December 2012

After Four Years, Age4Action Takes a Break

With pride in our accomplishments since 2009, Age4Action is suspending regular operations. After nearly a year without staff support, and after pursuing potential funding sources without success, Age4Action’s Steering Committee has decided to let the organization rest for now.

Tapping Mature Talent: 
Policies for a 21st Century Workforce

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has released the fifth paper in its Aging Worker Initiative, “Older Workers, Rising Skill Requirements and the Need for a Re-envisioning of the Public Workforce System.” The paper reviews demographic trends, recent labor market experiences and recommendations for improving the public workforce system.

UC Berkeley and Coming of Age Collaboration

The University of California at Berkeley Retirement Center and Coming of Age, a national initiative that seeks to harness the talents, skills and energy of people age 50+, have joined forces to connect UC retirees with volunteer opportunities.

OASIS on Social Impact 100 Index

The OASIS Institute, a founding member of the Age4Action Network, was named to the Social Impact 100 Index, a list of the top 100 nonprofit organizations in the United States that have broad social impact. The organizations were nominated and selected based on their track record of developing model programs that demonstrate social impact.

Aging with Gusto Update

Aging with Gusto strives to promote positive views of aging so that all of us, as we age, feel valued and supported and can continue to make meaningful contributions to our families, friends, neighborhoods and the larger world in which we live. The Age4Action Network is a partner in the Aging with Gusto effort, led by the Vital Aging Network and Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health. The project contributes to Age4Action’s goal of “rewriting the narrative of aging in America.”

Aging in America Conference – March 12–16

The American Society on Aging has grouped workshops that focus on workforce issues at its Aging in America conference in Chicago from March 12 to 16, 2013. The organization recognizes that many attendees are interested in finding out about strategies and program models that help older adults transition to new roles. Many more older adults seek some type of work or civic engagement during this stage of their lives, and are often seeking ways to contribute to society.

In the News – December 2012

Using National Networks to Tackle Chronic Disease by Taz Hussein & Michaela Kerrissey (Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2013) The OASIS Institute‘s CATCH Healthy Habits program is featured prominently in this article in the latest issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The articles shows how national nonprofit networks can help to spread public health [...]

October 2012

Welcome to the Fall 2012 Newsletter

Age4Action Network members are actively working to help people 50+ successfully work, serve, learn, and lead. This issue of the newsletter highlights a number of innovative programs that you will want to know about. Take a few moments to read the newsletter and contribute your comments. Please pass the newsletter on to a friend!

Aging with Gusto

What does it mean to grow old? What do you want for yourself as you age? These questions and others drove an engaging and insightful discussion at an Aging with Gusto gathering in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The goal was to explore aging from the perspective of people from diverse cultures and age groups. How we think about our own aging and how we treat others as they age takes on added significance as America and the world age at an unprecedented rate. The Age4Action Network is a partner in the Aging with Gusto effort, led by the Vital Aging Network and Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health. The project contributes to Age4Action’s goal of “rewriting the narrative of aging in America.”

Helping African Immigrants Adjust

“Farming can be healing,” said Dawad Ummah, president of the Center for African Heritage in Westbrook, Maine. The Center organizes a garden project at Tidewater Farm that allows immigrants and refugee families to grow their own food and become more self-sufficient. Ummah is a member of Encore Leadership Corps, or ENCorps, a statewide initiative that provides training in civic engagement and leadership skills for experienced Mainers aged 50 and older.