February 27 - March 5
Inspiring Opportunities is an e-mail from Coming of Age for people 50+ who are making a difference in their communities and in their lives.
Thought for the Day: The new GETTING is ... GIVING!
Inside:
What's NewComing SoonInfo4OrgsHave We Got an Opportunity for You!Past Issues What's New This blog in The New York Times addresses the question of how to help older adults deal with the inevitable losses they face as their friends and relatives die. Do we just expect older people to "buck up" since this a reality in their lives or are there other ways to talk about this issue that shows more sensitivity and understanding? Using our own experiences with loss is one suggestion of where to start in helping others get through difficult times -- whether they are older or not. An itinerant, footloose army of available and willing retirees in their 60s and 70s is making their way through the "wilderness", looking to stretch retirement dollars by volunteering to work in parks, campgrounds and wildlife sanctuaries, usually in exchange for camping space. Park and wildlife agencies say that retired volunteers have become all the more crucial as budget cuts have made it harder to keep parks open. Strap on that backpack and check out this affordable way to enjoy the outdoors.
Grandma smoking a joint? Not the image most people have of the AARP set, but the number of older adults using marijuana has been rising as baby boomers who came of age in the 1960s and '70s are growing older.
The rise has been most dramatic among 55-to 59-year-olds whose reported marijuana use more than tripled from 1.6 percent in 2002 to 5.1 percent in 2008. For many boomers, the drug was part of their college experience; for others, marijuana has been a way to cope with the aches and pains of aging. To read more, click here.
Going back to school no longer depends on where you live, whether you drive, or if you have a full home or work schedule. Using the Guide to Online Schools, you can locate an online program that will provide the courses you are interested in and a degree or certificate using your computer at home or work. Lifelong learning has become a whole lot easier at a time when you might want to pursue an "encore" career or expand your knowledge, just for the fun of it.
Coming Soon Encore.org is sponsoring a free Careers Telebriefing with experts who will offer tips on how to find an encore career that provides continued income and offers personal fulfillment and social impact. The call will take place on Wednesday, March 3, at 3-3:45 p.m., EST and will feature a career specialist, an expert on transition to the nonprofit sector, and a representative from Elders in Action. To sign up, click here.
The Annual Wellness Breakfast for Men, held on Sunday, March 14th, 9 a.m. at the Universal Institute Charter School in South Philadelphia is a gathering for men of all ages to enjoy a complimentary healthy breakfast, gain valuable wellness resources and receive free health screenings. Speakers include Dr. Frederick D. Burton, founder of the Burton Wellness Injury Center; Dr. Daniel A. Monti, executive director of Thomas Jefferson's Myrna-Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, and Glenn Ellis, a health educator. To register, click here.
Consider attending "Breaking Ground," a one-day conference designed for local planners, practitioners, developers, and decision-makers on creating livable communities; Wednesday, March 17 from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Union League of Philadelphia, 140 South Broad Street. Workshops include: community development through marketing, improving one community at a time, and reinventing commercial strips. Register by March 5. For information, click here.
Info4Orgs Del Wesley, Grantwriting Consultant and Bobby Polito, Former Director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, U.S. Department of HHS, will present this introductory workshop on federal funding at Philadelphia's Free Library, 1901 Vine St., March 9th, 9:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. They will cover the politics, process, positives and pitfalls to federal funding in the first half of the workshop and then focus on preparing proposals--from the solicitation to the send. FREE. Registration required.
The US Airways Community Foundation supports multi-year capital campaigns (bricks and mortar building projects only) for 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations located in and providing services in the major metropolitan areas of Charlotte, Phoenix and Philadelphia. Eligible organizations include those improving the quality and availability of charitable health care, artistic and cultural organizations, educational, and community services.
For guidelines and the online application, click here. The deadline for application submission is April 1.
Have We Got an Opportunity for You! The National Liberty Museum is seeking a part-time educator to lead weekday and weekend guided tours for school, community, and camp groups of all ages and backgrounds. The position includes supporting museum staff and providing coverage for occasional evening tours and events. BA/BS degree in Art, Education, Sociology, Anthropology, or History from an accredited college and prior museum education, outreach, or classroom teaching experience required. To apply, e-mail resume and cover letter, or fax: (215) 925-3800.
As spring approaches (can't wait!), the art department at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is preparing for its next large, outdoor exhibit. Titled Elemental Energy, this exhibit will be situated on the trails at the Center. Volunteers will be needed to help with the installation (this may require working outdoors and getting dirty), specifically from March 22 - April 5 and/or at the opening reception in June. Contact Rachel if you are interested.
The Community Learning Center, a nonprofit literacy organization providing free Adult Basic Education and General Educational Development (GED) classes for low-income adults, needs volunteers to provide individual instruction during regular class time. Classes are held week-day mornings and afternoons in North Philadelphia, Center City, and West Philadelphia locations. Volunteers ordinarily choose one class to assist once a week. To learn more, call (215) 426-7940 or e-mail.
A Research Assistant is needed to help create an assessment of the Lang Opportunity Scholarship Program at Swarthmore College. Students selected as Lang Scholars develop projects to effect significant social change and better communities. Qualifications for this paid, part-time position (March to December 2010) include interviewing and writing, research experience and computer skills. E-mail Dr. Andrea Taylor with inquiries, resume, and cover letter.
|
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!
|
