Aging as Opportunity: New England’s Experience Dividend ... · Joann Montepare, Lasell College, Age-Friendly Universities 8. Sustainability: generating resources and models to support

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Aging as Opportunity: New England’s Experience Dividend

AFTERNOON WORKING SESSIONS

During the second half of the day-long New England Regional Convening, activity shifted from setting context to discussing possibilities for action. Here’s how the flow looked, starting at about 10:45 am and ending at 3:30 pm.

Participants had an opportunity to choose a topic to work on in small groups for about an hour. Each working session was co-facilitated by two participants with expertise and practical experience related to the topic. Participants chose from among these eight groups: #1 Reframing aging changing language and perceptions

#2 Ageism at work altering attitudes, culture and policies in the workplace

#3 Intergenerational pathways gaining the full benefit of our multigenerational society

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#4 Social impact pathways building capacity for the nonprofit and government sectors

#5 Community-based models engaging older adults through community-based models

#6 Diversity and inclusion bringing communities of color and other groups into the movement

#7 Collective action working across sectors to accelerate movement growth

#8 Sustainability generating resources and models to support growth and scale

The eight topics had been pre-determined based on information participants provided during the convening registration process. An interactive activity allowed participants to post questions or ideas related to the topic right before lunch; facilitators for the groups reviewed these during lunchtime and then convened their group after lunch.

A representative from each group reported to the whole convening before the end of the day, using a set format shown in the notes on the following pages. Questions? Please contact Michelle Hynes at [email protected]. Thank you!

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Working Group #1 Topic: Reframing Aging - language, perceptions, etc

Working Group Topic: Reframing Aging - language, perceptions, etc

Facilitators: Marci Alboher + Betsy Werley

Participants (List names): Kendall Dudley, Helen Hirsh Spence, Roberta Taylor, Andrea Weaver, Patricia Zaido, Kaylee Anzick, Judy Goggin

BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. Foster awareness of aging (all ages, stages) at an early age! Need to redefine life course Honoring choice, difference

ACTIONS WE COULD TAKE: Separately or together. Pick 2 or 3 priorities.

Promote longevity competency in schools + beyond (See, for example, http://www.bridgestogether.org/programs/)

Myth-busting media campaign Diversity in aging -- celebrity(ies)

RESOURCES WE RECOMMEND: A program, a person, a web site, etc.

Frameworks.org (Reframing Aging communications toolkit) #DisruptAging videos (AARP) (This one in particular. More

here.) Coming of Age in an Aging America (video animation)

Some questions/ideas the group raised in advance (via sticky note) --

How can we counter age discrimination -- which is only type that is still socially acceptable in America?

How can we re-imagine aging if our ideas + experience are buried inside cultural norms? “How old are you” vs “what is your age” -- how can intergenerational programs change

perceptions of aging? Role modeling as an intergenerational responsibility Training volunteers in a way that is inclusive and avoids ageist terminology How to generate interest in a topic that nobody is talking about yet in Canada? No government

funding, etc.

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Working Group #2 Topic: Ageism in the Workplace Facilitators: Barbara Babkirk and Liz Fideler Participants (List names): Patricia S, Dori M, Greg V, Nancy C, Susan K BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation.

Organizational Issues (A) Individual Issues (B) Societal Issues (C)

ACTIONS WE COULD TAKE: Separately or together. Pick 2 or 3 priorities. A. Educate employers about the ways older,

experienced talent can ease a skills gap as well as communicate to them how to attract older workers to the workforce following retirement from a primary career.

B. Older individuals who are engaged and productive tend to be healthier; that fact can be used in the older worker’s favor with prospective employers and debunk myths about older workers being a cause for concern because of their health.

C. Older workers would be well-served to consider and to work through their own internal biases and assumptions about what is possible -- which might limit what they see as their options.


1. NextAvenue.org 2. This Chair Rocks -- book and web site 3. Center for Aging and Work at Boston College 4. Encore Career Handbook 5. Discover Your Encore -- ESC Boston 6. Institute for Career Transition

Some questions this group raised in advance (via sticky note) --

Is ageism at work more pronounced for women than men? How to engage employers to re-think jobs (professional) to incorporate boomer criteria

(projects)

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Working Group #3 Topic: Intergenerational Pathways

Working Group Topic: Intergenerational Pathways

Facilitators: Pat Chadwick and Jennie Woo

Participants (List names): Diane McCormack, Sharon Carey, Reem Yared, Phyllis Segal, Erica Landry, Doug Fitzimmons, Kiana Alzate, Sally Redpath, (Samantha Cowan?)

BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. Geography, timing, & consistency Community word of mouth outreach Maximizing access & transparency


Changing perceptions: Find an unexpected voice to tell the story.

Embrace recognition within cohort Reframing our language to facilitate connection


Generation to Generation

Questions/ideas the group raised in advance (via sticky notes) -- Seeking mentors/volunteers & donors Best way to get information to people Intergenerational workplaces

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Working Group #4 Topic: Building Capacity for Nonprofit and Government [aka] “Social Impact” Pathways (e.g. Fellows)

Facilitators: Julie Crockford & Dave Garvey Participants (List names): Ann Barysh, Sandra Lipson, Marian Knapp, Greg Betley BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation.

Infiltrate organizations of influence with encore information (the why, the how) ACTIONS WE COULD TAKE: Separately or together. Pick 2 or 3 priorities.

Leverage influencers about encore talent () Corps, Unions, Alumni, Faith, Community,

Rotaries, Chambers of Commerce, Media, Government, Universities


Encore Talent Works (Encore.org) More success stories TED Talks The “Moth” Radio Hour

Questions this group posted (via sticky notes) in advance:

What does social impact mean? Interested in exploring existing social innovation

funders/orgs as possible partners re: our mission/opportunity area.

How can we help organizations who need help get the “other” resources they need to fulfill their mission?

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Working Group #5 Topic: Community-based models for Engaging Older Adults

Facilitators: Jan Hively + Jean Patel Bushnell

Participants (List names): Carol Greenfield, Chris Miara, Dov Bard, Joyce Cohen, Robert Pierson

BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. Best practices: volunteers/nonprofits Livable: Inclusive Villages (+) People self identify State connect to local Study international -- lots going on there

ACTIONS WE COULD TAKE: Separately or together. Pick 2 or 3 priorities

ONE umbrella


link state to local Livable connector broadscale beyond healthy aging

collab.

Questions/ideas the group raised in advance: Connecting communities Transportation Volunteering Connecting diverse initiatives to cohesive plan Practical strategies for making it happen!

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Working Group #6 Topic: Diversity and Inclusion #1 of 2 [Vets and Money!]

Facilitators: Davo Jefferson / Tyissha Jones-Horner

Participants (List names): Vicki Thomas, Bruce, Michael Jacoby Brown

BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. leverage the 10 million plus and 5 million plus caregivers how much does DCC/I [diversity, cultural competency, inclusion] cost? follow the money; what’s the budget?

ACTIONS WE COULD TAKE: Separately or together. Pick 2 or 3 priorities. Better identification of vets Utilize existing programs better Identify more funding sources Proper allocation of funding -- marketing, recruitment, etc.

RESOURCES WE RECOMMEND: A program, a person, a web site, etc. Home Depot examples: Richard’s Coffee Shop Funders info sessions, network

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Working Group #6 Topic: Diversity and Inclusion #2 of 2

Facilitators: Davo Jefferson / Tyissha Jones-Horner

Participants (List names): Richard Wheelock, Donna Morelle, Kathy Burnes, Phil, Vicky Sellick, Vicki Thomas, Erin McGrath, Doug Babkirk, Susan Gershenfeld

BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. 1. Engage: Identify diverse population. Find people already doing the work. Tell a story --

connect with mission. 2. Market/Network: Identify where to reach demographic -- e.g. web sites, newspapers,

community. 3. Create a safe place to talk about cultural issues.


Identify: going into service areas, giving presentations, build strategic partnerships.

Educate: teach ESL, employees learn, sell benefits, room for growth.

Language: Ambassador/Mentor.


Area Agencies on Aging Commission on Affairs of the Elderly Web portals, eg Encore Senior Managers --Community Centers and

Developments Veterans Centers Senior Centers Big Brothers Big Sisters

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Working Group #7 Topic: Collective Action (Group Mission: Efficient Use of Resources)

Facilitators: Liz Vogel & Joann Montepare

Participants (List names): Leslie Moses, Linda Friedman, Ashok Boghani, Jeanne Hutchins, Tiffany Keune, Bonnie Day, Elizabeth Mahler

BIG IDEAS [needs]: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. Communication: within + external Working groups “Co-gen” designation -- work programs “dating” app (Encore meetup)


Listserv Repository of ideas Encore New England New Tech

RESOURCES WE NEED: A program, a person, a web site, etc. Listserv Ambassadors/volunteers $$’s biz connections


The encore resources themselves; their knowledge tools, materials to share

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Working Group #8 Topic: Sustainability

Facilitators: Phillip + Kerry

Participants (List names): Ruth Colombo, Ann MacDougall, Katy Brown, Mary Gunn, Janet Nunziata, Susan McCarthy, Avi Bernstein, Lester Strong

BIG IDEAS: Share 2 or 3 from your conversation. Strengthen partnerships among Encore

orgs + public-private collaboration Think beyond philanthropy (e.g. earned

income) Sustainability from beginning and strong

business plan with clear objectives, benchmarks, evaluation

Social impact bonds


Tap the business expertise of older adults to help non-profit organizations think about sustainability in a strategic manner

Document the value of volunteers and programs to society so that a return on investment calculation can be devised and so that potential investors or payors can be more easily identified.


Year Up Encore Fellows Network Generations Incorporated Treehouse Foundation (refca.net)

Questions the group raised in advance (via sticky note) -- $ for theme based housing? How do we coordinate the encore work in Boston? Non-financial sustainability Sustainability - how do you do it? How do we get the corporate community engaged -- generally and as part of the revenue

picture?

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THANKS AGAIN TO THE WORKING SESSION CO-FACILITATORS

1. Reframing aging: changing language and perceptions

Betsy Werley, Encore.org Marci Alboher, Encore.org

2. Ageism at work: altering attitudes, culture and policies in the workplace Barbara Babkirk, Heart at Work Associates Liz Fideler, Boston College Center on Aging & Work

3. Intergenerational pathways: gaining the full benefit of our multigenerational society

Jennie Woo, Generations Incorporated Pat Chadwick, Generation to Generation Boston

4. Social impact pathways: building capacity for the nonprofit and government sectors Julie Crockford, ESC of New England Dave Garvey, Encore! Hartford

5. Community-based models for engaging older adults

Jan Hively, Age-Friendly Yarmouth Jean Patel Bushnell, Billerica Council on Aging

6. Diversity and inclusion: bringing communities of color into the movement

Tyissha Jones-Horner, City of Boston RSVP Davo Jefferson, Year Up

7. Collective action: working across sectors to accelerate movement growth

Liz Vogel, Dots Enterprises, VT-NH-ME Aging Network Joann Montepare, Lasell College, Age-Friendly Universities

8. Sustainability: generating resources and models to support growth and scale

Phillip Gonzalez, Tufts Health Plan Foundation* Kerry Homstead, Treehouse Foundation

*Tufts Health Plan Foundation also served as a local sponsor for the convening.

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Aging as Opportunity: New England’s Experience Dividend ... · Joann Montepare, Lasell College, Age-Friendly Universities 8. Sustainability: generating resources and models to support