Events of Interest In and Around town

We Thought You Might Be Interested...

The Greater Philadelphia Area is rich with opportunities to learn, expand and enjoy new experiences.  This page is dedicated to events, programs and outings that our members may be interested in but which are not directly associated with or endorsed by TTN.

Check back from time to time for new information. The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) is a landmark clinical study to better understand the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Early detection is a crucial step to understanding the causes of and developing better treatments for Parkinson’s disease.  PPMI aims to learn more about the link between the sense of smell and Parkinson’s disease. This study could help researchers detect PD in patients before the onset of motor symptoms. PPMI seeks 10,000 volunteers-people who are over the age of 60 and do not have Parkinson’s disease to participate in a survey that will assess whether they may qualify for the study. To get started, visit https://www.michaeljfox.org/get-involved/smellsurvey-screen.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ppmi&utm_campaign=upenn&s_src=upenn&s_subsrc=email.  Play a part in Biomarker research!

One Day University

At One Day University, we bring together professors from the finest schools in the country to present special versions of their very best lectures - LIVE.  The professors that teach at One Day U have won dozens of teaching awards and earned the highest possible ratings from their students.  Our students have the opportunity to "go back to college" with these amazing professors - not for four years, but for just one day.  And best of all, there's no homework.  No studying.  No exams.  Just the pure joy of lifelong learning.

See One Day University to register or learn more.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute - Temple University Center City

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Temple University is a lifelong learning academy where retired persons attend classes and pursue the joy of learning without the traditional academic requirements of tests and grades.

More about OLLI.  Besides regular courses that meet over a college semester, OLLI also offers its members other options beyond course offerings, such as Friday Forum, Summer Cafes, OLLI Library and OLLI Lunchroom.  

OLLI is a membership organization.  Membership allows you to attend as many OLLI classes as you choose and many other benefits.  Information about membership and benefits can be found here.

OLLI contact information.
   
WOMEN OF ALL AGES are needed to build relationships that create a welcoming environment and help newcomers practice English and learn basic life skills.

No special skills required.  You will receive training, on-going support and access to translation services.  Group meetings with refugees will be held in South Philadelphia  and the lower Northeast.

This program is made possible through a generous grant from the Barra Foundation.

For more information:

The W Connection: Widows Helping Widows Rebuild Their Lives.  

The W Connection was created to meet the extensive unmet need for widows to easily find the emotional, social and daily living support needed to rebuild their lives. 

The facts are compelling but not well known. Every 40 seconds a woman is widowed. There now are more than 11 million widows in the United States at an average age of 55 – this represents 10% of the country’s female population. We can expect this number grows by approximately 1,000,000 each year.  
 
The W Connection is a grassroots organization designed to meet the needs of widows by capturing the potential of peer-to-peer support at the community level so that widows can successfully rebuild their lives and regain and sustain economic stability and social-emotional health. The W Connection is one of the first not for profits run exclusively by widows for the support of widows. It is  unique  because, unlike other organizations that just deal with grief, this organization helps to take women beyond the initial stages of bereavement. The W Connection’s focus is on helping women rebuild a future with the goal of once again leading a happy and productive life.
 
The W Connection connects widows to information, training and each other. Its mission is to provide widows with a one stop Internet-based resource center and a national network of community based chapters. Access to these support systems will provide these women with the tools to move forward and rebuild. The rebuilding process must be thought of in terms of years- not weeks or months.  There were 10 members at the start and now there are 300+ with seven chapters – two in NJ, two in NYC, one in Philadelphia and three on Long Island. 

For more information on The W Connection events and activities in our area, visit their website at www.wconnection.org.   

The Free Library of Philadelphia Author Events

The line up of authors at the Free Library of Philadelphia (20th & Ben Franklin Parkway) is particularly impressive.  There are many author evenings which are free - but also others ones which require tickets.  The most popular authors sell out within hours of going on sale - so take a look at the line up.

Click here to see the Author Events.

Journey's Way: Training for Volunteers 55+ to Lead Groups on Successful Aging

Are you interested in “Touching Lives” of older adults?  Touching Lives Over 55, a program of Journey's Way, currently is seeking dynamic volunteers to lead peer discussion groups on health and wellness, life after retirement, and successful aging.  For twelve years, more than 170 volunteers ages 55-90 have lead "Next Chapter" discussion groups with over 4,900 older adults across Philadelphia! 

Volunteers must be at least 55 and enjoy working with people, have excellent listening skills, and provide their own transportation.  Discussion groups meet weekly in senior community centers throughout Philadelphia.  Peer Leaders learn new skills, meet new people, and enrich lives!

The next training starts on September 27 and runs through October 18 at Journey’s Way, 403 Rector Street in Roxborough.  To apply to become a Volunteer Peer Leader and begin writing your next chapter, contact Jan Zacharjasz at 215- 487-1750 ext. 1214 or email: jzacharjasz@intercommunityaction.org.

Senior Center Offers Free Computer Tutoring for Philadelphians Who Are 50 or Older

Do you have a spouse, relative or friend who would benefit from a free appointment with a computer tutor? 

Our tutors, Caitlin Seifritz and Lou Seitchik, are excellent teachers who are known for being patient, kind and helpful.  Based on our experience, we’re convinced that people who are anxious about learning to use a computer or laptop do best when they can work privately, one on one with a tutor. 

This free service is available to all Philadelphians who are at least 50 years of age.  Individuals who meet these qualifications are eligible for a 30 minute tutoring session every week, or until they no longer need it. 

Caitlin works every Monday.  She begins seeing clients at 10:00 A.M. and wraps up at 3:00 P.M. 
Lou sees clients beginning at 10:00 A.M. Fridays (starting April 26) and wraps up at Noon. 

To make an appointment with Caitlin or Lou, all a potential client needs to do is call (215) 686-5331 and request one.  We can’t guarantee that a client can see a tutor at the same time every week. 

The Senior Center is located on the first floor of the Parkway Central Library (1901 Vine Street).

The National Constitution Center

We are so fortunate to have the National Constitution Center in our city.  Along with the home exhibit which includes Freedom Rising and Signers' Hall, there are excellent visiting exhibits throughout the year.  And there are also evening programs featuring world-renowned guests like former Vice-President Al Gore and Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayer.

Click here to see what's on the calendar in the coming months.  Visit often!

The Princeton Senior Resource Center

Just a few miles north is the Princeton Senior Resource Center.  It is a private non-profit organization that provides programs and resources that promote healthy aging for older adults.  They offer many programs and services that may be of interest to our members.

Click here to visit the site for more information. 

Click here for the calendar of events. Next Step:  Engaged Retirement^tm & Encore Careers programs are focused on the boomer generation planning, entering or already in retirement.  The programs offer a broad overview of the various aspects of retirement or major life change. Next Step programs also recognize that many people need or want to continue in paid employment, and include programs to help the older job seeker reenter the job market.  Information about upcoming Next Step programs is available at www.engagedretirement.org.

Next Step programs recognize that retirement is not an ending of working life, but rather the next step in one’s life progression – the opportunity to move to a new and rewarding stage of one’s life. That may be a new and more meaningful career, a chance to travel, volunteer, spend time with family, take courses and learn new skills, or anything else that you may have dreamed about doing with your life but never had the chance to do so. 

PSRC, the Princeton Senior Resource Center, empowers adults 55 and older in the diverse Princeton community to make informed choices and live healthy lives.  PSRC offers affordable services, programs, and opportunities that support, educate and engage older individuals, their families and caregivers. PSRC is a non-governmental, independent, 501(c)(3) organization.