ASA - American Society on Aging

ASA's Civic Engagement Program

A program supported by

New Ventures in Leadership (NVL), American Society on Aging’s flagship program on diversity
Now in its 15th year, announces

Call for New Applicants to the 2009-2010 NVL Program

NVL is a nationally acclaimed innovative one-year training program aimed at preparing mid-career professionals from communities of color for leadership roles in aging-related services, business, research and policymaking at the national level. Participants, called NVL partners, take part in three intensive week-long educational seminars and develop a year-long project benefitting elders of color in their communities with local and national mentors who are respected leaders in the field of aging.

For the class of 2009-2010, NVL has been genereously supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies by providing 3 scholarships for individuals for NVL Partners who are interested in pursuing leadership in the specific topic area of civic engagement.

For full details about NVL -- or to apply for the program visit: http://www.asaging.org/NVL
Deadline December 1st, 2008
For additional information, contact Christabel Cheung, ASA Director of Diversity
email: ccheung@asaging.org telephone: (415) 974 9600

New Ventures in Leadership (NVL) Partners in Civic Engagement

ASA is dedicated to incorporating civic engagement as a core theme within its diversity efforts and the New Ventures in Leadership program (NVL) program by featuring a specialized group of NVL partners who are focused on civic engagement activities. NVL parnters are sponsored by The Atlantic Philanthropies.

New Ventures in Leadership (NVL) is a 15-year old program within ASA that focuses on developing the leadership skills of professionals of color in the field of aging. The program encompasses specialized training sessions, a project and work with two mentors over the course of a year. The year-long program is composed of three components: educational seminars, mentoring, and special projects. Partners develop a special project and are paired with two mentors, one local and one national, who assist them with their professional development and provide access to networks of leaders in the field of aging.

In the 2007-2008 NVL class year, the following NVL partners developed projects that address civic engagement and older adults:

Jean Clauny Accius

Research Analyst
AARP Public Policy Institute

Project: Social Agents in Aging

"The goal of the project is to increase the awareness of the policy issues surrounding Social Security and Medicare among elders of color by creating social agents to become more engaged in t he policy debates. "

Sharon Dukes

Director
National Indian Council on Aging

Project: When Retirement is Not an Option

"The project aims to review the current employment structures that support senior employment, to evaluate teh strengths and weaknesses of these systems, to explore ways to build onto system strenghts to meet the ever-increasing need to accomodate seniors in the workplace. "

Mauricio Felix

Community Operations Manager
Mercy Housing

Project:Seniors with Multi-Ethnic Backgrounds Engag on Immigration Reform

"The goal is to empower seniors from minority groups, especially first generation immigrants, to make their voices be heard."

Yukie Ogawa-Testa

Community Operations Manager
Mercy Services Corporation, Monsignor Lyne Community

Project: Creative Aging Our Healthy Communities, Our Future – “Seniors in Motion”

"The project aims to create an inviting enviornment that is a way of life specifically designed for seniors with Ballroom Dance as the vehicle. "

Allecia Ratliff

Planner
Tulsa Area Agency On Aging

Project: A Voice for our Grandchildren

"The goal of the project is to empower grandparents with tools needed to act as resources for other grandparents, policymakers, and community leaders "

Click here to learn about the 2006-2007 NVL Partners in Civic Engagement Selection criteria of NVL partners for the Civic Engagement program requires that each partner is involved with civic engagement-type programming, and both their local and national mentors have a strong base of experience in civic engagement.. Selected NVL partners develop a civic engagement-related project that develops knowledge, skills and experience in civic engagement programming in their own communities as their special project within the NVL program. Partners report their findings at the end of the year-long program. The goal of civic engagement is to impact various community organizations through the work of promising and emerging community leaders such as NVL partners.

For more information on becoming an NVL partner, click here.

To apply to the NVL program, click here.