AARP’s recent Longevity Economy Outlook report reinforces many of the major themes that Encore members have long been focused on. The report explores the wide-ranging impact of the 50-plus population in the US, including $12.5 trillion in annual economic activity in 2024.

To share insights on this groundbreaking report, we are excited to welcome Lina Walker, AARP’s SVP of Global Thought Leadership, in a conversation with Lem Lloyd, founder of LongevityWorkers.

Dr. Walker leads AARP’s International, Thought Leadership, and Brain Health portfolios, advancing ideas, partnerships, and solutions that enable people to live healthier, longer, and more financially resilient lives.

Whether a journal entry, a letter, drafts of an idea, or word doodles on a sticky note, writing changes the form of what we have in our heads. Word prompts help us remember the rich inventory of our lives. Photo-prompts can start us on a journey that curiosity and imagination help us continue.

Writing can boost our mental sharpness, help us process life experiences, and reduce stress. It can also improve our memory, build emotional strength, and create a sense of personal purpose.

Whether for fun, sport, or purpose, join Kendall Dudley for an hour to see what writing may bring forth in you. We’ll play with writing in shapes, different speeds, and adding color. Then you’ll have a chance to read what you write, if you like.

Kendall Dudley has taught writing for 40 years in academic, adult ed, and community settings, including assisted living sites, family retreats and Bedouin tents in Morocco. His partially autobiographical novel “Woman in Red Gloves” will be published in 2027. Kendall is a longtime member, director and program leader for the Life Planning Network. He co-facilitates the Transitions & Life Design Lab Affinity Group.

‍

Donna Butts is a Senior Fellow and former Executive Director at Generations United. In that role, which she held for more than 27 years, Butts testified before Congress, addressed the United Nations, spoke before the Federal Reserve Board, and presented in more than a dozen countries.

Her new book, Grandfamilies: Stories of Children and the Loving Relatives Who Raise Them shines a light on the ongoing fight for resources and recognition these families deserve. Butts will be in conversation with Adele Ryono – a high school student; member of the San Mateo County Commission on Aging and Youth; founder of reGenerations, a nonprofit oral history program; and CoGen Voices Fellow. Ryono’s own close relationship with her grandmother shaped how she thinks about family and about working across generations for social change.

‍

Dorian Mintzer will sit down with Rick Moody to discuss his latest book, The Power of Dreams in Later Life. Together, they’ll explore why dreams matter as we age, what they can reveal about our inner lives, unresolved questions, and the psychological work that continues well into our later years.

The conversation will delve into the meaning behind dreams, how they shift across the lifespan, and what attending to them can teach us about growth, memory, and self-understanding in later life. Whether you’re curious about dream interpretation, interested in aging and psychology, or simply a fan of Rick Moody’s work, this is a conversation not to be missed.

‍