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National Social Innovator and Aging Expert Addresses United Way Groups
Marc Freedman dicusses Baby Boomers and The Encore Career.
“Boomers now, and in the future, will want to work for “daily meaning as well as much as daily bread.” So said Marc Freedman, founder of San Francisco-based think tank and incubator, Civic Ventures. Freedman was in Jacksonville on May 7th working with United Way of Northeast Florida’s Life: Act 2 Civic Engagement Visioning Task Force and addressed a variety of seniors, business and nonprofit leaders about the opportunities represented by baby boomers as they approach retirement. Marc is one of the nation's leading thinkers and writers on the opportunities presented by the aging of America.
Freedman, who founded Civic Ventures in the late 1990’s, is reframing the debate about aging in America and redefining the second half of life as a source of social and individual renewal. He is also the co-founder of Experience Corps, the nation's largest nonprofit national service program engaging Americans over 55, and The Purpose Prize, the nation's first prize for, and biggest investment in, social innovators over 60. In addition, he is the author of Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life and "Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America", among others.
“We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with someone as prominent as Marc Freedman,” said United Way President Connie Hodges. “Through our Life: Act 2 focus area, we have been dedicated to engaging members of our aging population and to improving the quality of life for all Jacksonville seniors.”
Marc Freedman speaks before a roomful of business leaders during a luncheon at The University Club.
John Thomas, the chair of the Civic Engagement Visioning Task Force said, “I was struck by Marc’s message that the question is not so much, will Boomers work? But, rather, HOW will they work? The resources of this generation open up enormous opportunities for our community and the issues we face. It also poses a challenge to area businesses and non-profit organizations as to how they will respond to what Boomers are looking for in retirement.”
At the beginning of this year, United Way created a Civic Engagement Visioning Task Force, composed of business, education and senior leaders. The Task Force has been working since then to define more concretely the opportunities that lie within the public school system and early childhood sectors in Northeast Florida for seniors to be employed and contribute their talent. Marc’s visit added energy, creativity and excitement to the planning process currently underway.
