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Events, Conferences, and Program Offerings
The Older Learner Center offers adults 45 and older opportunities for life-long learning and life enrichment. These include a Computer Club; Senior Health Club, and Health Education Programming; Life History Club, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Educational Support Group; and Life Learning Network initiative. The Older Learner Center has produced Successful Aging, an award winning television program that is distributed nationally on video; administers a number of community-wide program initiatives including Senior Leadership Grand Rapids, and the Grand/Kent Community Consortium on Successful Aging; has a leadership/support role in the Kent County Caregiver Resource Network and Greater Grand Rapids End of Life Coalition; and sponsors public forums, conferences, trainings and events within the community on issues relating to an aging America.
Offerings Available in 2009:
The Older Learner Center (OLC) is currently involved in the planning and coordination of the following offerings for 2009. Please mark your calendar and continue to consult the OLC website over the coming months for additional information.
50+ WORKERS: MAKING AGE AN ASSET
Description:
Are you 50 years or older and underemployed or unemployed? If so, please consider attending a free Informational Forum featuring nationally recognized scholar, author, and speaker, Dr. Harry Moody, Executive Director of the AARP Office of Academic Affairs in Washington, D.C. Come meet a nationally recognized leader and learn how to make your age an asset in seeking employment. Also learn how to access career direction, job training/job-related skills, and community employment resources designed to help you to succeed in todays changing workplace.Agenda:
6:00pm to 6:30pm Registration, Networking, Information Tables
6:30pm to 7:30pm Keynote address by Dr. Harry Moody, AARP
7:30pm to 8:30pm Community Resource PanelThis is a free community event, but registration is limited, so be sure to register early. Click Here to Register Online. Or Click Here to download a brochure (.pdf).
SENIOR LEADERSHIP GRAND RAPIDS
Senior Leadership Grand Rapids is planning three special events for 2009:The first is a Community Resource & Senior Volunteer Fair featuring information on available community resources and leadership volunteer opportunities. This Fair will bring together, in one location, as many as 30 different community organizations. This is a great opportunity to learn about community resources and meaningful volunteer opportunities for area seniors.
When: Thursday, May 14, 2009 | 10:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Grand Rapids Public Library | Main Library – Ryerson Auditorium/Level 3 Atrium
Cost: Free (including refreshments and parking)
The second offering is a special program entitled “Recycling the Life Cycle: Civic Engagement in an Aging Society” featuring nationally recognized scholar, author, and speaker, Dr. Harry Moody, Executive Director of the AARP Office of Academic Affairs, Washington, D.C. Come meet a nationally recognized leader in civic engagement, and learn about some of the unique volunteer opportunities available within our community.
When: Thursday, September 24, 2009
1:00pm to 1:30pm – registration, refreshments, networking
1:30pm to 2:30pm – keynote address
2:30pm to 3:30pm – panel of community agency representativesWhere: Grand Rapids Public Library | Main Library – Ryerson Auditorium
Cost: Free (including refreshments and parking)
The third and final offering is a half-day workshop entitled “LIFE TRANSITIONS: Making the Right Choices” featuring career/life development expert Paul Phifer. During the past year or so, economic challenges can be said to be a key contributor that may, in part, explain why so many are currently experiencing significant life changes. The challenge becomes especially intense when one is at or near retirement, a time when transitions can, and often do occur frequently and without notice. This interactive seminar will pinpoint selected real-life transitions in an effort to expose participants to a sampling of realistic options that can result in making the right choices during times of turbulence.
When: Friday, October 30, 2009
8:30am to 9:00am – registration, networking, continental breakfast
9:00am to 12:00pm – interactive workshopWhere: Grand Rapids Community College | Applied Technology Center (First Floor Banquet Rooms 122/124) | 151 Fountain NE (free parking under the building – entrance off Ransom)
Cost: $35.00 (includes continental breakfast, materials, and parking – scholarships available to those in need)
The mission of Senior Leadership Grand Rapids is to develop and empower mature adults to assume leadership roles that contribute to the well-being of the community. For more information on Senior Leadership Grand Rapids or either of these events contact program director, Mike Faber at (616) 234-3483. Click Here to Register Online. Or Click Here to download a brochure (.pdf).
2009 SENIOR HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS
A number of Health Education programs are being offered to Kent County seniors (60+) by the Grand Rapids Community College Older Learner Center in 2009. These include a Senior Fitness Program designed to promote health by providing opportunities for fitness/wellness assessment and monitoring; aerobic and aquatic exercise; strength training, and increased personal fitness. A faster paced Strength and Stretch Class designed for seniors looking to strengthen and stretch their muscles. An Eat Better & Move More nutrition and physical activity program designed to help seniors to discover how easy it is to improve their health by making small changes in their diet and physical activity levels. A Senior Water Aerobics class offering a great cardiovascular and strength workout in water!These Health Education programs are being made available to Kent County seniors thanks to Kent County Senior Millage funding from the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. A suggested donation is requested for participation in these programs. Registration is limited, so be sure to register early. Click Here to Register Online. Or Click Here to download a brochure (.pdf).
LIFE HISTORY CLUB
Because everybody has a story, but sometimes we just need help telling it…Let us help you. Join the Grand Rapids Community College Life History Club. The Grand Rapids Community College Life History Club is for individuals 45 and over who wish to learn about and explore life review, family genealogy, and other avenues of sharing their personal life history. Club members have the opportunity to participate in peer led quarterly sessions that include the sharing of tools, techniques, and ideas on how to document your family history and share your unique life story with others; networking and opportunities to share with others who have similar interests in life history, genealogy and life review; opportunities to receive peer input, support, and advice regarding your life history/genealogy materials; and light refreshments. Life History Club sessions are held quarterly from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on the second Tuesday of January, April, July, and October of each year in the Grand Rapids Community College, Applied Technology Center. A $30.00 fee provides for twelve months/annual membership. For more information or to register contact Continuing Education at (616) 234-3400 or go to www.grcc.edu/continuingeducation . Click Here to Download a Flyer (.pdf)GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP"Are you raising your grandchild?" You are invited to join the …
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Educational Support Group
This program offers caregiving grandparents the opportunity to share common experiences; better understand their own needs and the needs of their grandchild(ren); locate resources; and gain valuable information from community professionals.Two locations and days to choose from:
Baxter Community Center
935 Baxter SE, Grand Rapids MI 49506
2nd Monday of each month 9:00am to 11:00am
or
Grand Rapids Community College Learning Corner @ Wealthy
1154 Wealthy SE, Grand Rapids MI 49503
2nd Tuesday of each month 9:00am to 11:00am
This educational program, offered without charge, is open to any grandparent, regardless of age, involved in helping to raise her/his grandchild(ren). For More information please call Mike Faber, program director, at (616) 234-3483.The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Educational Support Group is a joint partnership of the Grand Rapids Community College Older Learner Center and Learning Corner @ Wealthy, and Baxter Community Center with funding from the Older American’s Act Title IIIE administered by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. Click Here to download a brochure (.pdf).
COMPUTER CLUB
The Life Learning Network Computer Club, for persons 45 and older, provides opportunities for individual and peer learning, formal computer instruction, socialization, and most of all FUN.Membership in this club entitles participants to many additional perks and benefits including handouts and instructional materials, and a free annual luncheon banquet. The Computer Club meets on Friday afternoons from 1:00pm to 4:00pm in a second floor computer lab of the Applied Technology Center. Free parking is available to club members under the Applied Technology Center building. Handicapped parking is also available under the building, with easy access from the parking area to the elevators and on to the lab where club sessions are held.
Annual membership in the Computer Club is only $50.00. If you are interested in more information or wish to become a member please call Program Director, Mike Faber, at (616) 234-3483.SENIOR HEALTH CLUB
The Senior Health Club will promote health by providing opportunities for fitness/wellness assessment and monitoring; aerobic and aquatic exercise; strength training, increased personal fitness, socialization, and FUN. Each weekly session led by a Masters prepared Wellness Educator and Certified Personal Trainer will include the following:
- Facilitated fitness activity/exercise (45 minutes)
- Individual use of fitness equipment and facilities
- Individualized fitness/wellness testing, assessment, and monitoring (available to participants on a rotation basis)
- Note: Participants are given a GRCC Student ID entitling them to a variety of benefits including use of Fieldhouse facilities at other days and times of the week.
When: Friday Mornings 9:00am - 10:00am
Where: Grand Rapids Community College, Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse – Room 304Cost: This program is available to Kent County residents 60 and older for a suggested donation of $30.00 thanks to Title IIID Older American's Act funding administered by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. Program participation is limited to 25 persons. For more information or to register contact Continuing Education at (616) 234-3400 or go to www.grcclearn.com and then click on Older Learner Center.
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