Hundreds to Attend Global Conference on New, Innovative Field of Positive Aging

SANTA BARBARA, CA, October 15, 2010 (Press-News.org) At 78 million strong, today's baby boomers are one of the largest and dynamic groups in America. As they mature into the second half of life, this population is actively looking for ways to improve their lifestyles. Four hundred renowned global experts and community members will collaborate on the up-and-coming field of positive aging—ensuring older adults improve their quality of life as they age¬-at the 4th Annual International Conference on Positive Aging, "Exploring Positive Aging: Designing Practice and Advancing Knowledge," Dec. 7-10 at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles. Celebrities who are examples of positive aging will share their secrets on getting better, not just older. The conference is hosted by Fielding Graduate University's Institute for Social Innovation (ISI) and is open to all who are interested in attending.

"The Institute for Social Innovation is taking the lead in starting the conversation about how aging is perceived, the science of aging, as well as societal attitudes toward older people so that we can find strategies to improve people's quality of life," said Katrina Rogers, director of Fielding's Institute for Social Innovation. "This event includes people from diverse disciplines and backgrounds who are all passionate about ensuring older generations thrive in their mature years. Our aim is to spark significant change in the way we view aging and how we treat people in their second half of life."

This year's event will feature notable surfer, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, the real-life Gidget, as well as Alfred Hitchcock actress and conservationist Tippi Hedren. The keynote address will be given by Marc Freedman, chief executive officer of Civic Ventures, which aims to "help society achieve the greatest return on experience." The New York Times calls him "the voice of aging baby boomers who are eschewing retirement for meaningful and sustaining work later in life." He will discuss how he spearheaded Experience Corps, America's largest nonprofit national service program engaging individuals in later life.

Attendees include professionals in the fields of health care, insurance, life planning, care giving and lifelong learning, as well as those interested in ageism, aging, spirituality, creativity, wellness, entrepreneurship and more. Cost is $250 through Oct. 30, and $300 from Nov. 1 on. For tickets, contact Rogers at (805) 898-2924 or positiveagingconference@fielding.edu.

Sessions will be organized around the themes of creativity, wellness, community and life transitions and will last 60-90 minutes. The topics will include lifelong learning, intergenerational learning, care giving, spirituality and religion, sustainability, entrepreneurship, technology, diversity, public policy, international developments, life planning, ageism, civic engagement and generativity. The conference also will include Active Arts activities designed to facilitate dialogue about creative expression. Themed around music, dance, art and poetry, Active Arts will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day of the conference and will include scheduled events throughout the day. There will also be two dinner events devoted to networking and a drum circle for everyone. For more information, visit http://www.positiveaging.fielding.edu.

Fielding Graduate University's Institute for Social Innovation combines research, leadership and organizational development to create lasting change on societal issues. Among other work, the institute created the Creative Longevity and Wisdom Project that studies the contributions older people bring to social leadership roles.

Fielding Graduate University is a leading contributor of knowledge, new practices and graduate-level learning opportunities in the fields of clinical psychology, media psychology, organizational development and educational leadership. It consists of a globally distributed community of professionals who are dedicated to social justice and advancement in organizations, communities and society.