How We Chose the 2019 Influencers in Aging

We take the process of selecting our annual Influencers in Aging very seriously because we know our list is an important one. Our goal is to name a dozen groundbreakers who, in the past year, have helped transform attitudes about aging, presented innov… Continue reading

How to Survive Empty Nest Weekends

Paula Durlofsky may be a psychologist, but that hardly made her immune last fall to the emotional wallop of her second daughter heading off to college, leaving Durlofsky and her husband Larry, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., living in what felt like an extremely em… Continue reading

The ‘Badass Grandmas’ Who Fought Corruption and Won

When Dina Butcher’s 17-year-old grandson Owen and his friend Cole saw early promotional material from a group calling for tough anti-corruption reforms in North Dakota, Cole said: “Is that your Grandma? Wow, she’s a badass!” The “Badass Grandmas” monik… Continue reading

In Motion: The Stories Behind the Next Avenue Photo Exhibit

Cristobal Trejo, a worker at the famed Churchill Downs racetrack, provides daily care for the horses he loves. Carol Challas, a breast cancer survivor, founded the Derby City Dragons, a supportive and dedicated dragon boat team with 40 members, compris… Continue reading

How to Volunteer at a Vineyard or Winery This Fall

In the classic I Love Lucy episode, Lucy’s Italian Movie, Lucille Ball brought her audience to tears of laughter as she stomped grapes while visiting a winery. Well, grape-stomping hasn’t been allowed as part of the wine production process in the U.S. … Continue reading

A Guide to Taking a Gap Year or Gap Time in Midlife

Have you ever wished that you could put your career on hold to travel or volunteer, just like some high school or college graduates do before setting foot on campus or accepting their first job? While taking a gap year is more common for teens and 20-s… Continue reading

The College Programs Where Young and Older People Connect

An inspiring intergenerational connections movement has been growing at colleges across the country, bringing together students and primarily lower-income older adults from local communities. Intergenerational Connections: Students Serving Older Adults… Continue reading

How Does Your School Garden Grow?

(Editor’s Note: We’ve entered the season of the year when fresh produce is abundant in home gardens and at farmers’ markets. This month, Next Avenue is focusing on how gardens can not only provide healthy options, but can also make an impact on the com… Continue reading

The Joys of My Hipster Dog Park

I was new to a transitioning Washington, D.C. neighborhood when I adopted two rescue puppies in 2015; Tennessee Williams and Hudson River were their formal names. They found a home with me in my urban oasis, a quiet enclave in the District, lined with … Continue reading

OPINION: 2020 Election: The Candidates’ National Service Plans

I’ve been studying the candidates running for president, searching for ideas they have to bring us together as a nation. As a former board member of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service (which includes AmeriCorps and Senior Corps)… Continue reading