The Reinvention Convention:
A provocative series of discussions around aging
Co-founded by three well-known community organizations
Most people are aware that Sarasota County occupies a unique place among communities in the United States and around the world because of its demographics. However, while there is a large number of part and full-time residents over the age of 65 further uniquely the population is evenly split in thirds with one-third under the age of 35, one-third between 35-64, and that famous 65+ cohort. Because of that, the county is at the epicenter of a broad range of compelling age-related issues – all meaningful – that require care, attention and focus. It also is wonderfully age-balanced, with the human life cycle in community form.
The Mission
The Reinvention Convention is a provocative series of discussions around aging, designed to encourage thought leadership, change minds, and instigate action by providing a platform for discourse on compelling age-related issues.
Well-known Community Partners
The Senior Friendship Centers, The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College, and the JFCS of the Suncoast represent a core consortium that have joined together to co-produce this 6-year series of conferences to discuss high-interest subjects. Each organization cares deeply about the issues impacting older adults and the community at large.
The Series
November 9, 2017 Disrupt Aging
November 9, 2018 Intergenerational Harmony
November 15, 2019 Life Creativity
November 13, 2020 The Brain
November 12, 2021 Relationships
November 11, 2022 The Dress Rehearsal/Reframing Aging
Each Year, A Headliner
Disrupting Aging Each year, the event will feature a headline speaker. The Premiere, 2017 conference featured Dr. Bill Thomas, an author, entrepreneur, musician, teacher, farmer and physician (gerontologist) whose wide-ranging work explores the terrain of human aging. He is the founder of The Eden Alternative, which works to improve care provided to older people. The Wall Street Journal highlighted him as one of the nation’s ‘top 10 innovators’ changing the future of retirement in America.
Intergenerational Harmony The 2018 conference featured Chuck Underwood, the founder and principal of The Generational Imperative. He’s consulted with a range of corporations, governments and non-profits on ways to identify and encourage generational cooperation. His talk, ‘One America, Five Generations’ focused on generational differences and opportunities for cross-generational interaction.
Life Creativity The 2019 conference assembles a superstar cast of Creative Experts to give us some practical help in navigating life’s challenges as we age through building creative confidence. Dr. Larry Thompson, President, Ringling College of Art + Design, will speak on Creativity as THE 21st C. skillset. Dr. Hank Hine, Executive Director, The Dali Museum, will talk about using Salvador Dali’s art to inspire ways to shift perceptions of the world. Anne Marie Russell, Executive Director, Sarasota Art Museum, will moderate a discussion between the two on using creative practice to grow confidence in living a long life well.
Reinvention Convention 2019 Sponsors
Reinvention Convention
Planning Committee Partners and Their Mission Statements
Members at Large
Senior Friendship Centers: Erin McLeod, CEO & President
Our Mission: To promote health, dignity and quality of life throughout the journey of aging. Our Vision: To lead the way in delivery of comprehensive services that enrich the lives of older adults and their families.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College: Janna Overstreet, Executive Director
The mission of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College is to enrich the lives of mature adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties by providing affordable and outstanding educational programs and social interaction that cover a broad spectrum of topics and are rich in intellectual stimulation, often interactive in scope, and worthy of academic consideration.
JFCS of the Suncoast: Pam Baron, Director of Senior Services
Our Mission: Guided by the Jewish tradition of helping all people, JFCS empowers individuals and families toward self-sufficiency.
Members At Large:
Nancy Schlossberg, EdD: Author, Professor Emerita University of Maryland,
Co-President Transitionworks
Art Mahoney: Community member aging gracefully and productively in Sarasota
Susan Jackewicz: Takhi Associates, Principal, and Family Caregiving Advocate