Robert Tietze, director and co-founder of Experience Corps Philadelphia — a program run through Temple’s Center for Intergenerational Learning — was recently appointed by Gov. Edward Rendell to serve on an advisory committee studying civic engagement and workforce development for those over age 50.

Tietze is one of only two non-governmental appointees to the committee. With his extensive experience in civic engagement, volunteer management, program expansion and infrastructure design, he will be involved in helping develop policy recommendations that support older volunteers in the workplace; significantly expanding and strengthening the service infrastructure to supportlarge-scale civic engagement for adults over 50; and increasing life-long learning opportunitiesforolder adults. Pennsylvania is one of seven states leading the nationwide initiative.

“It’s been said that our older adults are this country’s only increasing natural resource,” Tietze said. “We need to tap this great resource by re-tooling retirees through training, creating flexible workplaces and offering rewarding opportunities that engage our retirees in helping to address the many critical challenges that face out communities, our schools and our families.”

Strategies that the bellwether states are looking at to engage older adults in the community include service and leadership opportunities, job skill training, employer training for re-engaging retirees, and personal growth and development programs.

“Employers will need to design opportunities for retirees to work on flexible schedules and see the potential of integrating the experience and wisdom of older workers, while service organizations and non-profits will need to establish an infrastructure for engaging this vast power of volunteer service through meaningful and rewarding roles,” said Tietze.

Earlier this year, Rendell proclaimed the week of March 30th Civic Engagement Week. Tietze feels this gesture represents a significant change in attitudes about aging.

“We’re starting to rethink the possibilities and diverse roles that older adults and retirees—and perhaps more importantly, Pennsylvanians — will play in the 21st century,” he said. “I expect that Experience Corps and the Center for Intergenerational Learning will be important resources in helping the state realize its goal.”

Rendell’s proclamation highlights the demographic shift in Pennsylvania, where 20 percent of the population is currently over age 60, as well as across the country; over the next 15 years, 20 percent of Americans will be over age 65, and 77 million baby boomers will enter retirement.

“This shift to a ‘graying America’ will have a seismic impact on virtually every aspect of our culture and our society, and I’m honored and excited to be involved in what I believe is one of the most important issues of our time — to ensure we don’t let this enormous amount of talent, knowledge and experience go to waste,” said Tietze.