It's back to school for Anita Oltmans, 40, who lost her assembly-plant job and now attends Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska. Photo by Jacob Hannah for USA Today.

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USA Today reports on the meeting today of Retirement USA, a coalition that is "working for a universal, secure, and adequate retirement system to supplement Social Security."

There's no explicit mention of longer working lives in the group's statement of principles. But appealing, accessible encore careers that combine continued income with social purpose could help meet the group's goals. Incentives to spur the creation of such opportunities could deliver a double-return -- improved finances for individuals and an infusion of human talent in high-need areas. Please add your own ideas by commenting below.

The Retirement USA initiative, launched last March, includes the Economic Policy Institute, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the Service Employees International Union and the Pension Rights Center as well as the AFL-CIO, the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged and the National Consumers League.

Ross Eisenbrey, vice president of the Economic Policy Institute, laid out the rationale for the initiative at the launch event in March.

The facts are indeed grim. Nearly one-third of American households have no retirement savings at all, according to a McKinsey & Co. report. And among middle-income married couples who don't have a pension and are nearing retirement, only 4% are likely to have enough money to last their lifetime, according to Ernst & Young.