What image pops into your head when you think of the future and innovation? Do you think of someone young and hip playing with the latest electronic gadget? I can’t help but wonder if in our fast paced drive to look and move into the future that we often discount the important role and function of older Americans as critical participants and creators of that hip future.

Americans over 55 are an influential force with the highest voter registration and voting rate compared to other age groups.  They hold a disproportionate amount of wealth and over 50% of those between 50 and 70 are interested in taking jobs now or in retirement that help improve the quality in their communities.

Older adults are not sitting back and letting life pass them by.  On the contrary, seniors are flexing their voting power, consumer rights and civic responsibilities.  Powerful political advocates, philanthropists, volunteers and consumers of nonprofit services, older adults are a major component of the nonprofit sector.

If older Americans are central to the nonprofit sector as policy changers, board members, volunteers, donors and employees what are we doing in the nonprofit sector to attract, educate and engage this group?  Much buzz exists around technology, electronic social networking and other new ways to reach people to various causes.  Are these approaches viable across all age cohorts?  How do we assure that in our latest rush to catch up that we don’t leave anyone behind?

Anyone working in a well run nonprofit organization understands and appreciates the fact that one size does not fit all.  As people of different genders, ethnicities, sexual orientation and religious preferences view, access and utilize services differently, so do members of contrasting age segments.

Older adults perhaps respond to a combined approach of personal contact, written resources and technology.  Technology has tremendous benefits for individuals who may have functional limitations which hamper the frequency and duration of activities outside of the home.  However, technology has challenges for those with visual impairments or decreased fine motor skills.  Cost of equipment and education and training to use technology may prevent many from attempting to join in.  Fortunately, many nonprofits are helping seniors access equipment and training and are helping connect people with needed assistive devices so that technology can be fully employed.

Innovation, true innovation, must have the capacity to impact people across all levels in order to move our communities forward.

Tags: civic engagement, community, diversity, innovation, Nonprofit Sector, technologies, volunteerism

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 3:39 pm and is filed under Civic Engagement and Volunteerism, Growing Diversity, Technological Advances. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.