In this “speed dating for good ideas” session, Encore 2011 participants had the opportunity to learn about some of the ways that fifteen innovative programs are enabling encore careers or promoting other encore stage-of-life ideas. Click on any of the fifteen programs below to view a brief profile of each encore innovation and a website link.

Aspiranet Encore Fellowships Program, California
Sponsorship – as program operator, funder and work host – of an internal Encore Fellowships Program to support Aspiranet’s statewide work with children, youth and families. The infusion and integration of such significant talent into a single nonprofit is a powerful model for delivering sustained impact and organizational growth and change.

Beacon, Alumni Association, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Palo Alto, California
Collaboration with Stanford Graduate School of Business on “Beacon” life transitions program for alumni who have fulfilled their primary career goals and are seeking more meaning and fulfillment in their lives. Emphasis is on emotional drivers of meaning and fulfillment and connection to Stanford resources.

Coming of Age, Philadelphia + national expansion
“Explore Your Future” is a four-session workshop series, presently offered in a dozen communities across the country, which gives participants the opportunity to explore in a dynamic, highly interactive setting their encores. It is a hands-on learning experience that focuses on helping participants create a vision for making their future satisfying and rewarding.

Discovering What’s Next, Greater Boston
Recruitment, training and deployment of Encore Transition Navigators, peer counselors who connect Discovering What’s Next clients with services, community resources and each other. In addition to welcoming and integrating clients into programs, they may also serve as facilitators, program managers, ambassadors or other roles.

Encore Fellows in California Community Clinics, Community HealthCare Foundation, California statewide
The EF-CCC program places skilled, experienced professionals at the end of their mid-life careers into California safety-net clinics and consortia for a one-year Fellowship. Each fellow will take on a specific role designed to deliver significant, sustained impact to the host organizations.

Encore Fellowships Network, Social Ventures Partners,Greater Portland
National expansion of Encore Fellowships programs to new locations, institutions and areas of work. New models include Social Venture Partners Portland’s work to integrate fellows into a venture philanthropy organization.

Encore!Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
Transitions unemployed, seasoned Connecticut corporate professionals into encore managerial and professional positions in the nonprofit sector. The goals are twofold: 1) to reduce white collar unemployment in the over 50 age group, and 2) to strengthen the human resources of the Connecticut’s nonprofit sector.

Experience Matters, Maricopa County, Arizona
Innovative approach for recruiting nonprofit work host organizations and prospective Encore Fellows involved in a new Encore Fellowships Program. This program is designed as an integral part of a county-wide consortium that is dedicated to connecting individuals wanting social purpose engagement with organizations needing their time and talent.

Gateway Community College, Phoenix
Non-credit based training program to prepare boomers to become in-home caregivers. It offers certificates in human services and caregiving, and operates as an independent center within a community college district. The program works closely with local health care employers to ensure that it builds the skill sets that employers need.

Generations Incorporated, Boston
Training and engaging older adults as leaders in nonprofit work to help achieve high impact and sustainability. A team of encore careerists works 20-32 hours per week, are salaried and have flexible work plans. They are professional retirees who lead and manage Generations Incorporated’s Experience Corps program.

Harold Washington College, Chicago
Innovative pathways program for 50+ adults who wish to transition to encore careers as adjunct community college instructors. The focus is to recruit, train, and hire adjunct instructors who are knowledgeable, mature, experienced in the workplace, and wise – to help fill the need for new adjunct instructors.

Portland Community College, Portland
Ten Encore Learner Adaptations that create a web of support for encore learners launching or enhancing encore careers. This community college program supports transitions to work in the field of aging through career focused certificates, intentional internships, networking, peer mentor relationships, job skills workshops, cognitive fitness training, and more.

Princeton AlumniCorps (formerly Princeton Project 55), national
Leading national organization that brings together college alumni of all ages, but particularly older alumni, to participate in a wide scope of activities that benefit the public interest and raise civic engagement. The role of alumni has been expanded as a model of active catalysts for alumni everywhere.

ReServe, New York + national replication
Innovative nonprofit that matches continuing professionals age 55+ (ReServists) with nonprofits and public agencies (Partners) that can tap into a lifetime of experience to fill crucial staffing gaps at affordable rates.

The Transition Network , New York + 13 chapters in other locations
Innovative Caring Collaborative program to serve as a bridge between the medical system and The Transition Network’s community. The program mobilizes the goodwill within TTN’s informal network to provide health-related support. A point person connects members to learn from each others’ health experiences and provide practical help for short-term health issues.

Transforming Life After 50: Public Libraries and Boomers, California + national expansion
Innovative project designed to advance the capacity and effectiveness of public libraries to serve and engage adults 50+. Focused on engaging the “encore” demographic and forming new partnerships aligned with its mission, public libraries are playing a key leadership role as communities face the opportunities and challenges of an aging society.