Stories
Media inquiries and requests for speakers
For media inquiries and requests for speakers, please email Stefanie Weiss, director of communications, at [email protected].
He’d Never Considered the Nonprofit Sector. Now He Doesn’t Want To Leave.
David Pfeifer brought decades of experience running small and mid-size businesses to Futures and Options last year when he joined the team as an Encore Fellow — a seasoned professional paid a stipend to work at a nonprofit for 3 to 12 months. When his fellowship...
For This Encore Fellow, the Reward Comes From Both Learning and Teaching
Kathleen Kostrzewa brought corporate IT and business development experience — plus age diversity — to the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program last year, when she joined the team as an Encore Fellow. “Kathy has decades of experience and offers our team sage advice and a...
City of San Jose Expands Virtual Mentoring Program for Underserved Youth
In 2020, San Jose Works — a city program that provides underserved youth between the ages of 14 and 29 paid internships at local businesses, city agencies and nonprofits — added a new element. Now experienced professionals serve as mentors to the interns, offering...
For This Encore Physician, the Pandemic Creates “A Greater Sense of Purpose”
I was a Kaiser physician for decades, and I knew it was time to move on. As a cardiologist, the demands of the job and the engagement you need to have, you kind of have to be an adrenaline junkie. I wasn’t ready to give that up entirely, but wanted to work 2-3...
These AmeriCorps Members at SBP Are Bridging the Generational Divide
SBP, a national disaster relief organization that engages AmeriCorps members in rebuilding homes, has had 49 members over the age of 50 — working alongside younger members, solving problems together and bridging divides. Here are three stories — two from boomers and...
She’s Helping Under-Resourced Youth of Color Prepare for Careers in Tech
Decades ago, Marlene Somerville moved from Manchester, England to Silicon Valley to pursue dreams of success in the tech industry. And she found it, working 23 years in various IT roles at Intel. But when Intel offered Marlene an early retirement package, she was...