Introduction: Bringing Civic Engagement into Sharper Focus

Abstract

A call for bold step., and some questions. Gerontology theorists have long considered in activities as a key factor in the experience of older adults. From activity theory (Havighurst, 1963) to the successful-aging model of Rowe and Kahn (1998), gerontologists have been strongly attracted to the idea that active in society is related to well-being in later life. They have extolled various types of activities-social, productive, religious, educational, intergenerational. Today, as the demographic, economic, and social realities of our world change in ways that are often unsettling, another type of is gaining attention-civic engagement. The confluence of increasingly complex social problems, and the burgeoning numbers of people who can expect to live twenty to thirty years past retirement, call us to consider the possibilities of a civically engaged older population. Older adults vitally engaged in activities aimed at the social good- this win-win scenario has captured the imagination of many gerontologists. Today the term is widely used by people in many different realms-politicians, funders, program developers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and nonprofit executives. The national organizations in aging, the American Society on Aging, National Council on Aging, and the Gerontological Society of America, all have projects on engagement. Charitable foundations and others who underwrite projects, research, and programs in aging are supporting initiatives; and the topic was high profile at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. With all this attention, now is the time to step back and bring our thoughts about and the aging population into sharper focus, to engage in a discussion that has the potential to shape the civic movement (Adler and Goggin, 2005) for millions of aging adults. As guest editors, we hope that this issue of Generations will take us in that direction. We have brought together people who have thought a lot about in later life-advocates, critics, researchers, administrators, and program developers. We have tried to present a range of ideas that reflects the breadth of the topic itself Two of this issue's authors, McBride and Henkin, provide the definition that we find most helpful: Quoting Christiano (1996), they write that civic engagement refers to citizen action tiiat has public consequence for our communities and the polity. Two spheres of behaviors are included: political and social. Political engagement refers to those behaviors that influence governmental processes at the local, state, and national levels. Social engagement refers to actions that connect individuals to others and that relate to care or development (Wuthnow, 1991). In both spheres, these actions are usually voluntary and include mutual aid, volunteerism, and service. Achenbaum gives us the historical perspective from which to consider the current scene. We review the mainstream activities of volunteering (Rozario), service (Morrow-Howell), mutual aid (CarltonLaNey), and political involvement (Binstock). And we break out of more traditional definitions of by including a burgeoning new arena that brings together older adults, engagement, and paid employment. Anticipating the needs and desires of the baby boomer generation- for paying jobs and a sense of purpose- Freedman paints a career-focused picture of for older adults. We review the most current initiatives in engagement. Cullinane provides an overview of the national initiatives of gerontological associations, and we present the award-winning programs selected by ncoa. Further, Endres distills the lessons learned from programs across the country to guide best practices in of older adults. Also, O'Neill presents his perspectives on as addressed at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. …

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