April 2009
E-newsletter # 4

AGING AND COMMUNITY:
ASA PRESENTS NATIONAL FORUM ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

The 2009 ASA-NCOA Aging in America Conference devoted a full day on March 16th to a National Forum on Civic Engagement, which presented best practices in civic engagement inspired by the 2006-2007 winter issue of ASA’s journal Generations, Civic Engagement in Later Life. A group of 14 presenters, led by Marc Freedman and Nancy Morrow-Howell, included authors featured in the civic engagement issue. The five sessions attracted more than 350 participants, showcased the latest models, examples and strategies in civic engagement and sparked dynamic discussion.

“It was very gratifying to be part of a dynamic conference community of 360 people committed to civic engagement and the social impact that can result. The passion in the room was palpable,” said Robert Stein, ASA President/CEO.  “Knowing that just a few years ago 30 people would attend a workshop on civic engagement, to seeing what has become a movement with hundreds of people engaged in a daylong program was a historic moment in the practice of civic engagement,” Stein added.

The National Forum was underwritten by The Atlantic Philanthropies, a major funder of several grants supporting ASA’s ongoing effort to incorporate civic engagement into its program and publication content. Former ASA Board Chair, Jennie Chin Hansen, current president of the AARP Board of Directors, followed with a presentation on civic engagement and volunteerism in communities of color. She touched on how AARP is reaching out and discussed their new website Create the Good that allows individuals to connect with volunteer opportunities. Nancy Henkin of the Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning, whose writings appeared in Generations, moderated a dynamic panel on how communities can promote civic engagement in the lives of adults age 50 and over.  Panelists were Clayton Fong, President and CEO, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, Stacey Easterling, Programme Executive, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Yanira Cruz, President and CEO, National council on Hispanic Aging, Karyne Jones, President and CEO, National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., and Andrea Taylor, Director of Training, Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning.


Left to right: Nancy Henkin, Clayton Fong, Yanira Cruz, Karyne Jones, Andrea Taylor, and StaceyEasterling.

The luncheon address featured Generations author Jim Hinterlong of the College of Social Work, Florida State University, who discussed civic engagement‘s evolution from idea to movement. Moderated by Laura Robbins, programme executive, Ageing Programme, The Atlantic Philanthropies, the session included time for interactive dialogue in order to share ideas, raise questions and build relationships. The closing segment featured Sabrina Reilly of the National Council on Aging, along with participants in their RespectAbility in America program (please see www.ncoa.org for information on this program). The panel discussed how nonprofits can utilize older Americans, either as volunteers or part of a retired workforce, to assist in community-based programs and outreach.

Online Component: Missed the great ideas shared at the National Forum on Civic Engagement? Coming soon you will be able to watch the National Forum on Civic
Engagement from the comfort of your own home with web seminars.

Civic Engagement – Real Engagement or Free Labor?
By Mahi Sadeghi

One theme of the presidential elections continues to be the resurgence of political activism and engagement which has led to putting volunteerism as a top priority for the new administration. In particular, increasing opportunities for engagement of older adults has been an area the Obama administration has been receiving praise for, but some critics are worried that volunteerism and civic engagement are just becoming euphemisms for free labor.  I recently asked activist and organizer Pedro Rodriguez, former director of Action Alliance of Senior Citizens, past vice-president of the Alliance for Retired Americans, and a Whitehouse conference on aging delegate, to talk about the purpose and outcomes of his lecture and public forum entitled “Civic Engagement – Real Engagement or Free Labor?” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last December. MS: What prompted this discussion? PR: I have been concerned over the last 2 years about how to engage the baby boomers and to encourage civic participation in this age group. Most of the civic engagement that has been going on has involved plugging in volunteers to fill in for the lack of staff at many organizations.  This type of engagement is not engaging for boomers. We need to provide real opportunities for engagement to harness the years of practice and experience that many baby boomers are willing to offer to help resolve systemic social problems in our country today. We need to look at ways to engage this group of people and provide meaningful support to provide opportunities in which they become involved in problem solving and allow them to take ownership of what they are doing.  This will be one of the Obama administration’s challenges, to find ways to facilitate this type of civic engagement. I think a solution is to create infrastructures that provide volunteer management training to organizations.  Additionally, there needs to be a centralized way for people to connect to volunteer opportunities like a job bank, but one that is always current and comprehensive.  Additionally, for many individuals the cost of volunteering, transportation etc., becomes a barrier. Expanding Title IV to include money for providing monetary support for individuals who volunteer their time would be an effective way to engage older adults. MS: What were the outcomes of this public forum? PR: It was well attended and turned into a fascinating discussion with individuals from all segments of the population. There was a range of people of different ages, professions and it was really great to see all of these people concerned about the future of civic engagement. What was striking was the number of people who told horror stories of when they volunteered. It really provided examples of why we need to make the volunteer experience meaningful, make them part of the organization's family and provide them opportunities to be considered part of the organization they volunteer with rather than just an outsider. Additionally, the discussion brought to my attention how in the last few years sessions and lectures on civic engagement have been academic rather than community based discussions. Civic engagement needs to revolve around community so that it will be less intimidating for individuals.

An Update on NVL Civic Engagement Projects
Sponsored by The Atlantic Philanthropies

NVL Partners Unveil Projects to Support
Minority Elders’ Community Involvement

In cooperation with ASA’s Civic Engagement Program, three participants in the current class of New Ventures in Leadership (NVL) will focus on civic engagement. NVL promotes the leadership potential of professionals of color and their involvement in the national aging arena. Participants -- referred to as partners -- take part in a year-long leadership development program designed to help them enhance their skills in key areas related to their careers. We asked the three partners to discuss how their NVL projects will support older adults of color in becoming more involved in their communities. Allen, Sikizi Program Manager City of Inglewood/ Senior Citizens Center Inglewood, CA Project Title: Our Community Care - Giving   Café  -  A Heart of Caregiving Conner, Kyaien O. Postdoctoral Fellow Univ. of Pittsburgh Sch. of Med. Dept of Geriatric Psychiatry Pittsburgh, PA Project Title:The Impact of Stigma: The Development of an Integrated Intervention to Reduce Barriers to Successful Treatment Engagement for Depressed Older Adults Ohiso, Akira NORC Director Educational Coordinator Stanley M. Isaacs Neigh. Center New York, NY Project Title: The Silent Boom Read More About Partner Projects >>

• The new wealth of time: How timebanking helps people build better public services
  Published by NEF (The New Economics Foundation) this booklet provides insight into why and how timebanking has been successful within diverse settings in multiple countries.
  
  
• The New Volunteer Workforce
  Produced by Standford University Social Innovation Review, this report details reasons that non-profits lose valuable volunteers and points out expected changes to the volunteer sector in the coming years. Authors highlight the value of having older adult volunteers and provide tips on talent management.
  
  
• The Long-Term Relationship Between High-Intensity Volunteering and Physical Activity in Older African American Women Erwin J. Tan et al
  Read the full text of this report that reviewed the Experience Corps program in Baltimore, MD.
  
  
• Community Treasures: Contributions of Older Immigrants and Refugees
  This report was produced by Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning discusses the assets, interests, and civic experiences of older immigrants and refugees. Also, practicing promises, opportunities, and challenges are identified within immigrant communities of service.

• MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Opportunity Awards
  Nominate your employer for this award now
  
  
• Free Workshops on Older Adult Civic Engagement- Pre-Register Here
  Intergenerational Service Learning in Higher Education
  
  
• AARP Launches Create the Good website- Explore
  Allows individuals to share their stories and ideas about volunteering, also has resources for connecting to volunteer opportunities
  
  
• New ASA LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse
  ASA’s LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse gathers vital information and contacts into a single, searchable, easy-to-use site and puts them at the fingertips of LGBT elders and their friends, families and caregivers free of charge 
  
  
  

• Youth Speak Out For Grandparents Who Raised Them
  “Without my grandmother, I wouldn’t have the values I have today,” said Victor, 21, a San Francisco State University communications student, who spent most of his teenage years in and out of trouble.
• South Korea Bans Job Ageism
  SOUTH Korea, one of the world's fastest ageing societies, is to ban age discrimination against job seekers with a law that took effect on March 22nd.
  
• Retirees Not Shy About Legislative Priorities
  This article reports on the political engaged of federal retirees.  With a new administration this group of active retirees hopes to advocate for a new agenda.
• Encore Careers for America: Serve America Act Creates New Opportunities
  “It represents an attitudinal shift in Congress – an important recognition that national service isn’t just for the young,” John Gomperts, president of Civic Ventures, told the Times.
• Older Hands Plant Seeds of Literacy
  Program encourages retirees as tutors, sees signs of success. Even when the sidewalks are slick with ice, the retired women make their way to the small brick schoolhouse in Roxbury.
  
  

Let us know about your Civic Engagement activities!

Purposeful Living is a quick look at what’s happening in the ASA Civic Engagement program and other civic engagement, research and news. If you have any comments or would like to be added to the listserv please contact the editor.

Editor: Mahi Sadeghi, MSG Banner Image Courtesy of Peter J. Whitehouse MD-PhD Copyright © 2009 American Society on Aging All Rights Reserved