Then she was a corporate executive losing her passion;
Now she runs a homeless shelter.
Then he was an autoworker without a future;
Now he's becoming a nurse so he can help people stay healthy.
Then she was a government official battling the system;
Now she's running her own business to prove it can be changed.
Then there were the golden years;
Now there are encore careers, a new stage of life with new opportunities.
Then there was a period, a stop;
Now there is a semicolon, a transition, a pause between then and now. Rest, reflect and retool — for now.
Now is the time for something new, something meaningful, something significant. An encore career that lets you do what you want, because you've earned the chance to make a difference.
Now is the time to engage your talents, live your values and fulfill your dreams.
Now is the time to work for meaning and purpose as well as a paycheck.
Then you were on your own, trying to make things better while making ends meet.
Now we are joining together, creating a new institution: encore careers that combine personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income.
Millions of people are moving from then to now.
Then we worked to retire;
Now we work for the future.
Adulthood simply goes on too long without punctuation. The famous midlife crisis is a search for that punctuation, for the feeling that one is making a new start.
--Mary Catherine Bateson
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Anne Nolan Corporate Manager ; Homeless Shelter Director |
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Terry Ramey Autoworker ; Nurse |
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Conchy Bretos State Official ; Entrepreneur |
About Encore Careers
Encore careers combine personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income, enabling people to put their passion to work for the greater good.
The tarnished dream of Golden Years of endless leisure is giving way to a new form of practical idealism: real jobs tackling real problems and making real impact.
It's a growing trend. A 2008 Civic MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures survey found that more than 5 million people ages 44 to 70 have begun encore careers. Of those not already in encore careers, half say they want them.
About the Encore Careers Campaign
The Encore Careers campaign aims to engage millions of boomers in encore careers, providing personal fulfillment doing paid work and producing a windfall of human talent to solve society's greatest problems.
The Encore Careers campaign is a project of Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. Other initiatives that are part of the Encore Careers campaign include The Purpose Prize, which invests in social innovators over 60; a community college initiative to develop pathways to encore careers; an awards program for employers of people in encore careers; and a
pilot fellowship program for boomers in the Silicon Valley.
In addition, the campaign sponsors research studies and papers, talks around the country and social marketing efforts. Encore.org serves the growing community of people who are in encore careers or looking for them.
About The Purpose Prize
Launched in 2006 as the first Baby Boomers turned 60, The Purpose Prize is a major initiative investing in a new generation of social innovators – individuals in the second half of life who are marshaling their accumulated experience to tackle some of America's most pressing problems.
Unlike any other major national award or fellowship, The Purpose Prize challenges prevailing perceptions by investing significantly in accomplished social innovators over the age of 60. Each year, up to six people who have demonstrated uncommon vision, determination and entrepreneurialism in addressing community, national and international problems win $100,000 each. A second group of innovators wins $10,000 each, and dozens more are named Purpose Prize Fellows.
All are making extraordinary contributions to society in their encore careers. Nominations for the 2009 Purpose Prize are open through March 5, 2009. For more information or to nominate someone (including yourself), go to purposeprize.org.
About Encore, the Book
In Encore: Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, Marc Freedman tells the stories of encore career pioneers who are working not only for continued income, but also for the promise of more meaning and the chance to do work that matters. As their numbers begin to swell, these individuals hold the potential to transform work in America — and create a society that works better for everyone.
Encore has recently been issued in paperback.
About the Encore.org Team
Encore.org is an initiative of Civic Ventures. Click here for a roster of Civic Ventures staff and advisers.
Contact Encore.org at info@encore.org or 415.430.0141.
