New Program to Discover Innovative Ways Community Colleges
Can Help Boomers Prepare for Second Careers With Purpose

SAN FRANCISCO—Civic Ventures (civicventures.org), a think tank and program incubator helping society achieve the greatest return on experience, today announced a new partnership with MetLife Foundation to explore how community colleges can help those in the second half of life pursue new careers for the greater good. With funding from MetLife Foundation, Civic Ventures will provide up to 10 grants of $25,000 each to community colleges developing innovative ways to prepare boomers for careers in education, health care, social services, and other similar fields.

In 2005, MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures conducted the first national survey asking Americans in their 50s and 60s what types of work they aspired to in the second half of life. Half of those polled expressed interest in jobs to help improve the quality of life in their communities, but a majority also said that finding such employment would not be easy.

“We know that most Americans will need to work in the time of life that used to be called retirement. But how will they hone their skills and find opportunities that match their desire to work for the greater good?” asked Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Civic Ventures and author of Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life (PublicAffairs Books, June 2007). “Community colleges can provide a critical service, preparing boomers for work they want in the nonprofit, service sectors that need them.”

In coming months, Civic Ventures will

• Issue a report about the potential for community colleges to help meet critical education and workforce needs;
• Publicize the availability of the grants and select participants;
• Promote successful projects and report their findings; and
• Encourage community colleges nationwide to establish and expand efforts to prepare boomers for purpose-driven jobs.

“Even though baby boomers are more educated than any group of adults ever to pass through their 50s, they will need to refresh, retool, and gain new skills to prepare for the jobs large numbers of them want, so they can make a difference in their communities,” said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “By boosting credentials, increasing skills, and enhancing the overall employability of boomers, community colleges can add to the appeal of the over-50 population for social and public sector employers who need their talent and passion.” 

To read the full request for proposals and apply for a one-year grant, go to www.civicventures.org/communitycolleges. Applications are due on May 1, 2007. Civic Ventures will announce the grant winners in June, 2007.

Civic Ventures (www.CivicVentures.org) is a think tank and program incubator, working to help society achieve the greatest return on experience. MetLife Foundation (www.MetLife.org) was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants support education, health, civic, and cultural programs, with a focus on addressing shifting U.S. demographics, including the growing number of older adults in America.