The Beginning of Aging is an Asset

On December 19, 2005, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Intergenerational Initiative, SIUC ; hosted a group of education and aging leaders. Senate President Emil Jones Jr. participated by phone. L to R: Richard Rook, reg. dir. SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives); Randy Dunn, State Superintendent; Karen Hunter Anderson, vp, ICCB; John Erwin. president, Illinois Central College (representing the Council of Community College Presidents); Walt Warfield, exec. dir., IL Assoc. of School Administrators; Michael Johnson, exec. dir., IL Assoc. of School Boards; Matt Wescott, Illinois Dept. on Aging; Michael Monnohan, exec. dir., IL Assoc. of Community College Trustees; Don Naylor, exec. dir., State University Annuitants Association; Judy Erwin, exec. dir., IL Board of Higher Education; Not pictured; Chancellor Richard Ringeisen, (representing University Presidents Council); Jo Anderson, exec. dir., IL Education Assoc.; Raymond Mackey, exec. dir., IL Federation of Teachers; Gail Weinrich, Illinois dir. SCORE; Kathleen Plesko SIUC (respesenting IBHE Disabilities Advisory Group), Terry Nunn, dep. dir., IBHE; Seymour Bryson, assoc. chanc., SIUC; Gary Alexander, dep. dir., IBHE; and Jane Angelis, dir. Intergenerational Initiative, SIUC

The idea for Aging is an Asset came from a Senate Forum on Intergenerational Leadership. College students and retirees said that they wanted more contact with one another.

Aging is an Asset first saw the light of day in a discussion convened by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Intergenerational Initiative, and the Illinois Senate. Leaders acknowledged the graying of the population and recommended that Illinois gather more information on the meaning. The first four Aging is an Asset meetings explored the ways that education at all levels could form partnerships with retirees and aging agencies.

Typically the Aging is an Asset Forums involve 32-36 content experts, retirees, and educators, who come together to discuss a topic and its relationship to the aging of Illinois.

The first on higher education opened the door to discussion about retirees as students, volunteers, and advocates for education. The second considered the opportunities for schools (P-20+) by involving retirees, connecting generations, and establishing stronger communication throughout the education pipeline. The third, based on the Blueprint for Elder-Friendly Communities, explored the ways that communities should prepare for increased numbers of older people and the role of education in preparing for an aging society. The fourth, Aging is an Asset for the Workforce examined the workforce in Illinois from the perspective of the employer, the worker, and education.

Civic Engagement was the fifth Aging is an Asset Forum and brought together four generations to discuss their views of communication, history, and leadership styles. The last Forum was on the Media and reflected two goals: how the media should prepare messages for older adults and how older adults support various types of media.

Aging is An Asset Forum Schedule

I. Higher Education- October 11,2006, Bloomington, IL

II. P-20+ Education- February 26, 2007, Bloomington, IL

III. Community- June 12, 2007, Springfield, IL

IV. Workforce- November 13, 2007, Naperville, IL

V. Civic Engagement- February 26, 2008, Chicago, IL

VI. The Media- October 20, 2008, Carbondale, IL

Sponsored by: Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Department on Aging, Illinois State Board of Education, and the Intergenerational Initiative, SIU Carbondale.

In cooperation with: the Senate Higher Education Committee, Senate Education Committee, Illinois Council of Public University Presidents, Illinois Community College Presidents Council, Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the State Universities Annuitants Association