Encore: Work that matters in the second half of life.

Jan Hively at a SHiFT meeting

Minnesota has become a hotbed of encore activity.

An editorial in today’s Star-Tribune describes some of the individual stories included in Marc Freedman’s Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, and concludes:

“As the huge wave of baby boomers ages, their types should become the rule rather than the exception, both for the benefit of the seniors and for society overall. Older Americans are clamoring to stay active in more meaningful ways — and the work force needs their talent, expertise and commitment.”

Freedman met with the paper’s editorial board when he was in the Twin Cities last week. The editorial said he “beautifully makes the case for matching older people with opportunities for meaningful work.”

Minnesotans who want to help make that a reality at the policy level have a chance to participate in the state’s Transform 2010 planning process. One of the major themes of the plan is: Redefine work and retirement.

Even more exciting, Minnesotans who want to launch their own encore careers have a great resource in SHiFT, started by David Buck, a career-changer himself, and Jan Hively, a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota and a former deputy mayor of Minneapolis (and a Purpose Prize fellow).

Since late last year, SHiFT has been holding weekly meetings at a coffee shop. The first session attracted 40 people, who heard from a toy designer who went into politics, an electrian who become an English teacher and an elementary school teacher with an earlier career as a record distributor. Subsequent meetings have drawn even larger crowds.

“It was very clear within the first couple of weeks that we struck a nerve,” Hively told the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which profiled the group in its last issue. “People came in starving.”

As the Chronicle reports: “The group now offers “Shift circles,” small groups where people discuss their desire for career change; and “Shift-Mates,” a mentorship program for new members. It has set up several “affinity groups” for people who are interested in particular job areas, such as health care, the environment, and entrepreneurship — and is working to set up internships with employers in those fields.” Hively has also begun to offer workshops for employers on how to create a work environment to attract and retain older workers.