Job satisfaction isn’t a typical state of mind for most U.S. workers, according to the The Conference Board’s 2015 Job Satisfaction survey. They found 48.3 percent of U.S. workers are satisfied with their jobs. While that is an increase of 0.6 percentage points from 2014, it still leaves the majority (51.7) of U.S. workers dissatisfied with their work.

If you’re over 50 and seeking a more satisfying work experience, you’re in good company, but you may face challenges many younger, job hopping workers may not see as obstacles. You could be worried your age will make it difficult to find a new position, or your salary requirements and family situation prevent you from taking risks that may or may not pay off in the long run.

How can you find that seemingly allusive job satisfaction? Take control and don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late to do something you enjoy in an organization that appreciates you. Despite perceived (or real) challenges, you can take steps to drive your own career bus, no matter what your age.

Determine What’s Making You Unhappy

What, specifically, do you not enjoy about your current job? Is it the work itself, the people or the company? What would need to change to help you feel more satisfied at work. Once you understand the problem, it’s a lot easier to search for a solution. Discuss your findings with a trusted advisor or friend. Is it possible for you to make a change to improve the current situation? Is there anything in your control that you can change? For example, if you’d like more flexibility, is it reasonable to assume you can get it? If your boss is the problem, can you negotiate a transfer to a different department? If there’s nothing redeeming about your job, start thinking about an exit strategy, but if there’s something specific that can make your current situation better, you’ll want to look there, first.

Would You Be Happier Working on A New Challenge?

If you’ve been doing the same job for a long time, you may be bored with your work. Do you really need a new job to get excited about work again? Perhaps, but if that isn’t your first choice, think about how you can make the most of your existing situation. Can you volunteer for a new project? Maybe you can suggest a new initiative and offer to head it up. Or, maybe there’s an interesting committee you might want to join? Find something that engages you and taps into your interests and you could be able to find job satisfaction right where you are.

Take a Class

Learning something new has the potential to help in two ways. New skills may get you excited about what you’re doing. Maybe you can learn how to do something you’ve always done in a new way. Simultaneously, your training may help qualify you for a new position. It could be your ticket to job satisfaction that has eluded you thus far.

Plan Your Exit Strategy

Maybe there’s nothing redeeming about your job, and leaving is the only way to achieve job satisfaction. Don’t convince yourself that your age prevents you from landing a new job. Age discrimination isn’t a myth, but it’s not something you can’t overcome. Update your resume so it’s modern and targeted. If youâ€re worried about age discrimination, donâ€t start your resume with, “Over 25 years of experience in ______.” Do not try to hide your age via a “functional” resume that mashes up your skills without detailing when and where you gained them. Focus on your most recent and relevant 10 years of work history and make a strong case for your candidacy.

Embrace Technology

Use social media to demonstrate your expertise and to connect with people who might be able to share useful information or introductions. Prepare to participate in a video interview, and make sure you’re tuned into what skills your targeted employers are seeking. They likely want to know you’re flexible and able to learn new things. However, they’re probably  even more interested in what you already know. Your years of experience are an asset, not a liability. Make sure you market your accomplishments correctly, and it will be easier to overcome potential objections due to your age.

Be Positive

It it easy to make a change, or to follow your dreams to a new position? No. Is it possible? Of course! It’s just a matter of how much work, time and effort you’re willing to put in. Don’t let negativity prevent you from moving on. Use your energy to identify and emphasize your unique value proposition. Be able to answer the question, “What makes you more qualified than anyone else for the targeted job?”

You are the only one who can make the change you deserve in your career. Don’t delay. Take steps toward career and job success and you won’t be sorry.

Todayâ€s post is in honor of Job Action Day,  a day for all job-seekers and workers to take stock of their situations and make plans and/or take action steps to improve their careers. Many of my colleagues are sharing ideas about how to find job satisfaction over 50. Iâ€m delighted to be invited to contribute and to suggest you visit other posts about the topic. 

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A 2011 national Harris Interactive study conducted on behalf of Mom Corps  found that 42 percent of working adults were willing to give up some percent of their salary in exchange for more flexible work options.

In honor of National Telework Week, I tapped Allison Oâ€Kelly, founder/CEO of Mom Corps, a national flexible staffing firm dedicated to connecting progressive employers with professionals seeking flexible work and Cali Williams Yost, CEO of the Flex+Strategy Group / Work+Life Fit Inc. and author of Work+Life: Finding the Fit Thatâ€s Right for You for 10 tips to help you identify and land a flexible job:

1. Decide what flexibility means for you.

2. Focus on your skills. What do you offer?

3. Specialize. Identify several specialty areas in your skills and accomplishments.

4. Research organizations and learn where youâ€re likely to be most successful and happy. Yost suggests investigating the 2012 Guide to Bold New Ideas for Making Work Work, by Families and Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management, Working Motherâ€s Top Employers list and The Flex Pages. You may also want to investigate organizations dedicated to helping people find flexible work, such as Mom Corps. If you are planning to re-enter the workforce after taking time off, another resource is iRelaunch.

5. Plan ahead; be realistic. Donâ€t try to fit a square peg in a round hole.

6. Know the right questions to ask – and what answers mean.

7. Be open to temporary positions.

8. Prepare to use technology. “Video will make remote work more personal.” 

9. Prepare your workspace. What if you land the perfect flexible arrangement tomorrow? Are you ready to start work right away – from your own home office, a co-working space or another site you arrange?

10. Donâ€t sell yourself short. Even in this economy, itâ€s still possible to land flexible work opportunities. In fact, a  Flexpaths – LinkedIn Virtual Think Tanks study attests that hiring managers believe flexible work arrangements are important if they want to stay competitive for top employees.

Read all the details and advice at my U.S. News & World Report piece.

photo by Pulpolux !!!

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This post originally appeared on Salary.com, where I am a contributing writer.

photo by terren in Virginia

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Zimmerman quotes David D. Corbett, founder of New Directions, a Boston firm that helps senior-level executives with career transitions saying, “People retiring lose their job and title, which are often tied up with their identity,” says . “It can also be isolating for many, not having work colleagues or a corporate infrastructure.” The article references Gary J. Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, who explains, “Traditional retirement may lead to a lack of intellectual engagement, which is crucial for good health…If you think of the brain as a computer, physical and mental activity are essentially upgrading its hardware and programming,” Dr. Kennedy explains, if we donâ€t stay engaged, cognitive processes slow down and depression often sets in.

Most people would want to avoid those unsavory fates. What can you do?

Marc Freedman, author of “The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife” and chief executive of Civic Ventures suggests planning ahead for a transition as early as your 50s. He recommends putting aside money to pay for additional education and to be prepared to take on unpaid work experiences to get the skills you need to land a new opportunity.

What else can you consider if you know you don’t want to relax and play golf?

This week, I’ve been suggesting ideas for people who want to plan a change, especially to an “encore career,” or a job combining purpose, passion and a paycheck. Have you considered transitioning to a non-profit career?

Think about Your Skills and How to Use Them

Laura Gassner Otting, author of Change Your Career, Transitioning to the Non-Profit Sector, and founder and president of Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, an executive search firm helping identify candidates for the non-profit sector, is an experienced authority on hiring in the “mission-driven” space.  Her advice is useful for people considering an encore career, or for anyone thinking of making a change to meaningful work.

Laura offered the following advice to professionals hoping to transition to non-profit sector work:

•    Non-profits are looking for people who have a strong track record of leadership and the ability to influence their constituencies. She explained, non-profit leaders manage, “Up, down, and sideways.” They need to work with partners, funders, and friends in the community and manage those relationships well, even though most of these people are not their direct reports.

•    Itâ€s important to be able to show youâ€re able to keep people motivated and engaged. Non-profits seek employees who are good at delegating with kindness and empathy, while simultaneously demanding accountability. Recognize that people volunteer and serve with non-profit groups for different reasons. Strong leaders know how to bring out the best in everyone and how to leverage all available talents.

•    Demonstrating your ability to manage across a broad portfolio of responsibility is key to success in non-profit leadership. There are typically less people handling more jobs in non-profit organizations. For example, one person may be handling public relations and fundraising under an “external relations manager” title. Knowing how to encourage people managing a lot of responsibility is crucial.

•    Being able to show an impressive record of delivering a solid return on investment is not only for the “for-profit” community. Demonstrating a background showing how you can move the organizationâ€s mission forward is more and more important as non-profit organizations are attracting donors who see their roles as that of investors, not just check writers.

•    One thing that has not changed in non-profit hiring: They still expect people who bring a passionate interest in their work and mission. Itâ€s not good enough to say you want to “give back,” you need to demonstrate a track record of interest and engagement in the organizationâ€s work. Laura explains, “Your passion and commitment for the organization and cause is the thing that sets you apart from other candidates.” She suggests joining boards and getting involved by volunteering for the organization or other, similar non-profits serving the same community.

She notes, “Working for a non-profit is like starting a marathon. You have to be committed long-term, even when the finish line is out of sight.  The need of those served can be seemingly endless, and you will have to do more for them with less, while still satisfying your many, varied constituents. A track record of dedication to the cause or constituency demonstrates an authentic commitment, and this commitment shows your future nonprofit employer that you will take their marathon seriously.”

Laura suggests anyone with an interest in making a switch to non-profit work get active now in the causes that interest them. She reminds candidates, the non-profit world is a very large sector, and suggests you think about where you want to work by answering these questions:

•    What issues do you care about?

•    What are the appropriate skills you have to help transition into the sector? (E.g., legal, sales, financial management). Whatâ€s missing from your skills? Consider taking a course to fill in any gaps in your background.

•    What type of organization will help you thrive? Do you prefer working for an organization thatâ€s slow and steady? A fast-growing group? Maybe youâ€d love working with a startup, or working directly for a founder?

Once youâ€ve identified your skills and made a match, youâ€ll be ready to approach the non-profit market from a position of strength.

Be sure to read more tips from my previous posts.

photo by SHINEZ Photo

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As mentioned in my last post, Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, reports 9 million people ages 44 to 70 are already in encore careers (careers AFTER doing something else for a number of years — or their whole lives) that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact. Another 31 million people, ages 44 to 70, are interested in finding encore careers.

What about you? Are you thinking about what is next? The best advice — for anyone thinking about  a career change or shift, is to plan ahead. Ruth Wooden board chair of Civic Ventures and former president of Public Agenda, where she is now a senior adviser, offered ideas about how people (especially those of typical retirement age) may take the next, logical steps in their lives and careers.

She explained how a lot of people who want to engage in purposeful work, or to “give back,” default to starting their own ventures, because there are so many obstacles: age discrimination, learning how to make a transition after years of doing the same thing and just not having access to clear resources to decide how to fit into an existing organization.

Ruth noted, “This movement is about trying to find other pathways for these motivated professionals – pathways that are not necessarily entrepreneurial, since not everyone wants to go that route.” She noted that community colleges offering continuing education programs can be a wonderful entreé for someone who wants to make a career shift to an encore career. For example, in less than a year, many will be able to earn certificates for practical, worthwhile jobs in healthcare and the medical field, or even in education or teaching English as a second language.

What can you do now if you are planning your next step?

Ruth says, “If you have a vision that someday you are going to want to be working in social purpose, start thinking now about it being something you care about. Where do you give money, where do you volunteer – cultivate those aspects of your life now. Even if right now, your involvement is as simple as writing a check for an organization you are passionate about – do it. If possible, volunteer – find your way into the field. Distinguish yourself as different from anyone else based on the skills you know you want to use in your next career and because of your strong interest in the new field. Be on a board, if possible. Consider how you can help out at your church or local school. If youâ€re interested in education, educate yourself – work in after-school programs, or volunteer to help out at a nearby school. If you are interested in that kind of thing, you are going to have to get going.”

How to Get Going

No doubt, there’s no time like RIGHT NOW to start thinking about tomorrow. Do you have a new year’s resolution to make a change? Maybe your resolution is to start THINKING about your change?

With the right information and a planned approach, it is possible someone with corporate experience to transition to a job with one of the over 1.5 million non-profit organizations in the U.S. Youâ€ll want to plan and plot out your future moves in advance.

Marci Alboher is a vice president at Civic Ventures, An expert on career transitions and workplace trends, she is author of One Person/Multiple Careers. She also coined the term “slasher career” to refer to people who canâ€t answer the question “What do you do?” with a single word or phrase.

Marci offers the following suggestions, insights and resources to help you shift to a non-profit career:

Become a “slasher.” (e.g. sales rep/literacy mentor). This could play out in two ways. Slashing can help you transition from your current field into a non-profit job. If thatâ€s your target, Alboher suggests you hold onto your day job while you dip into the nonprofit world on the side (using the suggestions below). By taking the slash approach, youâ€ll be able to continue earning a living and simultaneously build skills and relationships to help you transition to the non-profit sector.

On the other hand, you may wish to create a permanent “slash” career, where you have one foot each planted in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Either way, follow the advice below and carefully carve out time for each of the sides of your “slash.”

Volunteer in organizations where you have a strong interest and you can create real impact. Donâ€t just set aside a few days a year to work with Habitat for Humanity, for example. Incorporate high-level volunteer work and make a real effort to be involved in substantive projects that expose you to the field and introduce you to people doing the kind of work you want to do for a living.

Consult. Take on a consulting project for a nonprofit as a way to showcase your skills. If you choose to work for free, make sure youâ€re building relationships, knowledge, or something else to help you as you try to find a paying job. Non-profits appreciate and seek employees who are passionate about their missions, so it makes sense to identify issues and organizations you may want to work with for the long term.

Meet people. Leverage your social networks to help. Consider using Branchout or BeKnown (Facebook applications) or SimplyHired.comâ€s application to help you learn where your Facebook friends work. Add your volunteer interests and work experience to LinkedIn via the “add sections” tab when you update your profile. Search on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for groups and people either working for or actively involved in non-profits that interest you.

Get involved in your target sector. Go to conferences or panel discussions. Look for Twitter “chats” about your interest area. Reach out on Facebook and LinkedIn to your friends. Update your Facebook status to let people know when and where you are volunteering. Share information and news about your favorite non-profit organizations and causes via your social media platforms. Subscribe to LinkedInâ€s newsfeed on nonprofit news. If youâ€re a good writer, consider authoring a blog highlighting those interests.

Show up. Once you identify organizations that interest you, go to their events and attend to conferences where you might be able to meet people who work in those organizations.

Dig in. Keep up-to-date on whatâ€s happening in your field. Use social media to identify leaders in the fields that interest you and follow them. In addition to exploring Encore.org, she suggests the following resources for non-profit career job seekers:

•    Job search: Idealist.org and Commongoodcareers.org

•    News in the non-profit sector: Dowser.org, Good Magazine, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

•    Volunteering: VolunteerMatch.org, catchafire.org, AllForGood.org, Idealist.org

Stay tuned for more advice about shifting to a non-profit job — no matter what stage career you are in!

(And, if you’re thinking about making a change — consider a gift for yourself or someone you love — some coaching to get you where you want to go! Once you know what you want to do, I can teach you what steps to take so you don’t have to go it alone!)

If you are in the Atlanta, area, get a taste of my expert advice about social media. I’ll be presenting at the Kennesaw State Universityâ€s College of Continuing and Professional Education for their Career Training Expo. The event, which will be January 12 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the KSU Center, is free and open to the public. To register, call 770-423-6765.

Stay tuned for even more advice about transitioning to the non-profit sector.

photo by orangeacid

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Today, thanks, in part, to an organization called Civic Ventures (a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose) many people of traditional retirement age are asking themselves what is next for them. If you broaden the traditional view of “superhero” to include work related to helping people, maybe it’s not such a bad goal! As reported in an earlier post, research from Civic Ventures shows that as many as 9 million people ages 44 to 70 are already in encore careers that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact. Thatâ€s up from an estimated 8.4 million in 2008. Another 31 million people, ages 44 to 70, are interested in finding encore careers. Together, those currently in encore careers and those interested in encore careers represent 40 percent – or two in five – of all Americans ages 44 to 70.

Earlier this month, I was honored to attend Civic Ventures’ conference: Encore 2011: Shaping the Future of the Encore Movement. We discussed what might be next for people thinking of encore careers and how to help advance a movement where encore careerists would find opportunities in a variety of fields and industries.

Ruth Wooden board chair of Civic Ventures and former president of Public Agenda, where she is now a senior adviser, shared thoughts about the encore movement. These are some of her comments:

The encore movement is way more than an encore career.  Itâ€s a state of mind that says “I am not finished yet.  Iâ€ll live every last minute with joy, hope and a deep spiritual connection to the world.”

The encore movement is people who believe passionately that we can do way better by our country, our communities and our neighbors.

The encore movement is a time in our lives when we can live with less fear of failure and more freedom to serve–with no expectation of any return of any kind.

The encore movement is designed to overcome common enemies–age discrimination, inertia, perpetual childish leisure, and outdated notions of what we can and cannot do.

The encore movement is about new role models and we each get to be one of the first.  Iâ€ve heard the saying “If you are not a beautiful example, then you are likely to be an ugly warning.”

The encore movement is giving me social permission to live older better and Iâ€ll be giving social permission to others to do the same.

The encore movement is about fixing things in our society that are broken.  That makes us just a little bit crazy enough to try something new and different–something small at first but staying everlasting at it.

The encore movement is not about what I should do, but what I feel called to do.

The encore movement is about one cutting edge corporation leading the way, giving corporate permission to others to get on board — or risk losing good younger employees to companies that do offer encore programs to all their employees.

The encore movement is about making commitments, taking action and coming back next year to report on progress.

The encore movement is about transforming employer attitudes, including nonprofit and public sector organizations so they will have to compete in the future to get the best encore talent.

The encore movement is about entrepreneurial investors, backing a big idea for scaling up new transition pathways for boomers — on line and one-to-one.

Do these remarks resonate with you? You donâ€t need to be in the “second half of life” to be thinking about how to create an environment where experienced workers would be able to assume and expect their skills and experiences would be valued in a wide array of work places. Might you be a member of the “Encore Movement?” Are you wondering what is next for you, your friends — or maybe for your parents? Have you thought about how you may want to get involved with work combining, “purpose, passion and a paycheck?” Stay tuned for more information and advice about how to make those goals come true!

photo from frogDNA

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I don’t usually post press releases on this blog, but I thought this information was good enough to share!  I am on my way to San Francisco to attend and report on Civic Ventures’ Purpose Prize awards and conference, so stay tuned for additional information and advice regarding having an encore career, “combining purpose, passion and a paycheck.” (Follow along on Twitter via the hashtag #Encore2011.)

If you’re interested in some help learning how to make a career change — of any type (at any age) — contact me!

SAN FRANCISCO – New research from Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, shows that as many as 9 million people ages 44 to 70 are already in encore careers that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact. Thatâ€s up from an estimated 8.4 million in 2008.

Another 31 million people, ages 44 to 70, are interested in finding encore careers. Together, those currently in encore careers and those interested in encore careers represent 40 percent – or two in five – of all Americans ages 44 to 70.

“The survey provides new evidence that what many people want from work changes after midlife,” said Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Civic Ventures and author of The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife. “In the new, encore stage of life between midlife and true old age, many want work that has deeper personal meaning and that connects them to something larger than themselves.”

The new study, Encore Career Choices: Purpose, Passion and a Paycheck in a Tough Economy, was funded by MetLife Foundation and conducted by Penn Schoen Berland.

Survey results do show tempered expectations in light of the current economy – as well as a kind of resilience and an unwillingness to give up on efforts to create a better world for future generations.

A few key statistics:

• Competing visions. Nearly two in three people (64 percent) see the next stage of life as a time to keep working, with nearly equal numbers saying itâ€s a time to use their skills and experiences to help others in paid or volunteer positions (31 percent) versus a time to simply cover expenses and maintain health insurance (33 percent).

• Tough time for a change. Half of Americans between the ages of 44 and 70 (51 percent) say they are very concerned that the state of the economy makes this a difficult time to make a change to an encore career. Still, one in four (27 percent) of those interested in encore careers say they are very likely to make the switch in the next five years.

• Longer working lives. The online portion of the research suggests the impact of encore careers on longer working lives could be dramatic. Those currently in encore careers expect to work to 69.1 years on average and those interested in encore careers expect to work nearly as long, to 68.6 – for both groups, 3 ½ years longer than they thought three years ago.

• Concern about future generations. Contrary to stereotypes about boomers, concern about future generations is high. Nearly three in four respondents (73 percent) expect that children in the U.S. will grow up to be worse off than people are now. Nearly as many (70 percent) say it is very important to them personally to leave the world a better place.

• Intensity of interest. One in four of all respondents (25 percent) rate their interest in encore careers at eight or higher on a 10-point scale in 2011, down from one in three (34 percent) in the 2008 Encore Career Survey, also released by MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures. Yet a majority of those who remain very interested (62 percent) state that their interest has grown in the past three years.

• A choice for all income groups. There is little difference in economic circumstances between those who are interested in encore careers and those who are not. Both groups have median incomes of $45,000 to $59,999 per year. About half of both groups report household assets of less than $150,000, and roughly one-third in both groups say their assets do not exceed $50,000.

• Hours in encores. Those in encore careers now perform an estimated 16.7 billion hours of labor each year in education, health care, government and nonprofit organizations.

“We are beginning to see the years beyond midlife – the encore stage of life – as a time for new, purposeful work that would improve the quality of life for people of all ages and in communities across the country,” said Dennis White, President and CEO of MetLife Foundation.

“The tens of millions who are interested in encore careers want some level of financial security and the opportunity to work for the greater good,” said Freedman. “As a society, we need to do more to help them achieve both goals. When we do, we will tap into a huge new source of talent to help solve our greatest social problems.”

Last week, Intel announced it would do its part to help thousands of its retirees prepare for encore careers. The company said it will offer all U.S. employees who are eligible to retire the chance to apply for Encore Fellowships – paid, part-time, yearlong assignments working at local nonprofits. (For more information, go to www.encore.org/fellowships.)

For the full Encore Careers Choices research report, go to www.encore.org/research.

How the research was conducted

The research for this report consists of a nationally representative telephone survey of 930 Americans ages 44 to 70 and a follow-up online survey of 1,408 Americans ages 44 to 70 in or expressing interest in encore careers.

Encore Career Choices: Purpose, Passion and a Paycheck in a Tough Economy is the second in a series of three Civic Ventures reports funded by MetLife Foundation and based on research conducted by Penn Schoen Berland from June to October 2011.

The first report, Encore Entrepreneurs: Creating Jobs, Meeting Needs, based on an online survey of 400 potential entrepreneurs ages 44 to 70, was released on November 8, 2011. The third report, which will focus on transitions to encore careers, will be published in 2012.

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For suggestions about how Baby Boomers can change careers, follow this link!

photo borrowed from http://www.encore.org/

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Changing careers is more a norm today than ever before. However, higher than normal unemployment means there are many more job-seekers applying for each job, and many have exactly the type of skills the employer is seeking. Career changers of all ages have a difficult time proving that they have what it takes to succeed in their targeted positions. Social media can help bridge the gap, as it may help you:

• Find information and trends in your targeted field
• Access experts and potential mentors
• Connect with recruiters and learn about positions

If you think social networking is having a conversation across the picket fence, LinkedIn is the latest video game, Twitter is something that birds or gossips do, and you don’t know a blog from a log, it will be difficult to be an attractive candidate for a job — no matter what your age. It’s not only important to know about these resources, it’s crucial to know how to leverage them for a successful job hunt. Social networking is a relevant and mandatory part of an active, engaged job search — especially for someone attempting to change careers. For baby boomers, using these tools helps demonstrate you are interested in and willing to learn new skills.

Read my colleagues’ replies.

photo by MyDigitalSLR

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Civic Ventures, which awards The Purpose Prize, is a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. The organization introduced the concept of encore careers, which combine meaning, continued income and social impact. They provide  social entrepreneurs over 60 $100,000 each for using their experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on some of society’s biggest challenges. Now in its sixth year, the $17 million program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Learn more about this winner below!

Edward Mazria (pictured), 70, Architecture 2030, Santa Fe, NM

An award-winning architect in Santa Fe, Mazria had a 40-year record of innovation and advocacy in sustainable building. But even he was surprised when in 2002 his analysis of U.S. government data revealed that the building sector consumes approximately half of all energy production and causes about half of all greenhouse gas emissions each year. In 2003, Mazria founded Architecture 2030 to change those practices. The group issued the 2030 Challenge – a set of benchmarks for reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment (buildings, homes and other man-made structures) to “carbon neutral” by 2030. The American Institute of Architects, U.S. Conference of Mayors, U.S. Green Building Council and National Governors Association immediately adopted the challenge. Legislation followed. Mazria will soon release the 2030 Palette, a global set of comprehensive guiding principles, which will be translated into multiple languages for application internationally.

photo and video courtesy of Civic Ventures

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Civic Ventures, which awards The Purpose Prize, is a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. The organization introduced the concept of encore careers, which combine meaning, continued income and social impact. They provide  social entrepreneurs over 60 $100,000 each for using their experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on some of society’s biggest challenges. Now in its sixth year, the $17 million program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Learn about this winner below!

Wanjiru Kamau (pictured), 69, African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation, Washington, D.C.

When Kamau, a former Penn State University administrator and adjunct professor, met survivors from the Rwandan genocide, she saw that some were illiterate and bewildered by modern city life. Seeing them took her back to her own childhood in rural Kenya, growing up without running water or electricity, and carrying loads on her back that left her permanently scarred. An expert in mental health and intercultural communication, she had the credentials to help. So in 2000 she decided to quit her job, withdraw $10,000 from her retirement account and move to Washington, D.C., home to many African immigrants, to start the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation. The organization has since provided services – including mentoring, tutoring, assistance with human trafficking and domestic violence cases, and mental health care – to more than 6,000 immigrants from 45 countries.

Read about prize winner Nancy Sanford Hughs

Read about prize winner Randal Charlton

Read about prize winner Jenny Bowen

photo and video courtesy of Civic Ventures

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