Podcasts about social innovation challenge

Are you looking to create long lasting healthy habits for yourself?  Kristel Bauer sat down with Samantha Pantazopoulos, the CEO and co-founder of the social wellness program Vizer, to chat about how you can get motivated to make sustainable positive changes in your life. Sam shares how incentivizing fitness can lead to real results as well as her personal journey in developing a healthy relationship with health and wellness. Sam shares her journey starting Vizer, which is an innovative app that supports a sustainable daily wellness routine by partnering with health-forward brands to incentivize exercise, increase access to healthy foods and promote whole-person health. Kristel and Sam also chat about keys for a successful employee wellness program as well as a look into what it takes to get a wellness company off the ground.  Tune in now! Key Takeaways from This Episode How to get motivated to create healthy habits How to create a business in the health and wellness space How to build relationships with key brand partners to grow your business Keys are to a successful wellness program How to get people motivated to make positive changes Sam's journey with leadership Sam's big takeaways from particiipating in pitch competitions About Samantha Pantazopoulos, ​CEO and Co-founder, Vizer: Samantha (Sam) Pantazopoulos is a maverick social entrepreneur, brand strategist and connector of people and ideas. As the co-founder and CEO of Vizer, a social wellness platform on a mission toward Democratizing Wellness®, she is responsible for leading the company's growth and direction, scientific research, marketing efforts and community relationships.   Pantazopoulos was inspired to create Vizer while studying abroad and struggling with unhealthy habits.  She took a last-minute opportunity to join the program's Social Innovation Challenge, where she learned about how to use business as a resource to sustain social good. The potential impact of social innovation blew her away, and she set out to create a platform that would make healthy living more accessible for all members of the community, regardless of circumstance.  Vizer is an innovative app that supports a sustainable daily wellness routine by partnering with health-forward brands to incentivize exercise, increase access to healthy foods and promote whole-person health.  When users track and complete a daily fitness activity (like walking 10K steps, exercising for 30 minutes or taking a partner studio class), Vizer partners donate a meal with U.S. food banks to populations in need. Users also earn points towards better-for-you rewards at restaurants, retail and online. Since launching Vizer nationwide in 2019 with her cousin and close friend, Dylan Barbour, the platform has converted more than 2.5 million workouts into meal donations distributed through U.S. food banks.  ​Pantazopoulos graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Diego in 2017, where she majored in business administration. She is the recipient of multiple social entrepreneurship awards and was named the Rising Star Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2019 Women's Venture Summit.  When Pantazopoulos isn't busy creating social change through tech and community resources, she can be found spending time with friends and family, mentoring the next generation of female entrepreneurs and soaking up the local health and wellness scene in San Diego.   Website: https://www.vizerapp.com/impact  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vizerapp/  https://www.instagram.com/sampantazopoulos/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vizerapp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vizer/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scpantazopoulos/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vizerapp  About the Host of the Live Greatly podcast, Kristel Bauer: Kristel, the Founder of Live Greatly, is on a mission to help people thrive personally and professionally. Kristel is a corporate wellness expert, Integrative Medicine Fellow, Top Keynote Speaker, TEDx speaker & contributing writer for Entrepreneur.  Kristel brings her expertise & extensive experience in Corporate Wellness, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Mindset, Resilience, Self-Care, and Stress Management to in-person and virtual events as Professional Keynote Speaker.  If you are looking for a female motivational speaker to inspire and empower your audience to reclaim their well-being, inner motivation and happiness, Kristel's message will leave a lasting impression. Kristel would be happy to discuss partnering with you to make your next event one to remember! Speaking Topics can be tailored to fit the needs of your group. To Book Kristel as a speaker for your next event, click here. Follow Kristel Bauer on: Instagram: @livegreatly_co LinkedIn: Kristel Bauer Twitter: @livegreatly_co Facebook: @livegreatly.co Youtube: Live Greatly, Kristel Bauer To Watch Kristel Bauer's TEDx talk of Redefining Work/Life Balance in a COVID-19 World click here. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the guidance of your physician for any recommendations specific to you or for any questions regarding your specific health, your sleep patterns changes to diet and exercise, or any medical conditions.  Always consult your physician before starting any supplements or new lifestyle programs. All information, views and statements shared on the Live Greatly podcast are purely the opinions of the authors, and are not medical advice or treatment recommendations.  They have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  Opinions of guests are their own and Kristel Bauer & this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for statements made by guests.  Neither Kristel Bauer nor this podcast takes responsibility for possible health consequences of a person or persons following the information in this educational content.  Always consult your physician for recommendations specific to you.  

According to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, almost 600,000 older adults quit driving each year. This makes doctor's appointments, shopping for needs, visiting relatives, and attending social events more difficult for older adults. As a result, they become more isolated, which has a negative impact on their health and well-being. One of the most prevalent forms of assistance offered by family members and caregivers is transportation. However, transporting older adults isn't always convenient or straightforward. For family members and caregivers, transportation is one of the most challenging tasks. According to a 2018 poll by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), almost 40% of caregivers spend roughly five hours each week providing or scheduling transportation. While public transportation is a feasible alternative in many cities, it may be non-existent or limited in rural and suburban areas, where older adults are most likely to live. To keep older adults healthy and active, This Is Getting Old rounded up our 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge with this series' final episode—Part 10: Transportation. Stay tuned to learn moonshot—but possible—innovative solutions and transportation options that help older adults get around.    Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️ There's More To Transportation Than Driving When we think about transportation, it's more than just driving; it's all the different ways we move around our communities. Transportation includes; cars  cyclists  sidewalks  pedestrians dedicated bike lanes public transportation safe crosswalks for pedestrians  smaller transportation options such as taxis, shuttles or rideshare services large scale public transportation options such as trains, busses and light rails    ✔️Sarah And Her Age-Related Challenges   Sarah is 69 years young and lives in Alexandria, VA, with her husband, who has Parkinson's. Lately, her eyesight has been failing, making it harder to get things done. She can no longer drive and doesn't feel safe with so many cars everywhere on the streets. On top of everything, it's winter, and it gets dark so early. Sarah doesn't like to ask people for help or favors, but she had to get herself and her husband to their doctors' appointments, and it just feels like too much some days. Sarah needs help but doesn't know how to ask for it.   ✔️ It All Starts With Information Sarah needs a way to get high quality, vetted, affordable, inclusive, relevant information and supportive connections and services. She needs to feel that she is provided and receives the information and resources to manage her life, including getting where she needs to go and managing caregiving responsibilities. Hence, the group came up with the "Best Information System Ever"—the need is the information piece, and the rest can stem from there.   ✔️ "Best Information System Ever" -Diverse And Inclusive Innovative Solution For Older Adult's Transportation.   What does it do?   Provides high quality, vetted, affordable, inclusive, relevant information and supportive connections and services. It includes all the resources in the region, all-knowing everything at your fingertips and how it's connected How does it work?  The program includes all resources (new and existing) in the region; the biggest and best database with continuously updated and vetted information. Easy to use (web-based, app-based, and call-in) Well crafted; one click or warm transfer by phone (e.g., easy to get to provider website/phone) Connects people with people and services (rides to anywhere: grocery stores, senior centers, parks, doctors appointments) It will support diversity and inclusion for all users at all income levels and supports all unique needs. It includes trained staff who know all the programs across regions, call to next step, volunteer village - sign up for village and get a ride - connect to neighborhoods. Includes good triage function. Includes quarterly Professional Development for staff on new programs and systems. Includes cross-organization buy-in for all regional organizations. The system can process accounts for users and families, and payments and applications for different programs are included in the database. The service providers are certified and vetted by appropriate organizations. ✔️ More Age-Friendly Transportation-related Resources You can also check out Episode 70 of this podcast to learn more about Transportation Options for Older Adults and a program called NV Rides. Or if you have a loved one and wonder if it's time to take the keys and limit their driving, you can check out Episode 63 titled Alzheimer's disease and driving: Five signs that it's time to take the keys. You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where you can find this episode - MelissaBPhD.com We'd love to hear from you! ------------------------------------------- If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 which led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Facilitating greater participation — specified as engagement in social activities that provide opportunities for social interaction with others in the community — is pivotal for granting older adults to fulfill their basic socialization needs, self-actualization and supporting society in dealing with population aging. In the United States, almost a quarter of community-dwelling older adults are socially isolated, and 43% of these older adults report feeling lonely. Due to the crucial nature of such engagement for older individuals' health, its decrease has been linked to substantial health consequences, including a 29% increased chance of death. The concern of encouraging older adults to maintain social involvement is only addressed in a narrow context. This Is Getting Old, with our mission to move toward an age-friendly world, invites you to watch the full episode or listen to the podcast of the 9th episode of our 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge—Part 9: Social Participation. Learn more about valuable programs and innovative solutions that can help you or someone you know.  Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️ Loneliness Is A Chronic Disease Regardless of one's age, loneliness is often as debilitating as a health condition. It's equivalent basically to having a chronic illness or a disease. Most of us experience social isolation during COVID 19 is equal to smoking about 15 cigarettes a day. ✔️ Roger And His Social Participation Issues The participants, who were university students from the DC Metro area, older adults, and local leaders who live in the region and work in the age-friendly space, looked through the lens of Roger. He is 88 years young and is a retired concert jazz pianist. Roger lived by himself in a small townhouse in Washington DC. And there's a senior center a few blocks from him with weekly game nights and free dinner. He could walk over there but rather not. Furthermore, his doctor told him that he lost 15 pounds at his last physical examination.   ✔️Social Participation - Problem Statement Roger needs a way to thrive physically and emotionally because he appears isolated and has deteriorating health conditions. ✔️community Health Navigators For Socially Isolated Adults Like Roger Social and community services are critical to healthy longevity, maintaining health and providing purpose. Thus the group came up with  Community Health Navigators as an innovative solution for older adults like Roger.  Community health navigators would be developed to address both the underlying medical conditions and find meaningful connections with the community regarding older adults' health and personal lives.   Community health navigators work to extend the medical journey for older adults and connect medical care to the needed social services.   Community Health Navigators can be social workers or some physician assistant role that would be trained to have compassionate conversations to make sure connections are made within the community.  ✔️More Ways To Help Older Adults Like Roger   Check out a program led by the AARP Foundation called Connect2affect at Connect2Affect.org if you are someone you know who is experiencing social isolation. This website will give you more information on getting help for yourself or someone you know, give you other ideas for supporting people in your area, and learn about new interventions to reduce social isolation.   You can also take the Isolation Assessment; find local and online resources and ways that you can volunteer to serve others. You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where you can find this episode - MelissaBPhD.com   We'd love to hear from you!   --------------------------------------------------------------   If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my PhD in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015, which led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

The state of health of the individual receiving care is connected to the forms of help and care provided by caregivers. Yet despite this analogy, Federal employment statistics indicate that long-term care workforce concerns remain at a 'crisis' level. As per American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living statistics from the January Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation data, a 6.7% drop in the assisted living workforce indicates a loss of 31,200 caregivers, from 463,100 workers in February 2020 to 431,900 in January 2022. Thus, to provide better care for millions of older Americans, the United States needs a roadmap to a sustainable, reinvented workforce of professional caregivers. To this end, today's episode of This Is Getting Old features Part 8: Long-Term Care Workforce and Caregiving of the 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge. Watch the full episode or listen to the podcast to learn more about valuable programs and innovative solutions specifically designed for older adults and healthcare providers. Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️Partake Into Leoña And The Long-Term Care Workforce's Case Scenario The case study for  Leoña:a  Leoña was 58 years old, came to D.C. four years ago from Nigeria, and worked as a home health aide. She had been a hospital nurse in her home country, skilled and experienced, but she didn't feel seen by her bosses. She felt a real connection to her patients but found the work very hard, and she had difficulty with this kind of work. She needed to find a way to care for herself and her family while still being up for the challenge of helping her clients.   ✔️ Long-term Care Workforce - Problem Statement  Leoña is burned out and will leave the field if we don't start listening to her and paying her more than an hourly wage. Working in a flawed long-term care system, she lacks a way to be heard, valued, and advance in her career.   ✔️ Innovative Solutions— Leoña As An Essential Worker Given the political moment, the time is right to call for systemic change and create a better individual situation for Leoña. This include: becoming a salaried employee receiving local recognition securing employer-employee communication,  succession planning around important work that she was doing ✔️ More Ways To Help Leoña The team passionately asserts that caregiver Leona should be recognized as an essential worker—she is like a firefighter. There were different levels of recognition that caregivers should have, and they should have people on the team who had experience with offering rewards and awards to people in their localities.  ✔️ Giving Voice To Our Unheard Caregivers There was also the recognition caregivers like Leoña do not feel heard. Leoña and caregivers should be able to tell their stories and set goals that will place them on a career ladder. We wanted her and people like her to be able to identify these challenges and begin to work with their employers to overcome challenges. You can also check out Episode 69 with Dr. Marc Cohen, where we discuss the basics of how long-term care is paid for now - and talk about future trends for the long-term care insurance industry.  You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where this episode can be found - MelissaBPhD.com   We'd love to hear from you!   --------------------------------------------------------------   If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Julia Dreher was optiMize's fifth Student President, leading the organization through a period of tremendous growth. During her tenure as President, optiMize surpassed 5 million dollars in total funds committed and received over 300 applications to the Social Innovation Challenge for the first time. After graduating from Michigan (International Studies, ‘20), Julia served the Biden campaign in Michigan as well as Jon Ossof's campaign in the Georgia run-off election. Now, Julia is a program assistant at USAID's Center for Innovation and Impact.

Learning throughout one's life encourages social inclusion and improves one's health. There's a substantial correlation between learning and improved health, especially among older adults. The notion of life-long learning encompasses not only the acquisition of job-related credentials but also the promotion of learning throughout one's life to improve overall well-being. While 73% of older adults in the United States of America consider themselves lifelong learners, educational engagement tends to decline as people become older. Still, it's never too late to gain new skills and information. This presents a challenge to organizations, employers, and policymakers, who must guarantee that everyone has the opportunity to obtain, retain, and acquire new skills throughout their lives. Toward these goals, This Is Getting Old, with our mission to move toward an age-friendly world, features Part 7:Lifelong Learning of the 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge. Watch the full episode or listen to the podcast to learn more about valuable programs and innovative solutions specifically designed for older adults and healthcare providers. Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️ Does Julio's Case Sounds Familiar? Julio is 55 years old and lives in Hyattsville, MD, with his wife, three children and dog, Fluffy. He has worked as a hospice nurse for nine years now and loves his work. But, Julio feels stuck and burned out. The pay isn't great, and he has to work about 70 hours a week to make ends meet. Julio would love to see fewer patients and learn to be a manager. Still, sometimes he thinks he would have better chances in IT. So, Julio thinks of leaving healthcare altogether and enrolling in a technical community college.    ✔️ Lifelong Learning - Problem Statement Julio needs a way to increase income and job satisfaction and find a life-work balance because he's burned out and unhappy. This problem results from the employer's lack of attention, support and employee development programs designed to help care workers thrive and grow within the healthcare industry. ✔️ Lifelong Learning - Innovative Solutions Identify nonprofit or public resources that can provide low-cost or free career counseling or training services for mid-career workers or the 55+ cohort, including how to advocate with employers. If recommended and feasible, continuing education may be undertaken. Encourage Julio's employer to create pathways within the organization for upward mobility, including training, mentoring, job exploration, and higher pay. This might occur through partnerships with local community colleges, for example.   Research concept of unionizing, organizing workers in the caregiver industry to achieve fairer working conditions (higher pay, fewer hours, meaningful support on the job, opportunity for promotion).   ✔️ Nobody's Too Old To Learn   Lifelong Learning involves being intentional about learning new things - no matter how old you are. Essentially, participation in cultural and recreational activities is essential for our health and the quality of life in our communities as we age. Thus, older adults should increasingly participate in lifelong learning programs and bring a lifetime of experiences to intergenerational programs - like ice skating! Besides, there's nothing wrong with learning a new physical skill and an intellectual one! Both types of lifelong learning are beneficial! ✔️More Ways To Help Julio   The challenges that Julio faces could potentially be made better if he worked for an Age-Friendly Employer - and if you haven't heard of that program, you can check out episode 58 with Tim Driver, Founder and CEO of Age-Friendly Ventures.     Another option for retooling could be finding an Age-Friendly University, and if you haven't heard of this initiative, please check out my interview with Dr Joanne Montepare in Episode 55. You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where you can find this episode - MelissaBPhD.com   We'd love to hear from you! --------------------------------------------------------------   If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.  

One in every five Americans—nearly 80 million people—will be over 65 in 20 years, and surveys suggest that almost 90% intend to stay in their own homes  as long as possible. However, the nation now lacks the affordable housing and accompanying social services required to meet these needs. In particular, the four issues are; The majority of houses in the United States are inaccessible to older adults with limited mobility. Many older Americans who remain at home will need pricey long-term care. Millions of older adults cannot maintain their present living arrangements due to financial constraints. Isolation is common among older adults who live alone. We invite you to join us in another episode of This Is Getting Old with these circumstances in mind. Today's episode is Part 6: Housing—the 6th episode of the 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge.  Watch the full episode to learn more about housing-related issues, programs, and innovative solutions for older adults. Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️Aging In America As Seen In Nomadland Have you watched Nomadland?  The 2020 movie Nomadland has so many issues related to aging in America, from managing multiple chronic illnesses while living in a van, to finding employment after the age of 60. But it also has some heartwarming scenes because it demonstrates the importance of having a social network and being connected to other people, no matter how old you are. The movie shows resilience and how some older adults find a solution to losing their homes. ✔️ Housing - Scenario Monica, 67 years old, is living in Alexandria. She's lived in the same neighborhood for 30 years, a small two-bedroom house and her partner died about seven years ago. Since her arthritis has gotten worse, she's been thinking about leaving her home so she can afford to move, but nothing in her neighborhood is affordable. She's worried that she'll need in-home care or need to remodel her home and make it more accessible for mobility declines. Monica got a home equity loan on her house to help her kids buy their own homes. Also, Monica's currently living on Social Security, which will not cover higher housing or care costs.  ✔️ Housing - Problem Statement  Monica needs a way to transform her community because she has roots, connections, and a sense of community written into the fabric of her life. ✔️ Housing - Innovative Solutions  To help Monica and others access more affordable options and resources, we need to reframe the conversation around zoning and land use in our communities to increase density and encourage mixed-use. More notably, community support, family, and friends are important for Monica—this is important for all of us - no matter how old we are.  ✔️ Aging In Place Solutions for Older Adults Aging in Place begins with Housing. Ideas to solve these problems include; Forward-thinking when designing communities as Ryan Frederick does - retro-fitting spaces to be physically accessible and safe with universal design solutions.  If you'd like to learn more about Housing options and different models for housing, you can visit the AARP website on Housing in Livable Communities. You can also check out episode 40 on the Role of Place in Healthy Aging with Ryan Frederick on MelissaBPhD.com or on our YouTube channel. CAPABLE stands for Community Aging In Place: Advancing Better Living for Elders and is a person-directed, home-based solution that addresses both functional ability and healthcare expenses. CAPABLE provides integrated services by an Occupational Therapist, a Registered Nurse, and a handyman who all work together with the older adult to set goals and develop a plan to change behaviors to improve health and promote independence and safety.  If you'd like to learn more about this program, you can visit the website or email CAPABLEinfo@jhu.edu for more information.  You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where this episode can be found - MelissaBPhD.com We'd love to hear from you! --------------------------------------------- If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Older adults are at a greater risk of death, hospitalizations, and the impacts of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, renal disease, lung disease, and diabetes than younger people (Glass, 2006).  Preparing older adults and their families is the foundation of a resilient community. Improved emergency preparedness aims to reduce harm while also enabling older adults to maintain their health. Join us in today's episode of This Is Getting Old—Part 5: Emergency Preparedness and Resilience. This series is related to the 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge participated by George Washington University's Center for Aging, Health and Humanities, our five regional age-friendly municipalities, and our multiple partners.  Watch the full episode to hear about some resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Key points covered in this episode:    ✔️Emergency Preparedness and Resilience In Concept The concept of emergency preparedness and resilience generally means the ability of any community to respond to an emergency that impacts all residents. Anything like a natural disaster could range from a hurricane, a tornado, a blizzard, but anything that requires people to shelter in place or displaces them. ✔️ How Communities Should Handle Emergencies? How communities handle emergencies can either be integrated-oriented or segregated-oriented. But if it's an age-friendly city, it should be integrated-oriented to include all populations. Either way, during an emergency, any resident with mobility problems, chronic health conditions, or hearing, vision or cognitive impairment need to be prepared for emergencies by creating a plan, reviewing or practicing it regularly, and keeping an emergency supply kit.  ✔️ Emergency Preparedness and Resilience - Scenario   Earl is 71-years young, a retired bread company manager who lives in Arlington, VA and moved 12 years ago from Houston, TX, after losing his wife in a hurricane flood. Earl lives alone but has good friends in Crystal City. He can still get around on his own, walking and taking the bus. Lately, it has been raining, and Earl's home has flooded. His electricity is out, and he has no running water. Earl has been alive a long time and feels like he should know what to do, but help seems so far away.  ✔️Emergency Preparedness and Resilience - Problem Statement Earl needs to know what resources/supports are available to him locally because he needs to resolve the flooding in his home and possibly find temporary housing. Additionally, we need to connect him with a long term system of support to prevent/problem-solve these emergencies, either before they happen/as they happen.  ✔️Emergency Preparedness and Resilience - Innovative Solution A localized, community-specific emergency system/infrastructure should be developed that is flexible and composed of first responders, volunteers, liaisons, the aging network, the first community network, advisory council that includes older adults. This system could be used to:   proactively identify those who are most vulnerable (pre-emergency) create an "emergency contact network" in the community to run through drill scenarios to prepare meet immediate needs of individuals during emergencies conduct follow up post-emergency to connect individuals to systems of support and wider community (beyond their immediate needs during a time of crisis) conduct follow up surveys to determine whether targeted individuals/beneficiaries received appropriate support and information   ✔️Helpful Information – How To Prepare for an Emergency? Here's some information that may help you avoid problems during an emergency: Ready.gov lists essential items to have in a Disaster Supply Kit. Make sure you have a 3-day supply of medications, extra batteries for hearing aids, information about medical devices needed like a wheelchair, walker, or even an oxygen machine. The CDC has a document called the Complete Care Plan to guide you through essential documents to keep in waterproof bags, and you should take photos of each document as a backup.  You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where this episode can be found - MelissaBPhD.com We'd love to hear from you! --------------------------------------------- If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.  

The proportion of older adults with unmet care and support needs continues to grow significantly as care systems face significant problems in the United States of America. Although 20% of older adults aged 60 and over use home- and community-based support and health services, many older Amerian's and their families have a vague understanding of what is available for older adults. Addressing these unmet requirements is quickly becoming a top public health priority.  This week's episode of This Is Getting Old features Part 4: Community Support and Health Service. This episode is of the 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge. Watch the full episode or listen to the podcast to learn more about community support, health services, and programs specifically designed for older adults. Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️What are Community Support Services? Community supports are local services; such as an active intergenerational community center or a recreational center. These services and locations make it easier for older adults to connect and build community ties.  ✔️ What are Health Services? Health services include primary care providers, mental health services, substance abuse and treatment programs, preventive and health maintenance programs, rehabilitation programs, pharmacy services, and dental care - to name a few. What Worries June? Hear Maria Teresa McPhail, MD President & CEO At Vida Senior Centers' present a scenario developed by our Design Thinking Team about June.  June is 84 years old and a retired accountant. She lives in an area considered a "food desert," and she's afraid of COVID, even though she's fully vaccinated. When she runs low on groceries, the nearest grocery store that sells affordable, fresh groceries is seven miles away; she had no other option but to travel. June's Problem Statement Dr. Maria Teresa McPhail elaborated that June needs a way to access fresh and healthy food, socialize with other people because she has transportation barriers, lives alone, and has COVID-19 concerns.   Community Support and Health Services - Innovative Solution For June The team came up with "Creating Community Through Food" as an innovative solution for Community Support and Health Services for older adults like June.  Creating Community Through Food is a weekly, seasonal intergenerational cooking class.  What it does is; Offer outdoor cooking classes in the summer and virtual cooking sessions in the winter.   Through this program, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) brings local foods and includes a "know your farmer know your food" component.  It also includes transportation to the outdoor site, and volunteers will participate in developing peer-to-peer support.  Volunteer high schoolers and college students involved can gain service hours. Healthcare institutions see the program as a potential to recruit for career paths in long-term care and involve dietician students. Essentially, the program encourages adults and older adults to attend in person to refer them to other resources based on need and be involved in senior centers that may have existing similar programs.   You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where this episode can be found - MelissaBPhD.com We'd love to hear from you! --------------------------------------------- If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

With the population's aging, community engagement has become a critical factor in achieving healthy aging. Low levels of community engagement have been associated with higher death rates and social isolation. In line with these themes, the active aging approach of the World Health Organization and the age-friendly community strategy are both participatory and empowering. They blend 'top-down' policy initiatives to encourage and facilitate community engagement and employment with 'bottom-up' participation of older adults in developing their activities.  Furthermore, the process involves older adults and all levels of government, and essential players from all aspects of society. Today's episode of This Is Getting Old features Part 3: Civic Engagement and Employment of the 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge.   Please tune in to learn more about civic engagement and employment programs specifically designed for older adults and how these programs can help us move towards an age-friendly world. Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️Civic Engagement As A Concept Civic engagement includes: Connecting with others in your community. Serving and giving  Any activities such as volunteering Charitable giving Voting in presidential and local elections   Given we also talk about employment, if you haven't heard of the Age-Friendly Employer program, you can check out episode 58 with Tim Driver, Founder, and CEO of Age-Friendly Venture. Also, check out related This Is Getting Old episodes 90 and 91 with Larry Samuel. ✔️ Joseph's Situation Joseph lived in Brooklyn with his daughter and school-age grandchildren. He got in trouble because he ordered magazines from the phone—which is a scam— and his daughter told him he couldn't use the phone anymore. Joseph is 79, retired, and wants something to do. He feels like he's home alone in the daytime and doesn't know how to proceed.         ✔️The Problem? Many programs to connect people to civic engagement and employment opportunities already exist. However, many people—like Joseph— don't know about them. ✔️The Challenge?—Reaching Target Audiences With Information About Civic And Employment Opportunities.  There are a lot of resources, and the challenge is reaching the target audiences, which includes older adults and their families. After all, everyone is aging, so they'll need information about civic engagement and employment at some point. ✔️innovative Solution On The National Level Promote a nationwide initiative, creating awareness that older adults' civic engagement and employment opportunities exist and are essential to their well-being.  ✔️Community Ambassador Programs Local-level ambassador programs, giving a personal connection to the opportunities shared in these outlets, local volunteers receive training to work in their neighborhoods, connecting them personally with people to find them the right opportunities for them.  You may also have another idea for a solution - or know of a program that would help older adults and their families facing similar challenges. Please add your comments below this video - or on my website where this episode can be found - MelissaBPhD.com We'd love to hear from you! -------------------------------------------------------------- If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Anyone can be abused, regardless of age, gender, nationality, religion, ethnicity, or social background. Hundreds of thousands of adults over 60 years old are mistreated, neglected, or monetarily exploited every year. More than half a million reports of elder abuse are made to the police each year in the United States alone, and many more go unreported. If an older adult becomes more physically or cognitively frail, they may become less capable of self-care, resisting bullying, or defending themselves if/ when assaulted. Moreover, they may not see, hear, or understand as clearly as they once did, leaving them vulnerable to unscrupulous persons.   With these conditions in mind, This Is Getting Old together with The George Washington University Center for Aging, Health and Humanities, and multiple multi-sector partners present a 10-part AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge to you.   Today's episode will be on Abuse, Fraud, and Neglect. Tune in to learn more about how we can help older adults victimized by abuse, fraud, or neglect.   Key points covered in this episode:  ✔️Coming Together For Victims of Abuse, Fraud, and Neglect. University students from the D.C. Metro area, older adults and local leaders who live in the region and work in the age-friendly space participated in a forum to develop abuse, fraud, and neglect solutions.   ✔️Do You Know Any Alberta's? Alberta is the persona developed as an example by the Abuse, Fraud, and Neglect Design Thinking team as a scenario with common circumstances in an intergenerational home. In the team's problem statement, Alberta, age 79, stays with her daughter and grandchildren, but they are rarely home. So to make the most out of her time, Alberta cleans the house and does what she can do. When she was alone one day, Alberta answered the phone call from a sales representative asking her to buy a bunch of magazines—which was a scam. After the incident, Alberta's daughter did not want her to use the phone.          ✔️What Makes Alberta So Susceptible To Scam? Understand and be familiar with the different forms of abuse, fraud, or neglect that you might not be mindful of. In Alberta's case, the roots of her susceptibility to abuse, fraud, and neglect are social isolation, not being used to working, role reversal, relationship strains, and many other things.  ✔️Age-Friendly Solutions For Alberta Several locals, state, and national social service organizations can assist with emotional, legal, and financial abuse. To name one, Silver Social Connect is a single-stop service that connects peers with their wider community through multiple means to help mitigate social isolation. ✔️How Can We Help Alberta? Everyone has the right to live in peace, decency, and respect. Abuse or neglect among older adults will not go away on its own. Someone else must step up and help. Many older adults are embarrassed to report abuse. Or they're scared that if they file a complaint, the abuser will find out, and the problem will worsen. If you feel that an older adult is in danger from a negligent or burdened guardian or being monetarily exploited, you must speak out.    Here are some hotlines and resources you can use to help victims of abuse, fraud or neglect. U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging's Fraud Hotline: 855-303-9470,  Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 Resources:  The Fraud Book at the Special Committee for Aging --------------------------------------------------------------   If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (G.W.) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the G.W. Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.  

Welcome to This Is Getting Old with your host Melissa Batchelor. I share a recent initiative I've been working on called the AARP / Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge.  This episode is Part I: Overview of a special 10-part series related to several regional events we've held at the George Washington University's Center for Aging, Health and Humanities. Learn from the outcomes of our collaborative projects with five regional age-friendly municipalities and our multi sector partners. This is the first time a region has worked together to create innovative solutions.   History Age-Friendly Cities and Communities' started in 2007 by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2012, AARP became an independent affiliate organization for the United States wherein they created the AARP Network of the Age-Friendly States and Communities. There are six principles for a livable community (listed below). These include issues like affordability, equitable access, quality and choice accessibility and the ability to age in place. Health, safety and environmental sustainability, as well as holistic policymaking.  And that's where these initiatives come in. Holistic policymaking is where all communities should seek to improve the interconnectedness for issues related to health, wellness, safety, work, education, environment and social engagement. And that's really what we've been trying to do over the past couple of years with our multi-sector partners. Six Principles of Livable Communities include:  Affordability Equitable Access  Quality and Choice Accessibility and the ability to age in place Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability Holistic Policymaking - all communities should seek to improve the interconnectedness of such issues as health, wellness, safety, work, education, environment, and social engagement. Regional Movement Towards An Age-Friendly World:  Main Point 1:  2021 Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit event (launched in May 2021)  Our Regional Age-Friendly Municipality Partners include Age-Friendly Alexandria Jane King Age-Friendly Arlington  Rachel Coates  Age-Friendly DC Gail Kohn Age-Friendly Hyattsville  Marci LeFevre Age-Friendly Montgomery County Marcia Pruzan Each age-friendly municipality has up to 12 domains that they can use to create an action plan (listed below). These domains include housing, transportation, outdoor spaces and buildings, health services and community support. This work has been in progress for the past decade, and more recently other age-friendly initiatives have developed. So things like the Age-Friendly Health System, Age-Friendly Public Health, Age-Friendly Universities, Age-Friendly Businesses and Employers. And here at GW, we added Age-Friendly Arts and Creativity to our Age-Friendly Ecosystem.   12 Domains of Livability for Age-Friendly Municipalities  Housing Outdoor Spaces and Buildings Transportation Communication and Information Civic Participation and Employment Respect and Social Inclusion Health Services and Community Supports Social Participation Emergency Preparedness Elder Abuse Public Safety Dementia-Friendly 5 Age-Friendly Initiatives AF Health Systems AF Public Health AF Universities AF Businesses + Employers AF Arts & Creativity  Creativity in Aging: Wendy Miller, PhD Author Sky Above Clouds and widow of founding CAHH Director, Dr. Gene Cohen See Me at the Smithsonian: Robin Marquis and Amy Castine  2021 Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit Goal: Raise Awareness of Age-Friendly Initiatives 2 Day Virtual Event  Day 1:  Regional Leaders Day 2:  Age-Friendly Municipality Best Practices A total of 13 Podcast episodes with national age-friendly leaders will be made accessible and are publicly available on this website (and some are hyperlinked above). Age-friendly initiatives such as health systems, public health, businesses, universities, and others have not been well integrated. Social innovation will be required to build a regional Age-Friendly Ecosystem that fosters a greater sense of inclusion through intergenerational civic engagement and public service initiatives. For this particular initiative, we continue to work with our five Age-Friendly partners. But we also added another center at the George Washington Honey National Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. We began to collaborate with George Washington University's Aging and Health Program. Main Point 2: 2021 AARP/ Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge  (October 2021) This is made possible due to the generous support of AARP. With 3,560 Applications Nationally; 244 Funded (6.8%) Goals for the AARP  Social Innovation Challenge : Bring a diverse, intergenerational group of participants together for one day to design actionable strategies for how communities can be more age-friendly and  Establish a website repository of our age-friendly partners Hyperlinks to Select Media Coverage: AARP Press Release AARP DC Press Release Positive Aging Sourcebook Podcast   During the 1 -Day Virtual Event, 126 Attendees filled the morning and afternoon sessions to come together for Design Thinking Process and generate Innovative Ideas.   EVENT OVERVIEW     Prior to Event   2021 Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit materials     1 -Day Virtual Event: 126 Total Attendees   Morning Session (Invitation Only): 76 Attendees Domain Breakout Groups led through Design Thinking Process to generate Innovative Ideas Afternoon Session (Open to the public): 92 Attendees Domain Presentations of Innovative Ideas Main Point 3: Outcomes of Domain Breakout Results will be released through podcasts as Parts 2-10 of this special series. Overview/ Process and Outcomes Abuse, Fraud, and Neglect Civic Engagement and Employment Community Support and Health Services Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Housing Lifelong Learning, Respect and Social Inclusion Long-Term Care Workforce and Caregiving Social Participation Transportation --------------------------------------------------------------- If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.    About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN: I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about my work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Carla Leon joins the pod to talk about social - or spiritual as she likes to call it - enterprise, how she sees spiritual enterprise as a "new religion" for millenials, and  why church has to re-examine what she calls the "book, box, preacher" model and make more space for the many, many different kids of spiritual practices that exist.  Carla is Innovation & Special Projects co-ordinator for the EDGE - A Network for Ministry Development at the United Church of Canada where she has launched a central procurement platform, an innovation fund, the Social Innovation Challenge and most recently a coaching program to help communities of faith re-imagine who they are in community. She works directly in supporting their 400 new initiatives that have been funded through their innovation fund, the 600 social innovations that have launched through the Social Innovation Challenge, and working directly with communities of faith to help them reimagine church outside of Sunday. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

How stressed are you, mama? Is the political climate in this country just about driving you crazy? In her most transparent and raw episode yet, Erin gets real and offers real solutions in the wake of the elections. Resources to help your children be the solution and channel your concerns: worldvision.org/ignite What Is Ignite: https://youtu.be/goZzMiXtBb4 Student testimonial – what kids don’t learn on mission trips: https://youtu.be/DJzkzocJMqY Part of Ignite – the Social Innovation Challenge: https://youtu.be/372EZ-4u6Rc

CliffCentral.com — Women and girls have been getting attention and consideration as they are seen as more vulnerable to abuse and attacks, as well as being less privileged. What this world order fails to grasp is the fact that the boy child has the same or worse challenges as girls have. Campaigns to save the girl child are prevalent and dominate the social discourse. When you save the boy child from all these, by defending and fighting for his rights, you save a whole generation. That boy, upon growing up into a responsible man, father and husband, mentors his generation in the same way, all down his lineage - hence the need to have initiatives where boys can be mentored and embraced by responsible men in communities. Plus we hear more about the Social Innovation Challenge. The Social Innovation Challenge

CliffCentral.com — More than half of the South Africans who run their own businesses are youth, according to the Real State of Entrepreneurship Survey 2017, undertaken by the Seed Academy. More than 1,200 entrepreneurs took part in the research project. Its findings also showed that the gap between male and female entrepreneurs was closing, with the latter now making up 47% of entrepreneurs. While South Africa is considered an entrepreneurial leader in sub-Saharan Africa, its weakest link in terms of its entrepreneurial ecosystem is start-up skills. This poses the question, what skills can local youth be taught, in order to improve their appetite for entrepreneurship? Talking to us about the various entrepreneurial opportunities out there, we had in studio with us: LJ Swart – MD at Oxigen Communications, Marie Schourie – CEO of The Workspace, as well as Busi Raphekwane from Transformation Legacy. We also catch up with Keri-Leigh Paschal from Nation Builder, about their Social Innovation Challenge.

Kanti Simmons kickstarts the show by telling us how we can get over our mess and claim victory over our challenges in our everyday life. In our top tech news segment, we talk about Satellites that track your every movement, the US wanting to regulate cryptocurrencies and how Blockchain is being used in the food stalls industry in Kenya. We end off the show with an Interview by Nation Builder Executive Director, Keri-Leigh Paschal, who unpacks her social entrepreneurship activities and the Social Innovation Challenge, which is an open-call for innovation in that space. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africa-podcast-network/support

Kanti Simmons kickstarts the show by telling us how we can get over our mess and claim victory over our challenges in our everyday life. In our top tech news segment, we talk about Satellites that track your every movement, the US wanting to regulate cryptocurrencies and how Blockchain is being used in the food stalls industry in Kenya. We end off the show with an Interview by Nation Builder Executive Director, Keri-Leigh Paschal, who unpacks her social entrepreneurship activities and the Social Innovation Challenge, which is an open-call for innovation in that space. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/digibiz-africa/support

Kanti Simmons kickstarts the show by telling us how we can get over our mess and claim victory over our challenges in our everyday life. In our top tech news segment, we talk about Satellites that track your every movement, the US wanting to regulate cryptocurrencies and how Blockchain is being used in the food stalls industry in Kenya. We end off the show with an Interview by Nation Builder Executive Director, Keri-Leigh Paschal, who unpacks her social entrepreneurship activities and the Social Innovation Challenge, which is an open-call for innovation in that space. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

CliffCentral.com — Enterprise development involves the growing of small and medium-sized black businesses through the provision of finance and support, assisting in their business development and sustainability. Many corporates have climbed on the bandwagon to help small businesses achieve their goals and objectives to ensure all their needs are met. The annual Buy Local Summit & Expo is its flagship event, which for the first time in 2017 was extended to two days. The 2018 7th edition of the Summit & Expo took place on 14 and 15 March at the Sandton Convention Centre. Another enterprise development programme that is currently running is Threads - an 18-week accelerator programme focusing on the business of fashion. Our guests are Cleo Zwane - Senior Marketing Manager at Standard Bank; Candy Tothill - General Manager for Corporate Affairs at Tsogo Sun; Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi - Chief Officer of Marketing and Communications at Proudly SA, as well as Ravi Pillay - Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Director at Nestle. Plus, find out more about the Nation Builder Social Innovation Challenge. The Social Innovation Challenge

CliffCentral.com — Nation Builder, together with the Stellenbosch University LaunchLab and the Mergon Group, is inviting business pitches for their inaugural Social Innovation Challenge. The competition aims to identify and support South Africa’s social entrepreneurs, with an opportunity to win a share of R150 000 seed capital. Entrepreneurs with a self-sustainable business idea – no matter how simple or small – that addresses particular social issues, positively impacts communities, empowers the disadvantaged, or has the potential to solve local problems in innovative ways, are invited to enter the Social Innovation Challenge. Ten finalists will receive exposure to a broader network of business investors at the final pitching event, which will be hosted by LaunchLab in Stellenbosch on 13 June 2018. Three final winners will receive their portion of R150 000 funding capital, as well as business support from LaunchLab. The Social Innovation Challenge

Rogelio Garcia Contreras is the Director of Social Innovation at the Sam Walton College of Business, and he's planting the seeds of social entrepreneurship in NWA. Through bringing the Social Innovation Challenge to the University of Arkansas, Rogelio has created a collaborative environment for anyone who's interested in solving pressing community problems with, you guessed it, innovation. By encouraging entrepreneurial social innovation, Rogelio provides a compelling argument for companies to establish viable and sustainable operational processes with the fate of the community and future generations in mind.    Check out the Social Innovation Initiative of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation here! To learn more about the Social Innovation Challenge, shoot Rogelio an email at rogeliog@uark.edu.    Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!   Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com Michael@startupjunkie.org