As we come to the close of 2018, it is a great time to step back and review our accomplishments for this year. We are beginning our 6th year and we continue to focus on three overall strategies:
- CREATING PATHWAYS TO PURPOSE
- ELEVATING THE ENCORE IDEA
- CONNECTING OLDER ADULTS TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY
This year has been a year of taking our mission and overall strategies to a whole new level with ground breaking new models and a larger reach!
Project in Sun City Center (see earlier newsletters that provide an overview of the grant.)
The grant’s major focus was to revitalize civic engagement in Sun City Center (with over 20,000 adults 55 and over) and to mobilize older adults to improve the lives of children in South Hillsborough County. In June we launched “Sun City Center Connects” as a grass roots campaign with more than 45 residents (including the major leaders of the Community), ready to jump in to build and execute the following goals :
- Inspire residents to get involved, connected and engaged in their community continuing the long-held culture of “Neighbor Helping Neighbor”.
- Secured a regular monthly article dedicated to our campaign goals.
- Secured a regular monthly local radio show- featuring heartwarming volunteer stories and opportunities to get involved.
- Established regular Sun City Center Connects meetings to continue to strengthen and innovate ways to accomplish our goal. (including logo and message playbook)
- Connect Residents to the many opportunities to get active and involved.
- Created a new Sun City Center Connects Website page on SCC website.
- Participated in over 7 other major local events to recruit older adults.
- Work with three critical volunteer driven groups that provide critical services to SCC residents.
- Strengthened capacity and provided tools for these groups to more effectively recruit and engage volunteers for their organizations- new language, revised marketing materials and new strategies to increase presence and value to the community.
Many thanks to our funder, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay (South Shore Council) and our wonderful partner for this grant, Seniors in Service (Tammy Criollo and Robin Ingles) that helped to make this all become a reality!
Generation to Generation Tampa Bay
We continue to be one of 15 local community innovation sites for the National Generation to Generation Campaign (led by Encore.org).
We worked directly with five Youth Serving Organizations that provide after school programs and mentors in the South Hillsborough County area (Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Hope Fund, PCAT- Wimauma, PCAT-Ruskin)
- Hosted 4 recruiting events in the Sun City Center area, which included three “Movies and Mentors Watch Parties”, and a back to school recruiting luncheon.
- Engaged with more than 85 older adults ready to learn more and connect with these youth serving organizations.
- Provided recruiting tools and tips that were developed by National Gen2Gen.
Connecting Encore Talent to the Community
- We continue to offer Encore Opportunity job and volunteer postings on our website. There have been many postings for volunteer, board member and paid opportunities!
- We hosted another extremely successful Non-Profit Showcase Event with over 90 older adults and 40 non profits eager to engage with their prospective volunteers or employees!
Encore Engage
In May we launched a new initiative “Encore Engage” which provides our target audience (mid life adults) an opportunity to socially connect and network with like-minded individuals that are also making the transition into this next chapter of life!
- We held three Encore Engage events at The Imagine Museum, The James Museum and Tampa’s Powerstories Theater!
- Established a strong steering committee that will be planning new opportunities to ENGAGE in 2019!!
Elevating the Encore Idea
- We continue to provide a robust website, blogs, newsletter and social media efforts, along with community presentations and media appearances. (We have a new array of topics for community presentations!- Please contact Bevan if you would like to have us present to your group!)
Expanding our reach:
- BayCare- ENCORE Employee Retirement Transition Pilot program. In April and September kicked off a pilot workshop for BayCare Employees approaching retirement.
- Age Friendly Communities- St. Petersburg. – participated with AARP and local leaders on achieving the Age Friendly Designation.
- Florida Civic Advance- Intergenerational Civic Engagement (one of 8 Civic Practice Areas) – Participated with a group of state wide leaders to identify and bolster Intergenerational efforts across the state.
- National Encore Network– Worked with 8 national Encore leaders to create a Nationwide Membership Network that connects Encore leaders who are focused on building the encore movement in their local communities. In the last year the Network has grown to 125 members across the country and 13 international locations!
All of these efforts would not be possible without the amazing partners and individuals who are helping us to continue to build an encore community in Tampa Bay. I am excited about what the future holds- including some new groundbreaking efforts!! (stay tuned)
We wish all of you a very happy holiday season!!
Bevan