European Commission - sponsored
“SUSDIV” Network

"Sustainable Development in a Diverse World" (SUS.DIV) is a network of European scholars and practitioners with whom I've been associated for about five.  The current series of workshops and research initiatives that I've joined, along with University of Illinois Chicago's College of Urban Policy and Planning, is working on Ethnic Entrepreneurship - what makes it work and how to encourage, sustain and grow it.  This has led to  participation in UIC's upcoming international urban planning conference, Bridging the Divide and Celebrating the City, July 6-11, 2008 in Chicago.

I remain on the Executive Committee of The Global Chicago Center, an outreach initiative to Chicago ’s immigrant leaders.   The task forces in which I participated have published reports - "A Shared Future: The Economic Engagement of Greater Chicago and Its Mexican Community" and Chicago's Global Future 2007.  I highly commend CCGA's task force - Strengthening America: The Civic and Political Integration of Muslim Americans, 2007, parts of which I observed.

I continue to support Eckerd College programs helping retirees to make significant contributions to society while enjoying a healthy lifestyle and Eckerd's new Center for Leadership and Lifelong Learning and ASPEC. I enjoy running ASPEC's Discussing Differences Online learning group, an outgrowth of which is ASPEC's African American Student Support Program, whereby ASPEC mentors help Eckerd College recruit and retain high achieving minority students.  AAASSP is celebrating its seventh year! Last year we also started a new learning group - RethinkingRetirement - and began soliciting LLIs in the UK, France and Australia to try collaborations and exchanges.

Generations United continues to provide opportunities to learn about how retirees can benefit from and contribute through intergenerational programs.  Generations United coordinated an intergenerational track for the National Positive Aging Conference at Eckerd College Dec 6-8.

Community educational and volunteer programs continue to be attractive for their capacity for people to get to know one another, to help one another and to contribute in our communities. I am heading up a  broad initiative - Geneva Learners - composed of study groups meeting in downtown Geneva.  I help facilitate the World Affairs group, which meets weekly at the Geneva History Center.  In addition, members of this group have organized an initiative to help institutionalize innovation and enterprise into our local economy.  Through a combination of retiree resources, local business partners, academic and community resources, we hope to make Geneva more  attractive as a place to invest, work and live.  Finally, I am heading up a new sub-committee of the Geneva Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC). The International Cultural Exchange Committe (ICEC) is currently developing an exciting collaborations and exchanges with dynamic partners in Croissy sur Seine, France.

Executive Service Corps of Chicago (see updates) is a most impressive organization for its ability to develop and engage retiree talent in meaningful ways.  I am now engaged in my third project, the previous two of which required 50-60 hours each to complete.

At Erie Neighborhood House I've been asked to serve on an ad hoc executive committee where I'm encouraging the enhancement of retiree tutor/mentoring programs and developing lifelong learning groups in Erie neighborhoods.