December 18 - December 24
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.
Editor: E. Mady Prowler
Inside:
What's New
Coming Soon
Info4Orgs
Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
Past Issues
What's New
Coming of Age is proud to present our latest publication... The Age for Change: an E-book. This free online book, written by a team of published authors, explores the promise, richness, and challenge of life after 50 -- and offers compelling ideas to stimulate conversation. Its nine chapters, including Navigating New Waters with Adult Children, How Work Gives Meaning to Life, and The Many Faces of Loss, are topics of interest to share with your book club or other discussion groups...or communicate with other readers online. Please let us know what you think of our new way to help you explore your future.
Call it a generation gap within the same generation. The Baby Boom stretched over 19 calendar years, from 1946 through 1964 -- enough time for the first and last Boomers to have lived through dramatically different experiences. The older crowd, coming of age in the fifties, remembers JFK's assassination, Martin Luther King's speeches and the Vietnam War; the younger crowd relates to hip hop, The Clash, and starting their driving career in gas lines. To better understand the differences...socially, demographically, educationally, and in other areas, click here.
If you are finding it difficult to keep up with changing retirement benefits, Social Security tweaks, and the latest Medicare updates, this recent U.S. News and World Report article should be helpful as we enter the new year. If retirement is not in your future at this point, head directly to our Have We Got an Opportunity for You section to learn what you can do to build up your nest egg while waiting for your retirement benefits to kick in.
According to Census projections, the number of boomers reaching 65 will increase exponentially from 39 million today to 69 million in 2030, raising the question, among others, of how long people should be allowed to drive. Individual states are considering programs that will allow older adults to keep driving as long as possible without endangering themselves or others. AARP and other advocates call age-based testing discriminatory and ineffective and want to see ability rather than age used as the criterion. As we know, taking driving away from an active adult is never easy...and, what happens when the car keys are yours?
Coming Soon
The Pennsylvania Ballet is offering a 25% discount on tickets to an audio-described performance of the holiday classic "The Nutcracker," on December 19, preceded by a sensory tour, for audience members who are blind or have low vision. To receive this special rate, contact Arajua Backman at (215) 587-6921 (by 6 p.m. on Friday) or email to request the discount for the audio-described performance at the Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts, Philadelphia at 4:00 p.m. (sensory tour at 3 p.m.)
Time is running out to submit your application for Civic Ventures'® Launch Pad contest! The contest was created to discover five inspiring people with ideas to improve their communities and provide each of them with $5,000, an invitation to the 2011 Encore Career Summit, and an opportunity for peer networking. So, what’s your idea? Submission deadline is December 20th.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Philadelphia Film Festival, avid moviegoers (and "Phila-philes") are being asked to vote for the films that YOU think are the the 20 most iconic, enduring and artistic portrayals of Philadelphia to hit the big screen. Once the votes are counted, there will be a screening of the top 10 features, starting in January. Is 12 Monkeys really the best film our city's ever hosted? Should The Philadelphia Story win even though it was filmed on Hollywood sound stages? Make your voice heard! Vote here.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Temple University’s Center City Campus, 1515 Market St., Philadelphia, is a haven for life-long learners...and teachers. For a modest fee, you can choose from a smorgasbord of non-credit classes in history, philosophy, art, health, current events, entertainment, psychology, computer science, and more. If you like to teach, join the many members offering OLLI courses who have been educators or have a passion for a particular subject. New semester starts January 24th. To sign up, call (215) 204-1505 or visit OLLI's website.
Info4Orgs
Gardening has endless benefits to both the community and to gardeners, especially older adults. To support the aging network’s ability to enhance or expand gardening activities, GenPhilly and Philadelphia Association for Senior Service Administrators (PASSA) have developed a survey to assess gardening interest and current activity level. This brief survey must be completed by January 7. Results will be discussed at ‘Germinating Partnerships: Connecting Seniors to Community Gardens,’ a free event hosted by GenPhilly on February 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Philadelphia’s City Hall. To RSVP or for more information, click here.
Impact100 Philadelphia is poised to launch its third round of funding grants to charitable initiatives in the Philadelphia region. Through its mission to engage and educate women in philanthropy and collectively fund grants, Impact100 will award $164,000 in June, 2011 (an 18% increase over last year), to programs working on behalf of underserved populations. There will be one $100,000 project grant awarded, as well as four substantial operating grants. The deadline for initial Letters of Inquiry is January 10, 2011. To learn more about the focus areas and to apply, click here.
Have We Got an Opportunity for You!
A Licensed Psychologist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker is being sought by the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) to work as a primary care team member and provide short-term clinical behavioral health consultation services. In collaboration with primary care providers, this person will seek to improve patient care, enhance understanding of patients, provide support for treatment planning, and assist in the implementation and monitoring of evidenced-based assessments and interventions. To learn more about this position, and to apply, click here. Application deadline: January 24, 2011.
If you remember a math or science teacher that influenced your career decision and/or are considering how to do something significant and challenging to "give back" to your community, The Educating Middle-grades Teachers for Challenging Contexts (E=mc2) program might be just what you are looking for. E=mc2 is a new certification program from Temple University’s College of Education that trains degreed math and science career changers and early retirees to become science or mathematics teachers in middle-grade schools in Philadelphia. Continue Reading
The residents at Brith Shalom House, a senior apartment complex at 3939 Conshohocken Road in Philadelphia, are eager to take part in "sing-a-longs," led by someone musical who enjoys working with older adults and wants the experience of performing for a live audience. If you have the talent, time and interest to provide music and fun to an appreciative group, please contact Brith Shalom's social service director, Michael Schaeffer, at (215) 877-3445. Stipend available.
Generocity -- a start-up nonprofit supported by Philadelphia-area philanthropists -- is seeking a social entrepreneur to be its executive director. This person should be an energetic strategic leader with strong management, business development, and fund-raising skills. Generocity's goal is to offer news and feature coverage of individuals, nonprofits, schools and businesses working to improve Philadelphia communities, and to provide digital tools to encourage volunteering and other civic engagement activities. To learn more about this position, click here.
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Coming of Age Radio Portraits, produced by WHYY, feature age 50+ Philadelphia-area people who have made exciting life transitions. Click here to see and hear their wonderful stories and to submit your story!
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