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IMAGINE KC, THE AGE ENGAGE EPISODE, IS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AGENDA,
IMPROVING AMERICA FOR ALL AGES. SPONSORED BY THE PFIZER FOUNDATION AND GRANT MAKERS IN
AGING WITH LOCAL FUNDING FROM THE WJ GRACE CHARITABLE TRUST, BANK OF AMERICA TRUSTEE.
IMAGINE KC IS A COPRODUCTION OF KCPT AND THE MIDAMERICAN REGIONAL COUNCIL.
WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF IMAGINE KC. I'M RANDY MASON.
IN THIS SERIES, WE LOOK AT WAYS THAT OUR REGION IS BECOMING MORE VIBRANT, CONNECTED AND GREEN.
NOTHING SUPPORTS A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAN ONE THAT ENCOURAGES ENGAGEMENT FROM ALL
AGES, YOUNG AND OLD. SO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT HALF HOUR LOOKING AT WAYS TO
KEEP OLDER ADULTS ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE'LL CHECK OUT INDIVIDUALS WHO
FOUND THEIR SECOND ACT THROUGH VOLUNTEERING, PAID WORK AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE EXPERTISE OF OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS AND STRAJ --
STRATEGIES TO CONNECT WILLING SENIORS WITH MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT.
IT'S COMING UP ON IMAGINE KC. AMERICA IS IN THE MIDST OF AN AGE BOOM AND KANSAS CITY IS
NO EXCEPTION. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER IN THE KANSAS CITY REGION
IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 110% IN THE NEXT TWO DECADES. AND THIS SENIOR POPULATION IS
SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. MAYBE YOU'RE ONE OF THEM.
MANY RETIREES KNOW THEY HAVE MANY YEARS AHEAD OF THEM AND WANT TO USE ALL OF THAT
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, SO SOME ARE BEGINNING A SECOND CAREER.
TAKE PAT BRUIN. AFTER 31 YEARS, SHE RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM IN THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI AS CLERK OF COURT. SHE DESCRIBES HER ROLE AS THE
EQUIVALENT OF A CEO IN BUSINESS. DURING HER TENURE SHE HELPED DESIGN AND BUILD THREE OF THE
FIVE FEDERAL COURTHOUSES IN THE DISTRICT AND INSTRUMENTAL IN MODERNIZING THE COURTS BY
INTRODUCING THE INTERNET TO THE FEDERAL SYSTEMS. ONE OF MY PROUDEST
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACTUALLY, WAS BEING ABLE TO CONVINCE THE JUDGES AT THAT TIME IN 1997,
WHEN THE INTERNET WAS FOUR YEARS OLD BASICALLY, TO TRY THE INTERNET AS A WAY FOR ATTORNEYS
TO FILE CASES, AND WE GOT INVOLVED IN A NATIONAL PROJECT. IN '97, WE PUT OUR FIRST CASE ON
THE SYSTEM IN OCTOBER OF 97. WITHIN TEN YEARS, THAT WAS THE WAY THE ENTIRE FEDERAL JUDICIARY
DID THEIR BUSINESS. PAT RETIRED IN 2009 BUT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO REST ON
HER CIVIC LAURELS WHEN TWO FRIENDS CALLED IN NEED OF LEADER HIP -- LEADERSHIP AT THE YWCA.
I FIND MYSELF INTERVIEWING IN 7 DAYS GOING I KNOW A LOT ABOUT GOVERNMENT.
10 DAYS LATER I'M DOING ANOTHER 9 TO 5 JOB IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT, LEARNING
HOW TO RUN A COFFEE SHOP, CAFE AND BLACK BOX THEATER AND GIRLS PROGRAMMING.
IT WAS DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE. SADLY, THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
HIT AND TOOK DOWN A LOT OF NONPROFITS, INCLUDING THE KANSAS CITY, KANSAS YWCA, WHICH CLOSED
ITS DOORS IN 2011. WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS.
PAT SAW A NEED AND BEGAN WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH OTHER NONPROFITS IN HER HOMETOWN
STOMPING GROUND OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY. ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I MET
THERE AT THE COFFEE SHOP WAS KAREN HOS -- WORKING ON AN INITIATIVE CALLED NEXT CHAPTER,
NEXT CHAPTER BEING BUILT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO DO WHO
AREN'T IN THE REGULAR WORK WORLD ANYMORE BUT AREN'T READY TO GO TO THE ROCKING CHARIOT PORCH?
THERE IS A WHOLE BUBBLE OF BOOMERS LIKE MYSELF WHO STILL HAVE SKILLS THAT THEY THINK ARE
VALUABLE, WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS IN MY HEART.
PAT BEGAN USING HER SKILLS, LEADING THE WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FOLLOWED BY SERVING ON
THE ADVANCEMENT COUNCIL FOR THE KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EXPLORING HOW TO ADVANCE THE
EFFORTS OF COLLEGE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. SHE'S WORKING ON A STRATEGIC
PLAN WITH THE KANSAS CITY, KANSAS PUBLIC LIBRARY, ALL THE WHILE STARTING A NONPROFIT
CONSULTING BUSINESS WITH HER SISTER. THE CONSULTING HAS TURNED
INTO HAVING A PARTICULAR NONPROFIT FOCUS. SINCE I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH OF
THAT SO QUICKLY AND I THINK THE THING I BRING TO THAT TABLE IS THE BUSINESS SENSE THAT A LOT OF
NONPROFITS DON'T HAVE IN THE BACKGROUND. LET ME HELP YOU WITH STRATEGIC
PLANNING, BUDGETING, ANY ADMINISTRATIVE WORK THAT YOU'VE GOT.
LET ME HELP YOU DO THAT, AND WHEN I WORKED AT THE COURT, I HAD AN IT SECTION, 23 GUYS IN
IT, AND IF I HAD AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO TRY, I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT, AND WITHIN DAYS,
I'D HAVE SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH. I STILL HAVE THOSE IDEAS, SO COINCIDENTALLY, I'M TEACHING
MYSELF A LOT ABOUT WEB DEVELOPMENT, WEB BASED, HOW TO WORK IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA ARENA,
HOW NOT FOR PROFITS CAN USE THAT SAME FREE SOCIAL MEDIA. I WON'T SAY I'M A SOCIAL MEDIA
EXPERT, BUT I AM GOING TO TEACH A CLASS ON FACEBOOK AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LATER THIS
MONTH. PAT IS A PERSON WHO CERTAINLY IS NOT READY FOR THE RETIREMENT
ROCKING CHAIR, MUCH LIKE HER PARENTS. I WANT TO KEEP LEARNING, BUT
I HAVE EXCELLENT ROLE MODELS. MY PARENTS ARE 82 AND 83, AND UNTIL MY DAD WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER A YEAR AGO, HE RAN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, AND HE RAN A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION CALLED
THE LEAVENWORTH ROAD ASSOCIATION. MY MOTHER WORKED IN PUBLIC
SERVICE FOR 40 YEARS. THIS IS WHAT WE DO. THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW.
WE KEEP LEARNING. WE KEEP GROWING. MY FATHER IS A VERY HAPPY MAN
TODAY, BECAUSE AT 83, HE CAN STILL MOW HIS OWN FRONT YARD. SO WE HAVE GREAT ROLE MODELS IN
THE FAMILY. THE FINDING YOUR SECOND ACT MIGHT NOT COME QUITE SO EASILY
AS IT DID FOR PAT. SO WE'VE INNOVATED KAREN FROM NEXT CHAPTER IN KANSAS CITY,
KANSAS TO GIVE US HER TIPS ON HOW TO BEST IMAGINE A NEW CAREER IN THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE.
KAREN, IT SEEMS MAYBE STRANGE TO SOME OF US THAT THERE WOULD EVEN BE A NEED FOR A NEXT CHAPTER,
BUT YOU SAY JUST THE OPPOSITE. PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN WORK FOR MORE THAN ONE REASON.
ONE IS, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LONGER LIFE NOW, FOLKS REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY
MAY NEED OVER THOSE FINAL YEARS OF THEIR LIFE, AND THE SECOND THING IS THAT YOU HAVE SOME
SENSE OF PURPOSE AND MEANING IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE.
FOR SOME PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING CAN FULFILL THAT, AND FOR OTHERS, PLUGGING IN IN A WORK CAPACITY
IS THE WAY THEY'D LIKE TO GO. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR MAYBE THAT EMPLOYER'S
STANDPOINT? A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SOFT SKILLS, PEOPLE WHO DRESS
APPROPRIATELY, SHOW UP FOR WORK AND SHOW UP ON TIME, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE FROM A
SEASONED WORKFORCE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THEY HAVE BEEN COUNTED ON TO
HAVE SOME IDEAS IN TERMS OF WHAT NEXT STEPS COULD BE TAKEN BUT JUST HOW ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED
IN A POSITIVE WAY. YOU CAN'T GENERALIZE EVERY SINGLE PERSON, BECAUSE THEY WILL
ALL BRING DIFFERENT KINDS OF SKILLS AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO THE SITUATION.
SO YOU ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THESE PEOPLE'S RESUMES, SKILL SETS AND SAY, HEY, TAILOR WHAT
YOU ALREADY KNOW, BUT MAYBE NOW TAKE THIS LITTLE EXTRA STEP THAT YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO DO BEFORE. IN WORK SITUATIONS, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT, IF I'M TALKING
WITH SOMEONE THAT I WOULD REFER THEM, SAY, TO THE CAREER CENTER AT KANSAS CITY, KANSAS COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, OR WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP. SO THERE ARE GOOD OPTIONS WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY, AND PART OF A GOOD NEXT CHAPTER PROGRAM IS TO FIND WAYS TO BUILD INTO AGENCIES
AND STRUCTURES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES PROGRAMS THAT CAN ASSIST FOLKS AS THEY GO THROUGH
THIS TRANSITION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER THROUGH NEXT CHAPTER KANSAS CITY
ARE FOUR ONLINE EXPLORING JOBS COURSES FOR PEOPLE. IT'S A CURRICULUM THAT'S BEEN
DEVELOPED IN COOPERATION WITH KCK COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THEY ARE EXPLORING JOBS IN
EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CARE GIVING AND EXPLORING GREEN JOBS.
BY THE END, OUR GOAL IS THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE SOME IDEA OF TWO OR THREE OR FOUR NEXT BEST
STEPS THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE IN TERMS OF MAYBE EXPLORING A CAREER, A NEW CAREER OR JOB
OPTION. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON NEXT CHAPTER KANSAS CITY, AS
WELL AS OTHER RESOURCES FOR FINDING YOUR OWN ENCORE CAREER AT OUR WEBSITE, IMAGINE KC DOT
ORG. NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A LOCAL LEADER IN A POSITION
TO EMPOWER MIDLIFE AND OLDER ADULTS. KANSAS CITY'S SHEPHERD CENTER
CENTRAL CONNECTS NEW RETIREES TO PROGRAMS, CLASSS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET YOU COME AROUND TO THIS SIDE OF THE CAR BEFORE I OPEN THE
DOOR. OKAY? THAT WILL BE EASIER FOR YOU,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO STRUGGLE GETTING AROUND THE DOOR.
IN KANSAS CITY, ALONE, 2002 PEOPLE PER MONTH ARE TURNING AGE 65, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR
THE NEXT 18 YEARS, SO WE HAVE THIS VERY LARGE AGE WAVE. OUR CIVIC AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
IS AROUND KEEPING PEOPLE ACTIVE, KEEPING THEM LEARNING, KEEPING THEM ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND LETTING THEM AGE IN PLACE FOR AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE. KANSAS CITY SHEPHERD CENTER HAS BEEN TENDING TO THE NEEDS OF
OLDER POPULATIONS SINCE 1972. HERE AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE ACROSS FROM UMKC, AS WELL AS
OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE METRO. EVERYTHING FROM THE BASICS, LIKE
HUNDREDS OF MEALS ON WHEELS THEY SERVE TO SHUT- INS, TO ADVENTURES IN LEARNING CLASSICS
ON TOPICS LIE HOW TO USE YOUR I-PHONE. BUT MORE AND MORE, THE
VOLUNTEERS THEY SEE COMING THROUGH THEIR DOORS BRING WITH THEM SOME DISTINCT DIFFERENCES.
THE FOLKS THAT ARE JUST NOW RETIRING HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATION.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE, AND WHILE THEY'RE READY TO RETIRE, MOST OF THEM, THEY'RE
NOT READY TO COMPLETELY STOP DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO THEY WANT TO USE THAT
EXPERTISE TO HELP NONPROFITS OR OTHER FOLKS IN THE WORLD. WHAT IS WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS
GROUP IS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO DO. THAT'S WHO THEY ARE.
THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED AND ENGAGED IN SOCIAL CHANGE, ECONOMIC CHANGE, AND WHAT THIS
PROGRAM LIKES TO EMPHASIZE IS THEY'RE ALSO AN AMAZING RESOURCE IN EVERY COMMUNITY.
THE COMING OF AGE PROGRAM WAS CREATED 13 YEARS AGO AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, AND OVER TIME HAS
GROWN INTO A SERIES OF INTERACTIVE FOUR-HOUR WORKSHOPS CALLED EXPLORE YOUR FUTURE WHERE
THOSE OVER 50 CAN BEGIN TO ENVISION SOME OF THE PLACES THEY'RE ENCORE LIFE MIGHT TAKE
THEM. THIS WORKBOOK IS HOW WE DO THAT, HOW WE HELP PEOPLE
DETERMINE WHAT IT IS THAT'S GOING TO BE FULFILLING AND MEANINGFUL TO THEM.
THERE ARE DOZENS OF THEM. THESE ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOU FIGURE THAT OUT.
MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO LIVE A VERY LONG TIME, 10, 20, 30, 40 YEARS AFTER THEY
OFFICIALLY RETIRE. AND IT REALLY HELPS PEOPLE THINK FOR THEMSELVES.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT DIRECTING THEM IN ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION OR FORCING SOMEONE TO SAY THAT THEY
WANT TO DO A PARTICULAR THING. THE OTHER COMPONENT OF IT IS THE WORKSHOPS FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, MEMBERS OF BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF NONPROFITS.
IT'S CALLED CAPTURING THE ENERGY AND EXPERTISE OF PEOPLE 50 PLUS. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
THIS IS A WHOLE NEW GENERATION. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE PROBABLY GUILTY OF THIS AS WELL.
IF YOU HEAR ABOUT A VOLUNTEER, FOR INSTANCE, THAT'S BEEN AN ACCOUNTANT, YOU NATURALLY WANT
TO BRING THEM IN TO DO ACCOUNTING TYPE OR NUMBERS THINGS.
THEY MAY NOT BE READY TO DO THAT YET. THEY MAY BE READY JUST TO COME
IN AND BE. BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WHEN THEY GET INTO THE ORGANIZATION AND
START TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES, THE GOOD THAT IT DOES IN THE COMMUNITY
AND THE NEEDS OF THAT ORGANIZATION, THEN THEY'RE MORE INCLINED TO OFFER THOSE SERVICES
THAT THEY HAVE EXPERTISE IN. ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE OKAY? YEAH, I'M FINE.
OKAY. AS MUCH AS NONPROFITS AND CHARITIES MAY STAND TO BENEFIT
FROM THIS ENERGETIC NEW LABOR POOL, SANDRA WANTS US TO CONSIDER THE COST OF NOT KEEPING
SENIORS CONNECTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THAT, SHE SAYS, MIGHT BE THE
GREATEST LOSS OF ALL. THE RESEARCH IS VERY CLEAR, THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HOBBIES,
NO INTERESTS, NOTHING TO GET THEM UP IN THE MORNING, ONCE THEY SEIZE -- CEASE OO WORKING
FULL TIME, VERY OFTEN HAVE A TRAGIC INCREASE IN DEPRESSION, PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ABUSE AND IT BECOMES A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF DESPAIR. PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO
HAVE A PLAN THAT'S GOING TO BE MEANINGFUL, SIGNIFICANT. IT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE
TO FIND WORK, WHETHER IT'S PAID OR NOT, THAT'S FULFILLING, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. THAT'S WHO THESE BOOMERS ARE. WHETHER YOU NEED A FULL
PLEDGED PLAN OR JUST A PLACE TO JUMP IN, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE OUT THERE. AREA AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION OFFER VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES. ONE SUCH PLACE IS JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES.
WE RODE ALONG WITH OUR JET EXPRESS PROGRAM TO FILL A VITAL NEED IN THE LIVES OF BOTH
RETIREE AND RECIPIENT. I NEVER THOUGHT MY BODY WOULD TURN INTO WHERE I NEED -- YOU
KNOW, COULDN'T DRIVE. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE CAR AWAY. I'M STEVE STRAWS, A VOLUNTEER
DRIVER FOR JET EXPRESS. I'M A RETIREE. I WORKED FOR THE POST OFFICE FOR
36 YEARS. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO DO TO HELP OUT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE
FACT THAT SOMEBODY IS WILLING TO EVEN TAKE THEM TO AN APPOINTMENT, EVEN IF IT'S JUST
TO THE STORE, I MEAN, WHATEVER. I TAKE BARBARA HERE FOR HER VOLUNTEER WORK THAT SHE DOES.
OTHERWISE, SHE COULDN'T GET HERE. IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL AS FAR
AS GETTING QUALIFIED TO DO IT. AS LONG AS YOU CAN DRIVE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF ACCIDENTS
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE INSURED, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST LIKE TO SPEND A COUPLE HOURS MAYBE A
WEEK, WHATEVER. THAT'S ALL IT TAKES. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS HERE.
WHICH ONE? THE ONE FROM INDIANA. I DO WORK WITH THEM MORE THAN
ONCE, LIKE I DO WITH BARBARA. I DO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY OR FRIENDS OR WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIVES, THAT KIND OF THING.
JUST A LITTLE COMPANION FOR THEM, TOO. ALL RIGHT.
THEN I'LL SEE YOU PROBABLY NEXT WEEK TOO, I GUESS. I HOPE.
THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT LINDA LAURA FROM THE GAWD -- GUADALUPE CENTER
NEXT. I KNOW AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, YOU'VE GOT A TERM FOR THESE
PEOPLE WHO JUST KIND OF RETIRED RECENTLY. WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM?
I CALL THEM THE JUNIOR SENIORS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEWLY
RETIREES. THEY'RE MORE OUTGOING, ABLE BODIED, STILL ENERGETIC AND
READY TO DO WHATEVER, SO THAT'S WHAT I CALL THEM, THE JUNIOR SENIORS.
YOU'VE GOT WAYS TO PUT THEM INTO PLAY THERE WITH SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT POPULATIONS THAT
THE GUADALUPE CENTER SERVES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO HAVE, I HAVE A WONDERFUL LADY.
SHE'S VERY ENERGETIC. SHE IS VERY CREATIVE. SHE IS HELPING US OUT WITH A
PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW CALLED MEMORIES IN THE MAKING. IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, AND SO SHE WILL ADMINISTER CLASSES FOR WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS.
THAT'S WORKING WITH ONE INTERGENERATIONAL SORT OF POPULATION, BUT I THINK
SOMETIMES IT GOES TO THE YOUNGER SET, AS WELL. WE'VE DONE OTHER PROGRAMS
WHERE WE HAVE HAD SOME SENIORS GO TO OUR PRESCHOOL, AND THEY WILL HELP THEM OUT BY READING,
YOU KNOW, READING TO THEM, INTERACT WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, IN DIFFERENT WAYS, PLAYING,
SINGING, WHICHEVER. YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS PRETTY
COOL WITH A LITTLE MORE VISIBILITY, AND A LOT OF UPSIDES, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
YEAH. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. WE HOPE IT IS.
THAT'S OUR -- WE JUST HAVE GOTTEN A GRANT WITH WAL-MART AND MID AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR
A GREENHOUSE PROJECT, AND THAT'S CALLED GREENS FOR GUADALUPE CENTER.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE'RE HOPING THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ACTUALLY GET SOME
OF OUR SENIORS TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP US OUT WITH THIS GREENHOUSE PROJECT AND ACTUALLY PRODUCING
SOME OF THE PRODUCE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, GETTING -- GROWING WHATEVER THEY DECIDE.
IT'S THEIR GREENHOUSE PRETTY MUCH. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE
BIT OF A GAME CHANGER FOR GUADALUPE CENTER AND SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
DEFINITELY. AS WELL AS MORE WAYS TO KIND OF GIVE THESE RECENT RETIREES A
LITTLE MORE ACTIVE THINGS TO DO. EXACTLY. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BINGO, I
GUESS. (LAUGHTER). IT'S NOT, AND THAT'S PART OF
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACROSS HERE ON THIS EDITION OF IMAGINE KC.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US, LINDA. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK ACTUALLY AT
SOME MORE OF THE WAYS THAT GARDENING AND GROWING THINGS TOGETHER IS HAVING A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON PEOPLE AROUND THE METRO. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A LOOK.
MARTY CRAFT IS THE MANAGER AT THE NILES HOME FOR CHILDREN, A PLACE FOR AT RISK KIDS ON THE
EAST SIDE OF KANSAS CITY. MARTY FOCUSES ON HELPING KIDS THROUGH THE POWER OF GARDENING.
I WANT TO TEACH KIDS TO GARDEN SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FEED THEMSELVES.
WE'RE IN A BASIC FOOD DESERT HERE, WHAT THEY CALL A FOOD DESERT.
THIS MEANS WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM THE STORE AND WITH PEOPLE THAT OFTEN DON'T HAVE CARS.
SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO EAT? YOU'RE GOING TO EAT THE TWINGIES AT THE LIQUOR STORE, AND THAT'S
NOT ACCEPTABLE. TO SHOW KIDS THAT FOOD COMES FROM PLACES OTHER THAN A STORE
AND THAT THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN FOOD, MARTY LIKES TO INTRODUCE FIRST TIME VISITORS TO SNAP
PEAS. WELL, WITH THE SNAP PEAS, I JUST WALK BY THE VINES, AND I
POP ONE IN MY MOUTH, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU EATING THAT?
I SAY, SURE, TRY ONE ANDS TO ONE ONE -- AND I TOSS ONE TO THEM. NO, I AIN'T TRYING THAT.
THEN TWO OR THREE OTHERS, LET ME TRY ONE. THIS IS GOOD, AND THEN THE NEXTÑ
TRIP OUT, THEY MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SNAP PEAS AND START FEEDING.
(LAUGHTER). SO I WON. THEY'VE WON.
WE'VE ALL WON. THE FOCUS IS ON GROWING FOOD, BUT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE
GARDEN, MARTY WORKS WITH KIDS ON ISSUES THAT TRANSCEND GARDENING. THEY'VE BEEN DEALT HANDS THAT
YOU AND I MIGHT NOT BELIEVE, SO SOME OF THEM HAVE SOME ANGER ISSUES AND SOME OF THEM HAVE
SOME ISSUES WHERE THEY JUST NEED TO LEARN TO FOCUS A LITTLE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE
FOCUSING NOW. SO AMONG THE 28 NO-TILL ORGANIC BEDS OF VEGETABLES, A
POND, SMALL ORCHARD AND HIGH TUNNEL FOR TOMATOES, MARTY HAS CREATED A PEACEFUL PLACE AND A
PLACE TO TEACH KIDS LIFE LESSONS THAT THEY CAN USE EVERY DAY. AND I JUST SAY, LOOK, YOU
KNOW, SLOW DOWN, IT'S ALL RIGHT, AND WE JUST BE GENTLE WITH THE PLANTS AND REMEMBER THAT IT'S A
LIVING THING, YOU KNOW, AND THE BUDDY THAT YOU'RE ARGUING WITH, HE'S A LIVING THING, TOO, YOU
KNOW. I'VE SEEN KIDS GET IT TOGETHER HERE, PRACTICALLY UNMANAGEABLE,
AND AFTER BEING HERE FOR SIX MONTHS OR SO, THEY'RE EVENED OUT.
I WAS TALKING TO A HORTICULTURAL THERAPIST, AND WE CAME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THE PLANTS DO THE
WORK. WE JUST GET THE KIDS NEAR THEM. SPEND ANY TIME WITH MARTY,
AND IT'S CLEAR HOW HE LOVES THE PEACEFULNESS OF THE GARDEN AND LOVES WORKING WITH THE KIDS.
AND I WANT THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME KIND OF THINGS I EXPERIENCE, THE PEACEFULNESS AND
EXPANSIVENESS THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN SOMEBODY'S RESPONDING TO NATURE.
NATURE IS A REAL OPENER OF THE HEART, OPENER OF THE MIND. AT 71, MARTY SAYS HE HAS NO
PLANS TO RETIRE. SO I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL NEEDED AND I WANT TO DO IT, AND
IT FEEDS ME. THERE ARE COMMUNITY GARDENS ALL OVER OUR REGION.
SOME ARE PART OF FOOD DONATION PROGRAMS. OTHERS SIMPLY PROVIDE OLDER
ADULTS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY CAN HELP US GIVE BACK, GET
ENGAGED AND STAY HEALTHY ALL AT THE SAME TIME. LOOKING FOR A GARDEN TO GIVE
YOUR OWN GREEN THUMB A WORKOUT? GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IMAGINE KC DOT ORG.
WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP THIS EPISODE WITH YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW SENIORS CAN SHARE THE
WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE THEY'VE GAINED WITH A YOUNGER GENERATION.
THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS, 55 AND OLDER.
WE ARE WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN NORTHEAST KANSAS. THE NATIONAL FOSTER PARENT
PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE AUGUST OF 1965. WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN WYANDOTTE
COUNTY SINCE 1976, 37 YEARS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 104 VOLUNTEERS WORKING WITH ABOUT 1,000
CHILDREN HERE IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, AND THEY WORK AT 40 SCHOOLS, HEAD STARTS AND CHILD
CARE FACILITIES. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM, WE HAVE THREE FOSTER
GRANDPARENTS THAT COME INTO OUR CENTER ON A DAILY BASIS THAT WORK IN THE CLASSROOM.
THEY DO ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT THE TEACHERS DO WITH THE CHILDREN.
THEY ARE JUST A VERY CENTRAL PART TO OUR PROGRAM. THEY LOVE THEIR GRANDPARENTS.
A LOT OF -- GRANDMA SHIRLEY, A LOT OF THE CHILDREN HAVE GRANDMAS AT HOME, SO THEY RELATE
VERY WELL WITH HER. GRANDPA ROBERT, THE KIDS JUST LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER
ACTIVITY HE HAS PLANNED FOR THEM OR WHAT BOOK HE'S GOING TO READ WITH THEM.
AND GRANDMA SANEES JUST DOES EVERYTHING IN THE CLASSROOM. SHE IS JUST A VITAL PART TO OUR
PROGRAM. I WORK WITH THEM ON THEIR LETTERS, THE COLORS, WRITING
THEIR NAME, JUST A LOT OF FUN THINGS, WORKING WITH THE KIDS WITH THE PLAY DOUGH.
WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, I'M WORKING WITH THEM. A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING,
TRUTHFULLY. WE PLAY, READ BOOKS, SERVE A MEAL, JUST WHEREVER I'M NEEDED,
THAT'S WHERE I AM. IT'S A GREAT, GREAT FEELING AS A TEACHER, BECAUSE SOMETIMES
OUR WORKLOAD IS SO HEAVY SOMETIMES IT JUST HELPS SO MUCH TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO, YOU KNOW,
DO ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE KIDS. IF WE ASK HER TO DO ANYTHING, SHE'S UP FOR ANY TASK.
SHE'S AWESOME. WE LOVE HER. AND WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IS
THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS. WE DO ORIENTATION, TRAININGS TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER.
IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU VOLUNTEER 15 HOURS A WEEK. SO AS LITTLE AS 15 HOURS A WEEK,
AS MANY AS 40 HOURS A WEEK. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
I LOVE IT. IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO. YOU'RE GETTING UP EVERY DAY, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO. I JUST ENJOY BEING HERE, AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE. IT MAKES ME FEEL USEFUL. IT KEEPS ME YOUNG AND ACTIVE.
I'M JUST NOT READY TO SIT AT HOME YET. HAVING THE FOSTER
GRANDPARENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS AND BEING INVOLVED WITH US REALLY KEEPS THEM ENGAGED IN
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY OR GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOL. IT OPENS THE DOORS FOR THEM TO
HAVE SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM BUSY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH THE POPULATION THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY INTERACTIONS WITH.
SO IT JUST OPENS THE DOORS FOR BOTH POPULATIONS. I THINK THAT'S JUST A SENSE
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, OF ACHIEVEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE WORKED SEVERAL,
SEVERAL YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, AND NOW YOU GET TO GO OUT AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S TIME TO GO NOW, SO WAVE BYE-BYE. BYE-BYE.
THAT'S THE END OF OUR STORY TODAY. THIS SHOW IS NOT NEARLY LONG
ENOUGH FOR US TO SHARE ALL THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE METRO THAT ARE HELPING TO
CONNECT WILLING AND ABLE SENIORS WITH MEANINGFUL SECOND CREASE OR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, BUT, OF
COURSE, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IMAGINE KC DOT ORG WHERE WE'LL HAVE MORE
INFORMATION ON ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR IMAGINE KC.
Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com
IMAGINE KC THE GAUGE ENGAGE EPISODE IS -- THE AGE ENGAGE EPISODE, WITH LOCAL FUNDING