• How do we open ourselves to inner work, exploring new avenues for individual growth and spiritual deepening...
  so that our longer lives become more meaningful lives?

• What calls us to work in the world? How do we find that “intersection between our own deep gladness and the world's deep hunger”²... so that our longer lives become wider lives?

• How do we gather companions for the journey? How do we create new communities — and new models OF community — for later life... so that our longer lives become richer and more satisfying lives?

 author of From Age-ing to Sage-ing, who will deliver a welcome via video recording.

Second Journey founder Bolton Anthony's varied career has included teaching English and creative writing to undergraduates and working as a public librarian, a university administrator, and a social change activist.

Geraldine (Dene) Peterson is the moving spirit behind ElderSpirit, a mixed-income elder co-housing community designed to foster mutual support and later life spirituality. Her tenacious efforts in creating this country's first elder cohousing community were recognized with a Purpose Prize in 2006.

A much-loved teacher at Elon University in North Carolina, philosopher John G. Sullivan was named its first Distinguished University Professor in 2002. He is the author of Living Large: Transformative Work at the Intersection of Ethics and Spirituality.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi is an internationally recognized sage who draws from many disciplines and cultures. Instrumental in inspiring the convergence of ecology, spirituality and religion, in recent years he has put special emphasis on “Sage-ing” as he calls it in his seminal book From Age-ing to Sage-ing.

During the afternoon one of two possible formats may be used:

The three presenters could each lead breakout sessions: John Sullivan will explore spirituality in later life; Dene Peterson's will focus on the challenge of creating an elder cohousing community; and Bolton Anthony will lead an interactive session on "How to Reimagine the World." 

Alternately, the afternoon could be devoted to progressive rounds of a World Café conversation, which will allow participants to explore their own thoughts and connect with colleagues with similar passions.

What is the World Café?

The World Café is an innovative yet simple conversational process for hosting conversations about questions that matter. These conversations link and build on each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important in their life, work, or community. As a process, the World Café can evoke and make visible the collective intelligence of any group, thus increasing people’s capacity for effective action in pursuit of common aims.

Who Should Attend?

●  conscious aging advocates & practitioners creating community around new models of aging, spiritual deepening, and care at the end of life;

●  educators, activists & healing arts professionals associated with a variety of teaching/learning centers;

●  architects, developers & smart-growth advocates committed to sustainable design, new “neighborhoods” with a sense of place, and revitalized urban space;

●  social entrepreneurs & other cultural creatives;

●  writers & visionaries; and

●  passionate elders.

What Outcomes Can You Expect?
 

●  the opportunity to interact with others who anticipate with zest the gifts that come with Elderhood;

●  the opportunity — in a setting where there are no “experts” AND all are experts — to have one’s own wisdom and life experience deeply valued;

●  the opportunity to learn about resources to support further work at the local level;

●  the opportunity to “talk shop” with architects and developers, with activists and practitioners, who are creating new model communities and new models OF community — and learn from their experience;

●  the opportunity to find colleagues with similar interests, to move from vision to action on new projects or rekindle enthusiasm for stalled ones; and finally,

●  the opportunity to be INSPIRED by the gathered energy within the group and by excitement for the Great Work to which we are all called in these emergent times.
 

Resources for Promoting the Seminar

Click here to access a page with resources for promoting the seminar, including posters, brochures, and flyers; a news release and an Op Ed Piece, announcements of various lengths for use in community calendars and church newsletters. From this page you may also download a PDF of the 27-page workbook distributed at the session.