Giving Back
How older Ohioans overcame age—and poverty—to serve their communities: The story of SCSEP

Introduction

When Lillian Carter, mother of President Jimmy Carter, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in India at 68, she showed that age is no barrier to community service. In this report, we share the stories of older Ohioans who overcame not only age but also poverty to serve their community through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

Four decades ago, the War on Poverty launched SCSEP, which some would now describe as a “civic engagement” program for low-income seniors. It has become a major program under the Older Americans Act. Last year it enabled 94,000 seniors across the nation to contribute 46 million hours working in thousands of local nonprofit and public agencies while learning new skills to equip them to re-enter the workforce.

Over the next decade, Ohio will become completely dependent on workers over 55 to generate all of the growth in its labor force. As you read this report, I invite you to consider the multiple dividends that are produced when seniors in need receive opportunities to earn, learn, and serve. I welcome your comments; email me at tsarmiento@ssa-i.org.

Anthony R. Sarmiento
President and Executive Director
Senior Service America

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