Eight partnerships in the State of Arizona were each awarded a “JumpStart the Conversation” grant on December 18, 2007. The winning projects exemplified the use of innovative ideas focused on the theme of “workforce development for older adults” to help the State enrich the lives of mature workers through meaningful paid and unpaid work opportunities. Click here to view the jumpstart grants below.
As part of the Aging in Place Initiative, the State of Arizona was selected by MetLife Foundation, Partners for Livable Communities and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging to host the second of six national workshops on creating livable communities for all ages.
The grants were provided in conjunction with an Arizona workshop, titled Workforce Development and Nonprofit Capacity Building: Developing a Livable Arizona for All Ages -- the second of 12 regional workshops around the country focused on creating livable communities for all ages. The workshops and grants are part of the national Aging in Place Initiative undertaken by Partners for Livable Communities (Partners) and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), with funding provided by MetLife Foundation. The workshop took place at GateWay Community College on November 15, 2007, and was hosted by the Office of the Governor, the Arizona Community Foundation, and the Area Agency on Aging, Region One.
Workforce Development and Nonprofit Capacity Building, hosted by the Office of the Governor, Arizona Community Foundation, and the Area Agency on Aging, Region One, was held in Phoenix on November 15, 2007. This workshop focused on enriching the lives of older adults through meaningful paid and unpaid work opportunities while improving nonprofit effectiveness, a growing issue the region is creatively working on now.
Attendees learned how to JumpStart the Conversation on aging and apply for a special grant to unique partnerships taking action on Aging in Place. The grants are intended to stimulate innovative action on at the local level. As a result of the workshops and grant opportunities, communities will have a renewed sense of urgency on approaching community livability for all as well as an energized group of organizations and individuals collaborating to face the challenges that accompany this time of change.
One grant recipient, the Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens, will use the award to develop new business partnerships with some of the 13 chambers of commerce groups in its two-county area and to introduce these new partners to the benefits of hiring older workers, especially those transitioning from the Senior Community Services Employment Program to private sector jobs.
The Council will host breakfast meetings with as many chambers as possible and will present an educational panel at the breakfasts to include a speaker with expertise on the benefits of hiring older workers, an older worker and an employer who has had success in hiring older workers.
Another grantee, Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun, will use the award to increase staff support for its Senior Fall Prevention Services program.
“This grant helps us get out into the community to recruit volunteers for our Senior Fall Prevention Services more often,” said Tomas Naughton, assistant director of Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun. “The program not only helps seniors stay safe in their homes and be healthy, but creates a unique way for older adults to get involved in their community and help their less fortunate neighbors.”
As a result of the workshop and grant opportunities, Arizona officials believe that the state will have a renewed sense of urgency to approach community livability for all. In a state where the senior population will triple within the next 20 years, and by 2027 one in four Arizonans are projected to be over the age of 60, local organizations and individuals are energized to face the challenges that accompany this time of change.
Arizona Jumpstart the Conversation Grants:
- Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits
To further expand Executive Service Corps Arizona (ESC Arizona), a capacity building resource for nonprofits, to areas of the state not served and to further promote the ESC model, which can be easily exported to any community and commence after volunteer resources are in place. ESC recruits and trains retired executives who volunteer their time and skills to deliver management consulting to nonprofits by matching the skills of retirees with the needs of nonprofits desiring to strengthen operations. Volunteers help nonprofits build on exemplary practices, strengthen processes, create efficiencies, stretch resources, strengthen sustainability and improve services. In October 2007 ESC Arizona became a program of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, and it will become a statewide resource for all nonprofits by rolling out services to Tucson, Prescott, Yuma, Flagstaff and other communities in 2008. It will identify ‘ESC program champions’ from various communities to work with the Alliance to introduce, build, deploy, monitor and evaluate ESC Arizona services. - East Valley Senior Services, Inc.
To develop a Steering Committee to help older adults find jobs or volunteer stipend positions that meet their needs. The first critical role of the Committee will be creating a “conceptual reality” which will include the following tasks: interview key business partners, locate and meet with existing resources (MCC Career Center), develop strategic directions. This intensive approach will utilize key community volunteer leaders, which not only understand the target audience, but can help guide the organization toward implementing a project that is complementary to other services already available in the community. - Friends of the Tempe Public Library/Tempe Connections
To provide meaningful civic engagement opportunities to adults aged 55+ by launching the Veterans History Project—a national program whose mission is to collect and archive the personal recollections of U.S. wartime veterans to honor their service and share their stories with current and future generations. A volunteer/job fair will be held to recruit older adult volunteers to be trained as interviewers and archivers. Additionally, non-profits who work with veterans or veterans’ issues will be invited to recruit volunteers for their organizations, publicize material needs and advertise paid positions. - Make a Difference
To support professional development, training opportunities and workshops for Make a Difference's Experience Corps members who are 55+. Make A Difference partners with Mesa Community Colleges and Mesa Public Schools to manage the Experience Corps program in Mesa, Arizona. Mentors serve up to 15 hours a week as literacy mentors in fourth grade classrooms throughout Mesa Public Schools. The program recruits, trains and places members in service, and also provides ongoing support for members as they serve their community. - Pima Council On Aging
To use this grant as seed money for the purpose of developing an Action Plan, in collaboration with a targeted group of nonprofit CEOs and its community partners, for implementing a Special Planning Project that would include the following components: development of career exploration/assessment services tailored to the needs of mature job seekers; creation of workforce development programs that meet the unique needs of mature job seekers; implementing community initiatives led by community leaders for the purpose of connecting its job seekers with employers in and around their communities; and a major effort to form a close alliance with local nonprofit organizations to provide education and assist them in capacity building and to meet the needs of job seekers to find “Meaningful Work”. - Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens Area Agency on Aging for Region V
To develop new business partnerships with some of the 13 Chamber of Commerce groups in its two county area and to introduce these new partners to the benefits of hiring older workers, especially those transitioning from the Senior Community Services Employment Program to private sector jobs. Its secondary goal is to expand services to those seniors who do not qualify for the SCSEP, because they are over income for program eligibility, but still need help with job placement referrals. The Council will host breakfast meetings with as many Chambers as possible and will present an educational panel at the breakfasts to include a speaker with expertise on the benefits of hiring older workers, an older worker and an employer who has had success in hiring older workers. - Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun, Inc.
To increase staff support for the Senior Fall Prevention Services program, which provides fall prevention devices and professional installation free of charge to low-income elderly homeowners. SFPS will expand its capacity building, as well as its skilled training, volunteer, and mentoring opportunities for older adults -- who are engaged through this program to become in-house safety specialists. - United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
To support the publication of an Extended Life Options planning guide for baby boomers, retirees and those planning for retirement. The guide will link users to opportunities in the workplace and the community that will facilitate a healthy, active and meaningful stage of life. Two primary sections will focus on meaningful paid work and unpaid work (volunteering). The guide will be disseminated through United Way's website, employers, employment agencies, financial planners, nonprofits, faith communities and other venues.
