By the 1960s, The Greatest Generation led us from the Depression and World War II to a period of unprecedented prosperity and technological innovation. They challenged

racism, sexism, and reinvented our concept of elderhood, teaching us that active human development continues through late life. Now many of the advances they made are being reversed. American democracy is witnessing creeping autocracy, eroding trust in government, challenges to the rule of law, and threats to free and fair elections. This impacts social policies, health, work and retirement, family support and caregiving, housing, demographics, and economic well-being. Change is hard on those to whom it is happening. While many are thriving, many others struggle with health issues, depression, anxiety, and despair. Now, the “Baby Boomers” are today’s elders. Will we as individuals and as a cohort model integrity or despair? Can we, like our parents and grandparents before us, continue to show succeeding generations how to find hope and purpose in life and contribute to human flourishing? Can we elders, along with our family members and our communities, save the world again, locally and globally? Despite the stereotypes, most people over 60 are active, healthy, capable individuals, and 95% live independently. Throughout the course, we will share our lifetime of experiences to understand how our personal worldview affects our beliefs and values about aging and to become confident in our ability to identify and play an essential role in saving the world.

Your Instructor: John is retired from teaching Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University. John also worked in a variety of human service roles: early childhood education, community mental health, aging services, and geriatric partial hospitalization programs. John earned a Ph.D. in the Administration and Leadership Studies for Nonprofits program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2010. John “fully” retired and relocated to Olympia in 2019 but continues to be involved in a variety of volunteer activities.

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