Jack Levine Blog (Sept 27, 2009)
One of the highlights of the 15th International GU Conference was a keynote address by Marc Freedman, founder of Civic Ventures www.civicventures.org, a leading expert in how our nation's 78-million boomers are positioned to positively impact their communities, the business/employment sector, and philanthropic initiatives.
Marc's research has revealed Americans of varying backgrounds are intensely interested "encore careers" which combine social impact, income and personal meaning in the second half of life.
Robert Chambers, a social innovator in his encore career and one of the winners of the Civic Ventures-created Purpose Prize www.purposeprize.org, was recently quoted sating "I was old enough to understand the injustice I saw and experienced enough to do something about it. Given the size of our baby boomer population, it's high time to figure out how to recycle all that experience, to use it to solve our nation's most pressing social problems."
A recent survey of 3,500 people between the ages of 44 and 70 found that 5-8 million Americans are already in encore careers - and of those workers who have not yet launched an encore career, fully half are interested in doing so. Among those currently in encore careers are Americans creating their own new social ventures to address pressing problems.
According to Marc Freeman, every dimension of our family and community lives, as well as the direction we can turn to address our national and international problems, relies on the best use of the experience accrued by our generations of social innovators, teachers, health professionals and business entrepreneurs. "There are some things that only humans can do," asserts Marc. He sincerely believes that there is both an economic and emotional imperative in play, motivating vast numbers of Boomers to re-engage and re-energize our systems education, health care, and a wide range of social needs.
GRAND Media is on the front lines of this cutting edge social movement and conversation. Through features highlighting the contributions today's GRANDS are making to their families and community, GRAND is building a powerful network of concerned and involved experienced citizens. This "Generational Force for Good" is moving forward for all the right reasons. This "Gen-Force" can enhance the work of allied advocacy and service organizations who are building legacy for our grandchildren to inherit.
Jack Levine
4Generations Institute
Partnership Director, GRAND Media
jack@4Gen.org
Jack Levine Blog (June 24, 2009)
Day three of the National Volunteerism and Community Services Conference kicked off with a gathering of leaders from the philanthropic, community service, non-profit and government sectors for a comprehensive introduction to President Barack Obama's Social Innovation Fund strategy. In a nutshell, the Social Innovation Fund was authorized in the recent Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The Fund will focus on priority policy areas, including education, health care, and economic opportunity. It will partner with foundations, philanthropists, and corporations which will commit matching resources, funding, and technical assistance.
The White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, in coordination with the Corporation for National and Community Service www.cns.gov will coordinate efforts to enlist all Americans – individuals, non-profits, social entrepreneurs, corporations and foundations – as partners in solving our great challenges. Located within the Domestic Policy Council, it will:
- Catalyze partnerships between the government and nonprofits, businesses and philanthropists in order to make progress on the President’s policy agenda
- Identify and support the rigorous evaluation and scaling of innovative, promising ideas that are transforming communities
- Support greater civic participation through new media tools
- Promote national service.
For additional information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-to-Request-50-Million-to-Identify-and-Expand-Effective-Innovative-Non-Profits/
One of the presenters at this Social Innovation Fund breakfast event was Dorothy Stoneman, Founder and CEO of Youth Build http://www.youthbuild.org/site. Dorothy, now 67, is widely recognized as a social entrepreneur who, since the launch of her design for youth/young adult service the late 1970's in East Harlem, has developed one of the most successful innovations in education, employment and civic engagement in our history.
Dorothy Stoneman & Jack Levine
Since the "full launch" of Youth Build in 1994, more than 84,000 16-24 year-olds in some 225 Youth Build sites have learned and earned the opportunity to build and renovate homes for low income and homeless neighbors, thereby become fully engaged citizens contributing to the quality of life in their communities.
The youth/young adults who participate in Youth Build represent a demographic that most would "write off" - Ninety-one percent have left high school without a diploma, 40-percent have had some court involvement in the delinquency systems, and all come from backgrounds which are economically disadvantaged.
Despite these odds, Youth Build and their not-for-profit community affiliated organization partners have a documented track record in lifting up the educational achievements and employment skills of these young adults with remarkable success.
But, according to Dorothy Stoneman, in an exclusive interview with GRAND, the best is yet to come. She envisions Youth Build to more than triple their program sites to some 800, and to continue on a path of both U.S. and international program expansions and locations.
When asked about her passion for lifting up the newest generation of young people to high levels of personal and community success, she said "My experience is that given a chance to achieve, all young people understand that hard work and commitment are part of the deal. We are not only teaching them by doing, we are helping these youth pave a positive path to lifelong community connections."
Dorothy is God-Mother to 13 children of friends and "Grand God-Mother" to seven! She and her husband welcome the "Extended God-Family" for Summer retreats in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts every summer.
Dorothy Stoneman's career of inspiring service has touched to lives of hundreds of thousands of people...both through the skills building of youth as well as the families whose homes were constructed and renovated by those youth. She personifies the level of leadership which we Baby Boomers have every opportunity to aspire to, and her emotional energy gives each of us a beacon to be followed.
The 2009 National Spirit of Service Awards were presented to seven individuals of varying ages whose activities have resulted in positive impact for their neighbors. Here's a link to the biographies of those leaders recognized for their creative commitment to others....
http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1385
My best......
Jack Levine
GRAND Media Correspondent
jack@4Gen.org
Jack Levine Blog (June 23, 2009)
Tuesday's National Volunteer and Community Service highlights included a town hall meeting at which leaders from the business, not-for profit, and government sector presented their perspectives on the vital link national service plays in the civic life of our communities and nation.
Alan Solomont, who serves as the volunteer Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service Board of Directors, shared his commitment to making sure the CNS is fully engaged with a diversity of community-based and national partners so that it's never viewed as a "creature of Washington, D.C." but rather as a responsive and respected ally in identifying and solving our nation's most vexing social problems.
For a glimpse of the operations of the three most prominent CNS programs, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/programs/index.asp
Jack in San Francisco
It appears that the old saying "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" is relevant for a spectrum of volunteers whose mission is to be partners for progress across the age spectrum.
Monica Elenbaas, the Chicago-based director of Volunteer Service and Learning for the YMCA of the USA is determined to create and strengthen programs that recognize the vital link between children, teens and more experienced community members. This intergenerational bridge is being designed and constructed in communities throughout the nation to maximize the talent and time of those whose gifts of of the heart are felt every day. The YMCA's mission is "We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities." visit www.ymca.net for additional information.
A new Nonprofit Readiness Toolkit has been developed to provide an on-line course to learn strategies for engaging volunteers in any cause. Visit www.learning.nationalserviceresources.org.
This blog correspondence activity (a new adventure for me!!) for GRAND gives me access to a wide range of contacts whose interests connect with those things we hold dear.....family, health, education, a clean environment, and improving our quality of life, not just for now...but far into the future.
Through GRAND, the voices of grandparents can continue to share powerful messages throughout the community so that the wisdom of experience is heard and acted upon.
FYI, here's the news release re: First Lady Michelle Obama's visit and participation in the conference, featured in Monday's blog. http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1382
Jack Levine
GRAND Media Correspondent
jack@4Gen.org
Jack Levine Blog (June 22, 2009)
The opening session of the National Volunteer and Community Service Conference provided a stirring "call to action" for the 5,200 participants and the millions of folks at home they represent across the range of children's education, health, environmental and elder services programs.....
We were treated to speeches by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, political observer Arianna Huffington and an impressive array of leaders from the Corporation for National Service www.cns.gov and the Points of Light Institute www.pointsoflight.org, the two prime conference conveners.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was an inspiring "Call to Service" address by Michelle Obama. Her tender recollections focused on how important her childhood experiences were in forming a commitment to public service, and how to this day she believes that the best of this nation is exhibited by those whose gifts of time and talent make a difference every day. The First Lady spoke eloquently about how tough times require dedication at home, in our neighborhoods, and throughout the network of faith, family services, school-based mentoring and health clinics serving every age group.
"The story of progress in this nation has always been the story of people who chose - in times of trial and struggle - to serve it," declared Ms. Obama. And speaking for her "husband the President" she pledged the administration's commitment to implementing the recently signed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to expand the opportunities for "Americans of every age" to serve others and thereby serve the nation. A newly launched initiative, United We Serve, and its website www.serve.gov was announced by the First Lady.
In my view, from the ragtag revolutionaries in 1776 who won our freedom from a monarchy, through the women's suffrage, civil and disability rights movements, to our foreign wars fought by our determined and heroic armed forces, this nation's freedoms and quality of life have always been the result of selfless gifts. So, too, can every challenge we face be confronted by that same grit and dedication to duty at the community level which, in its full impact, will reach around the globe.
Over the days ahead I will meet many inspiring volunteer and professional leaders from every part of the nation who are strong in their diversity but powerful in their unity to lift up the lives of others who need us most.
Jack Levine
GRAND Media Correspondent
jack@4gen.org
