportunities for civic engagement. More


50 Things You Need to Know by 50
Coming of Age founding partner AARP has given us "50 Things You Need to Know by 50," a collection of humorous tips, such as #3, "The Law of the Olive Garden: The waitress is not hitting on you. Being friendly is her job" and #50, "If someone says 'smell this,' don't," as well as serious items about grieving, forgiveness and what to do if you're audited by the IRS.


Violence in Philadelphia
As the Inquirer pointed out Tuesday, Philadelphia now leads big cities in its murder rate. In related news, Bill Cosby led a march against gun violence this week. On the steps of a church, Cosby told a large crowd, "Stop waiting for Jesus to come" and take action now. If you want to learn more about our plague of violence, take a look at this interactive homicide map.


A Special Offer
A generous donor has offered to underwrite 20 admissions to the Monday, June 11 BOOMERVISION!^® session at WHYY: "The New Revolutionaries" on the topic Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life.  For more information, click here. To be our benefactor's guest, email DGoldberg@ComingofAge.org.


Can someone live to 138?
According to the Limca book of world records this man just celebrated his 138th birthday. (That would mean he was born in 1869.)


Is Disney Ageist?
According to some academics, Disney depicts the elderly as evil or incompetent and may have a bad influence on children: "Typical portrayals of elderly people included showing them as toothless, hunched, and with cracking voices. Many were depicted with 'saggy breasts', the researchers said in an article for the medical publication Journal of Ageing Studies."


Not a Baby, Never Boomed
It's common knowledge that many boomers have a problem with the word "senior." Recently, we reported that many boomers don't like the "grandparent" label either. Now we have someone who hates the term "baby boomers."


Are you or someone you know looking for affordable housing?
If you or someone you know needs affordable housing, check out this online affordable housing locator.



  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:




This Week's VISTA Opportunity
Help the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania mobilize volunteers and coordinate events. This is a great opportunity to network in and around Philadelphia - in the nonprofit, public and business sectors. Learn More

Make Dreams Come True
Habitat for Humanity of Philadelphia needs volunteers. Come just for a day or stay until the house is built! There are opportunities for people with all levels of experience, including no experience. Contact Alexis Jeffcoat (215) 765-6000 ext. 10.

Volunteer with CHAD
CHAD, the Center on Hearing and Deafness, seeks volunteers to visit or mentor someone who is hearing-challenged, demonstrate assistive technology, help with special events and more. Contact Mary Vilter at (610) 918-6250.

Big heart? Green thumb?
Volunteer needed for 2-3 hours a week to nurture, pot and care for the plants in the greenhouse and a small outdoor garden at the Senior Adult Activities Center in Norristown, a group working closely with Coming of Age. Contact Susan Edgren at (610) 275-1960.

Help Support International Cooperation
OIC, the Organization for International Cooperation, needs volunteers to help with volunteer management, assist with fundraising and make connections with local media. Contact Arnold Kaiser at (856) 596-6679.


  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.

This Week
June is AIDs education month. There are a number of events below related to AIDs and HIV awareness. See this page for all Philadelphia Fight events.



Philadelphia's AIDS Thrift Fundraiser
8am in South Philadelphia
A bowling fundraiser for AIDs education.

New Animal Rights Group
1pm to 4pm in South Philadelphia on the roof of Whole Foods
Speakers, musicians, music for children, arts and crafts tables, an adoption fair, informational tables, free food, free Whole Foods makeovers, and more!

2nd Annual Gospel Concert
5pm in South Philadelphia at the True Gospel Tabernacle Church
Come join this celebration brought to you by the Philadelphia Freedom from AIDS Campaign.



Tour the National at Old City to benefit MANNA
12:00pm to 4:00pm in Old City
Owners of the lofts and town homes at the The National have volunteered to allow visitors into their homes for a $10 donation to MANNA.



BOOMERVISION!^® The New Revolutionaries
5:30pm in Center City at WHYY
With so many people 50+ fueled by passion, purpose, and a penchant for improving the world, what kind of work will they do? Hear Marc Freedman, widely regarded as the guru of the 50+ civic engagement movement, and Wilson Goode, former Philadelphia mayor and Director of Amachi. To register call (215) 351-0511 or register online. (See the special offer above.)




The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition
8:30am in University City at the White Dog Cafe
Michael Shuman, author of Small Mart, discusses his book and some of his recent work promoting “leak-plugging” economic development, Local First campaigns, buy-local loyalty cards, state-based stock markets, and business-subsidy reforms.

Covenant with Black America - Education Town Hall
7pm in Northwest Philadelphia at the Lutheran Theological Seminary
A town hall meeting based on Tavis Smiley's book, Covenant With Black America.



Women Take Charge
8:30am in Center City
A Chamber of Commerce event with notable speakers benefiting The Career Wardrobe, a group working closely with Coming of Age. The topic will be about how women business leaders can be a catalyst for change.

Beyond the Walls: Prison Health Care Summit
8:30am to 5:00pm at Temple University
A program about health and re-entry challenges facing people who are incarcerated or re-entering our communities, including HIV, Hepatitis C, mental health issues, substance use, housing, jobs, and educational programs. Register online



Flag Day Ceremony
11am at the National Constitution Center

Global Forum: Women & HIV
4:00pm to 9:00pm in West Philadelphia at the Wistar Institute
The growing feminization of the AIDS pandemic will be discussed by exploring the gender inequality issues underlying rising disease incidence rates among women and girls. Register online



Documentary Screening
7:00pm in University City at the International House
A powerful documentary about two women living with AIDS.

Green on Screen: El Caballo
7:30pm in Roxborough at the Schuylkill Center
The film El Caballo explores the historic conflict between domesticated and wild horses and humans. The screening will be accompanied by information about Pony Penning Day and the wild horses of the Assateague National Seashore.

MORE ON BOOMERVISION!^® 2007


The New Revolutionaries
5:30pm
Monday, June 11
With so many people 50+ fueled by passion, purpose, and a penchant for improving the world, what kind of work will they do? Hear Marc Freedman, widely regarded as the guru of the 50+ civic engagement movement, and Wilson Goode, former Philadelphia mayor and Director of Amachi. 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 an Opportunity For You."








Make your plans today for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service (July 16-18, 2007)! Discounted rates expire on June 15th.
Volunteeringand
Service.org