News and Information for You / September 2023 Newsletter

September 2023

Monthly News & Updates

ENCORE CLEVELAND connects people who are in or nearing retirement from their primary careers with volunteer and employment opportunities through local nonprofit organizations. Discover more here.

MANUFACTURING WORKS -- Bill Logan is a contractor who helped us recently through our Technical Corps program. He is a union carpenter and also a retired carpentry teacher from Shaw High School. He helped Shaw develop their carpentry program. He also assisted the construction teachers at Max S. Hayes High School last semester with teaching and curriculum.

Manufacturing Works is a group of more than 300 organizations in Northeast Ohio and the largest community of manufacturers in the region. We connect business leaders and industry experts with complementary needs to create a healthy network that engages with the community to fuel economic growth in the region. For more information, visit the Manufacturing Works website.

Leadership Geauga -- Leadership Geauga's Heritage Program for Retirees is now accepting applications from Geauga County experienced leaders who are retired or approaching retirement to define their next chapter. The Fall program will begin on October 4, 2023. Participants will meet once weekly for six weeks, concluding with graduation on November 8, 2023. For more information and to apply, click here.

On August 16, Pam Carson, Leadership Geauga's Heritage Program Director, participated in Kent State Geauga and the Geauga Dept. on Aging's Learning for a Lifetime opportunity for our county's senior citizens. Pam presented to a group of seniors about expanding their retirement options and exploring purposeful opportunities in Geauga County - including our Heritage Program!

To learn more about volunteer opportunities contact Nakeva Williams at

nwilliams@greaterclevelandvolunteers.org

or 216-391-9500 x 2116.

Court Appointed Special Advocate: Let's protect our children! Volunteer to be an advocate. A Court Appointed Special Advocate is a trained community volunteer appointed by the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court to represent the best interests of an abused, neglected, and/or dependent child. Volunteers are asked to spend 10-12 hours a month on each case and require a 2-year commitment.

LUNG FORCE: Small Steps, Bold Strides! Join the FORCE and volunteer at LUNG FORCE Walk on Sunday, October 1st at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Volunteers can assist with Set Up or Break Down, Registration and T-shirt Distribution, or as a Wayfinder and Cheerleader. Shifts available from 7 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Hunger Action Month: September is Hunger Action Month. It is a nationwide campaign to mobilize the public and act on hunger and its root causes. It involves individuals giving, serving, learning, and helping our neighbors facing food insecurity. Help out at a food distribution center today. For schedule, click here.

House Coverage Volunteer: Be a part of a community that empowers pregnant and parenting woman! Volunteers are asked to assist in the home by answering the phone, taking donations, spending time with moms and babies and responding to emergencies. Shifts are available in Garfield Heights on Wednesday mornings and on weekends for 2-4 hours.

Towpath Marathon: Support the Towpath Marathon runners. The marathon is on Saturday, October 7th and volunteers are needed between 7a.m.-1p.m. to assist at water stations along the route and at the finish line.

Ready to volunteer? Or learn more about these or additional volunteer opportunities in Cuyahoga County? Contact Nakeva at nwilliams@greaterclevelandvolunteers.org or 216-391-9500 x 2116 to learn more or register.

BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS UNLIMITED -- BVU connects our nonprofit partners with skills-based volunteers to work together on projects in various areas. These 60-minute one-on-one meetings provide an opportunity for the nonprofit and the skills-based volunteer to work on a small project or the skills-based volunteer can answer questions or provide practical suggestions. The goal of Ask the Expert session is for the nonprofit to leave the meeting and be able to implement some of the recommendations provided right away. The skills-based volunteer and nonprofit will be matched based upon the volunteer’s strengths and the needs articulated by the nonprofit. Click here to sign up for the next Ask the Expert session.

FELLOW OPPORTUNITIES

CLEVELAND MEDIATION CENTER

Cleveland Mediation Center promotes just and peaceful community in Northeast Ohio by honoring all people, building their capacity to act, and facilitating opportunities for them to engage in conflict constructively. Cleveland Mediation Center (CMC) has been mediating disputes and providing conflict resolution and mediation training to the greater Cleveland area since 1981, distinguishing CMC as the first community mediation center in Ohio. We are proud that throughout our history, we have committed to achieving the National Association for Community Mediation’s nine hallmarks of a community mediation center.

Cleveland Mediation Center is looking for a fellow to help research feasibility and create an implementation plan for Cleveland Mediation Center (CMC) to separate from FrontLine Service.

Feasibility and Implementation Role

Work directly with CMC Director
Assess the feasibility of separating from our parent organization.
Review current budget, operations, mission, and vision.
Research budgetary, operational, and other realities for sustainability.
Meet with CMC staff and Working Group exploring the split
Develop an implementation plan based on research and present it to the organization.

Term:

500 hours during 2023 and 2024 (hybrid)

August 2023–March 2024

Stipend: $10,000

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have significant professional experience in Project Management and knowledge in fiscal and operational areas. Experience in nonprofits is a plus.

HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR WOMEN, INC.

The Hitchcock Center for Women’s primary mission is to support women and families with substance use issues. Compared to placing a child in the foster care system, we provide our treatment at a fraction of the cost to the community. HCFW provides a stable and supportive environment for mothers and their children to live on our historic campus. We also provide treatment while children are living with a relative, so that a mother receives the support she needs.

Hitchcock Center is looking for an experienced individual to help evaluate/give feedback for online visibility and social media engagement. We want to be able to leverage Google Ads/ Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for better discoverability and increase the number of referrals to the residential ASAM 3.5 treatment center.

Term: 100 hours during 2023 (hybrid)

Stipend: $2,000

Qualifications:

Strong understanding of SEO principles and Google Ads management.
Experience in website analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics).
Excellent understanding of social media platforms and how to effectively engage audiences.
Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies.
Knowledge in the healthcare industry is a plus.

To be considered for these opportunities and to request application materials, please contact Sarah Castle (scastle@bvuvolunteers.org)

CLEVELAND LEADERSHIP CENTER -- To promote the health benefits of recreational walking, jogging, and biking on trails throughout Ohio, the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Legacy Leaders created, in partnership with The Dayton Foundation's Del Mar Encore Fellows and Encore Cleveland, released an Age-Friendly Guide to Outdoor Recreational Trails in Northeast and Southwest Ohio. The vision of this project was to identify outdoor recreational trails from Northeast to Southeast Ohio and to include the services and amenities available, maps, accessibility information, and directions to each trail.

We encourage you to use this guide as a personal tool and to engage others in accessing some of Ohio’s beautiful outdoor age-friendly trails. Click here to view the guide.

ENCORE PROFILE

Diane Wilkoff, Encore Employment Enterprise, Inc.

Meet Diane Wilkoff, Learning and Development Manager for e3encore. E3 was created to meet the needs of experienced workers age 50 and better who want to stay in the workforce and contribute to their communities while earning an income. Diane has a varied background, putting her bachelor's degree in marketing and a master's in education to good use.

A Cleveland native, she left the area in 1990, writing for oil industry magazines, and Bloomberg, among other publications. She returned to Northeast Ohio in 1997. Diane has a passion for helping others, and that's come through in a variety of roles she's held over the years. She loves tutoring, and focused on helping kids with learning differences, making a positive impact on dozens of students' lives.

In 2018, Diane reached out to Simone McNitt at e3encore, who connected her with The Phillis Wheatley Association, where she took a job as a grant writer. Five years later, she contacted Simone again when Simone was expanding her organization. E3encore needed a learning and development manager and Diane was the perfect candidate. She began her role on August 1 and it's been an excellent fit.

Diane has leveraged her love of teaching, and being a lifelong learner, to help candidates with their resumes, communication skills, and digital literacy, all vital factors in obtaining and keeping jobs in the 21st century.

NIFTY 50

Read information News & Advice for Older Job Seekers

https://www.nifty50s.com/