Joining The Conversation On Ageism 

Advocacy and Community Engagement
The 2018 Workforce Forum and Hiring Event’s exit comments included several requests for the Foundation to address the overt and covert aspect of “ageism.” As a result, the Foundation convened our 1st Annual Round Table on Combating Ageism on December 10, 2018 at the Employ Prince George’s McCormick site. Expert panelists included:
➢ Barbara Hoenig, MPH, CVS Senior Health Consultant on Mature Workers and Workforce Initiatives
➢ Carolyn Cukierman, MS, Intergenerational Coach, Organizational Management
➢ Diann B. James, Manager, Pr. George’s County Family Services Area Agency on Aging, Senior Community Service Employment Program
➢ Walter Simmons, Executive Director, Employ Prince George’s and the Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board
The discussion was guided by internationally certified facilitator, Marsha Hughes-Reese, RN, MSN, MSOD, ACC. Opening remarks were provided by S. Orlene Grant, President and CEO of The Juanita C. Grant Foundation. The professional facilitation generated a high degree of audience interaction interspersed with YouTube to raise the energy level. As a result of the high level of enthusiasm and requests, the Foundation will conduct two roundtables in 2019.

AWARENESS IMPACT: RE-WIRE/NOT RETIRE, RE-EDUCATE, BE RESILIENT

Realistic steps to mitigate ageism were reviewed and included taking care of one’s health to maintain mobility, re-tooling skill set to today’s market and finding your passion for motivation. Proposed solutions included:
a. Creating more intergenerational diversity in the work culture
b. Updating public policies at the state, federal and local levels to reflect 50+ workforce needs in working longer
c. Create 50+ advocates in the workplace
1. Advocates for the 50+ needed on the Pr. George’s County Workforce and Education Council Committee
2. Leverage Employ Prince George’s and Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
d. Embrace the intergenerational work culture of the millennials and X generation.
e. Lead with knowledge and experience as part of the team.
f. Be open to new forms of employment i.e. Gig economy, entrepreneurship.
g. Engage Human Resource and larger employer C-Suite.
h. Target education of media for image adjustment.