Millions of boomers are part of the growing encore careers movement – an effort to match experienced workers who can't or don't want to retire with jobs that benefit society. The movement has spawned nonprofit groups and programs from Boston to Portland, Ore., aimed at helping these workers find new work. Many of the programs are run by people who have made the transition.
USA Today Recognizes Growing Encore Movement
01/28/2011 - 09:03:29am
From coast to coast, encore careers have arrived.
In an extraordinary front-page story, USA Today explores what it calls a national, “growing `encore careers’ movement.”
The movement, reporter Richard Wolf writes, “has spawned nonprofit groups and programs from Boston to Portland, Ore., aimed at helping older workers find new work.”
- by: Michele Melendez | More >
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One of the groups creating a modern vision of a purpose-driven retirement is Civic Ventures with encore careers, or “paid jobs that offer meaning and the chance to make a social impact.” The MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures announced the 2009 Encore Opportunity Awards, honoring eight nonprofit and public sector organizations that helped workers over 50 find and thrive in encore careers.
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| Jim Fischer , Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Florida Inc. |
| Visit Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Florida Inc.'s website |
Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Florida Inc.
Jim Fischer retired in 2000 at age 59 after three decades as CEO of a youth services profit in Minnesota and moved to central Florida. But soon he began volunteering for an organization that builds homes for the poor, Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Florida Inc. It wasn’t long before Habitat representatives asked him to serve on the fundraising committee, then the board and, two years later, in the top job.
“That magic carrot out there – early retirement – didn’t fit for me,” Jim says, “I really like to work. I really like to contribute.”
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| Roger Forrester , Mature Worker Connection |
| Visit Mature Worker Connection's website |
Mature Worker Connection
As founder of the Mature Worker Connection (MWC) in Tucson, Roger Forrester put his years of human resources experience to work for people over 50. After a long stint as a human resources director at the University of Minnesota, Forrester retired and moved to Pima County in Arizona. He found that many of his new friends and neighbors over 50 were interested in finding jobs but didn’t know how to go about it. In 2003 Forrester began to shop around the idea for an employment agency dedicated to helping them.
The rewards and benefits of a multigenerational work force were discussed at a "Crossing Generations" meeting of nonprofit leaders convened in June 2009 by Civic Ventures and the Building Movement Project, and made possible by the MetLife Foundation.
For a report on that meeting – including a summary of the dialogue, the recommendations, and a list of participants – click here.
This report provides guidance to nonprofits interested in recruiting and retaining employees of all ages. What kinds of benefits and rewards will be most likely to attract and retain a multigenerational staff?
Author Laura Reeves is chief talent officer with the American Cancer Society. Read the report.
This report explores what lies ahead for nonprofit leaders as they approach traditional retirement age and contemplate leaving their jobs. What kinds of encore careers are open to them? And how can these experienced leaders continue to contribute?
Author Stephanie Clohesy, a former nonprofit executive director herself, consults with major philanthropic and nonprofit groups on organizational change and innovation.
The Benefits of a Multigenerational Workforce
07/28/2010 - 03:35:43pm
Unlike any other time in history, people from four generations are on the job together. Encore.org, with support from MetLife Foundation, commissioned three essays exploring today’s multigenerational workforce.
- by: Phyllis Segal | More >
