What's New
... a selection of articles, some original and others taken from newspapers, magazines, and online resources that focus on civic engagement and issues of interest to boomers and others 50+. If you would like to comment on any of the articles, please click here to go to the message board.
It's Never Too Late To Follow Your Dream. Just Ask Susan Boyle!
There were snickers and eye rolling when boomer Susan Boyle walked onto the stage of Britian’s Got Talent and announced she wanted to be a professional singer. Nearly 48, unemployed and most recently a caregiver for her mother, Boyle presented a very different image from the usual contestants of the show. But from the first to the last note of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables she had everyone standing and cheering. “Without a doubt that is the biggest surprise I’ve had in years”, said Piers Morgan one of the show’s judges. Even Simon Cowell was visibly in shock and later quipped that he knew from the moment she walked on the stage that they would hear something extraordinary. As inspirational as the video is it also illustrates the rampant ageism that people 50+ face. At least this time, it was the older person who had the last laugh! View the video here.
Contributed by Scott Martin.
Has the Volunteer Boom Come to Delaware?
You have probably heard about it on the news. An army of volunteers are knocking on the doors of nonprofits around the country. Many are responding to President Obama's call to service or reaching out to others during these tough economic times. But as reported in a recent article in the New York Times, many of these new volunteers are the unemployed looking to network, build their resumes or just fill time previously spent in the office.
Are Delaware's nonprofits experiencing a volunteer boom, particularly of the unemployed? Here's what we have been able to find out.
Contributed by Scott Martin.
Continue Reading"Meaning" Trumps "Money" After 50
We at Coming of Age: Delaware have a vision. We are driven by the image of thousands of Delaware's boomers leaving their primary careers and finding a new sense of meaning through civic engagement (volunteering, stipended service, social entrepuership and encore careers). Does this sound overly optimistic? Are you thinking "there is no way boomers will work for free or less than they were making in their careers!" There is new research that suggests that the good life after 50 has more to do with meaning than either money or physical comfort.
Contributed by Scott Martin.
Continue ReadingLynne Robinson: Delaware Boomer Goes to the Dogs!
Switching from the Corporate to Nonprofit Sector? Here's How To Adapt Your Resume
Has your professional experience been primarily in the corporate world? Now with 25 or more years under your belt, are you looking for a job in the nonprofit sector that will allow you to express the more idealistic side of your personality? You are not alone. Some 5 million people ages 44 to 70 have begun encore careers: jobs in the public interest that combine “personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income.” (www.encore.org) But how do you frame your corporate experience in such a way that it will catch the attention of nonprofit employers? This article from the Bridgestar Group can show you how to create a winning resume.
Contributed by Scott Martin.
