The Purpose of Next Chapter Kansas City
Next Chapter Kansas City is an initiative for baby boomers and adults already in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond who are interested in exploring life options, meaningful engagement through work and service, and continued learning.
Much attention is being given to the “baby boomer” generation because of their numbers and because national surveys suggest that they are approaching the traditional retirement years differently than previous generations. Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, number 78 million nationwide, and in 2011, the oldest boomers began turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 per day. As they transition to the next chapter of their lives, many boomers are realizing that due to a number of factors such as health and longevity, financial stability, personal and family relationships, and pressing community needs, the so-called retirement years may offer new options for work, service, and lifelong learning.
Next Chapter Kansas City Vision Statement:
• Stay connected to your community
• Your sense of purpose, and
• Your ability to make a difference.
Next Chapter Mission Statement:
Next Chapter Kansas City is a community collaborative developing opportunities for persons age 50 and older as they explore options for work, service, and learning in the next chapter of their lives.
Next Chapter Kansas City's Executive Council
Next Chapter Kansas City Executive Council members are:
Pat Brune, Chair
Andrea Generaux
Cindy Cash
Diane Clark
Linda Siemens
Marjorie Blank
Mary Lou Jaramillo
Rik Van Dyke
Rosemary Lischka
Scott Anglemyer
Karen Hostetler, Next Chapter Director
Next Chapter is a Community of Collaboration
Partners of Next Chapter Kansas City include:
Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City, Kansas (Lead Agency)
El Centro, Inc.
KCK Area Chamber of Commerce
KCK Community College
KCK Public Library
Landon Center on Aging
Leadership 2000
Liveable Neighborhoods, Inc.
Workforce Partnership Inc
Wyandotte/Leavenworth Area Agency on Aging
The History of Next Chapter Kansas City
The idea for a Next Chapter Kansas City program began in the spring of 2004 when the executive director of the Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) attended a workshop entitled “Life Options” at the American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Joint Conference in San Francisco. The workshop was led by Judy Goggin, vice-president at Civic Ventures, which is a national think tank on Boomers (as in Baby Boomer Generation), work, and social purpose.
Following the workshop presentation, discussions began with Ms. Goggin regarding the possibility of developing “Life Options” programs (now known as Next Chapter programs) for persons age 50+ in the Kansas City area. Information was brought back to Kansas City to the Shepherd’s Center of KCK Board of Directors, and also to Shepherd’s Centers of America. As a result, the decision was made by both groups to extend an invitation for Judy Goggin to come to Kansas City in the summer of 2004, and to meet with various Kansas City Shepherd’s Centers’ boards and staff, including Shepherd’s Centers of America.
The Shepherd’s Center of KCK Board formalized its interest in a Life Options/Next Chapter Initiative by voting in September of 2004 to move forward with this project, pending the availability of funds.
It wasn’t until 2008 that funding became a reality, and The Wyandotte County Next Chapter Initiative, a coalition of eight local organizations, was formed with the financial support of the Jewish Heritage Foundation and the George H. Nettleton Home, Inc. The focus was on developing a community structure that would both 1) provide help for persons in the second half of life as they transition to a “next chapter” and also 2) work with various employing entities in the community to provide opportunities for meaningful public engagement on a volunteer or paid basis. It was also the desire of funders to develop a program model that could be replicated in other parts of the Kansas City metro area.
The work of the Initiative was carried out by a Task Force made up of representatives from the coalition of local organizations. Over time the Task Force converted to an Executive Council and expanded to 10 Partner Organizations. Because several Partners serve multiple counties in the Kansas City metropolitan area, the primary focus continues to be in Wyandotte County, but also includes participation from adjoining counties in Kansas and Missouri.
The planning phase for the Initiative consisted of 1) community analysis (including a review of demographic information, and the development, administering and evaluation of the Wyandotte County Boomer Survey) 2) a review of Next Chapter programs nationally as well as other civic engagement models, and 3) the development of program components, which is ongoing.
The result has been the development of a community-based collaborative, known as Next Chapter Kansas City. Its programming is based on the input of participants, the findings of the Boomer Survey, and the guidelines set forth by Civic Ventures for Next Chapter programs.
The Stories of Next Chapter Kansas City's Impact
Coming soon! Do you have a story to tell about your involvement with Next Chapter Kansas City? If so, please e-mail Karen Hostetler at karenh@sckck.org.
