More than 125 Detroit area senior citizens and those who provide services to the elderly have signed up for Wayne State University's "Art of Aging Successfully" conference April 18 at the Burton Manor in Livonia.
The participants will join speakers Libby Maynard, former director of Michigan's "Services to the Aging" office; Yoga instructor Eddie Pierce; Jan Calle, who specializes in learning during retirement years; and others at the event co-hosted by the WSU Institute of Gerontology and the Elder Advisors to Research of the Institute.
Other speakers will be Ted Hunt, a well-known humorist, motivational speaker, singer, musician and educator; and June Clark, a trainer in the Active Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elders (ACTIVE) program at the Institute of Gerontology.
Also featured will be wisdom shared by contestants in an essay writing exercise for seniors:
- Rita began writing after the death of her husband. She writes: "How can I make a difference in someone's life?"
- Mary spent her early years picking cotton, graduated from Wayne State and became an educator, now retired. "Success is worked for, not wished for," she says.
- Doris, facing serious physical challenges, describes life as a work in progress, no matter the age.
- Lucia believes growing old is a process of learning, assuming responsibility and sharing love.
More about the contest, the seniors who wrote for the contest, a complete program of speakers and their topics and more information is available from Jennifer Mendez, director of education for the Institute of Gerontology, at (313) 577-2297