Creative Aging, Retirement, Transitions and Purpose Among Topics at the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) 2005

From a weeklong, in-depth program on “Creativity in the Third Age” to keynote and featured presenters on creativity and learning in transitions and retirement, the 51st Annual Creative Problem Solving Institute will explore aspects of aging and creativity in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 26-July 1. Produced by the Creative Education Foundation (CEF), CPSI is the longest-running creativity event in the world, focused on applied imagination and creativity. Details are available at http://www.cpsiconference.com.

(PRWEB) April 4, 2005

World’s longest-running creativity conference explores why “Creativity Matters” in St. Paul, Minnesota, from June 26 to July 1, 2005.

From a weeklong, in-depth program on “Creativity in the Third Age” to keynote and featured presenters on creativity and learning in transitions and retirement, the 51st Annual Creative Problem Solving Institute will explore aspects of aging and creativity in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 26-July 1. Produced by the Creative Education Foundation (CEF), CPSI is the longest-running creativity event in the world, focused on applied imagination and creativity. Details are available at http://www.cpsiconference.com.

“It’s no secret that people are living longer and working longer,” says CEF General Manager Steven Dahlberg. “77 million aging baby boomers present both a need for creativity, as well as new opportunities for applying creativity to later-life transitions. ‘Creative aging’ deals with topics such as engagement in meaningful activity, flourishing, well-being, longevity, mental fitness and positive aging.

“CPSI 2005 will provide a variety of ways to explore how creativity can be personally applied to your own life as you face retirement from your career, as well as how to professionally approach ideas of creative aging with older communities in which you work and live.”

CPSI 2005 provides participants with several opportunities to learn and explore issues around creative aging and retirement:

• Keynoter Mary Catherine Bateson on being “Willing to Learn: Living Curious, Ambiguous and Imaginative Lives.” Bateson is an anthropologist, educator and author of “With a Daughter's Eye: A Memoir of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson” and “Composing a Life.” She will expand on her ideas about life as an improvisatory art and share why a lifelong willingness to learn can lead to a creative, flourishing life - at any age.
• Featured presenter Richard Leider on “Claiming Your Place at the Fire: Creating the Second Half of Your Life on Purpose.” Leider, author of “The Power of Purpose,” looks at who the “new elders” are and how they are crafting the second half of their life on purpose. Leider will help participants explore questions and answers to: Who am I? Where do I belong? What do I care about? What is my purpose?
• Featured presenter Judith Salerno on “Vital Visionaries: Creativity, Aging and Health.” Salerno is deputy director at the National Institute on Aging. She has supported NIA-funded research into overcoming stereotypes about aging, including looking at how late life can be a period of great fulfillment and creativity. Salerno will share details about one such study in which first-year medical students and healthy older people successfully participated in a four-part art journey together to improve communication and understanding.
• The “Creativity in the Third Age: Finding Purpose in Transition, Retirement and Aging” program provides a weeklong excursion into creating a frame for aging and integrating creativity and purpose into life transitions. This program is led by the Center for Third Age Leadership’s William Idol, Nancy Cosgriff and Ronn Williamson, and Nancy Wilson of Northern Power Systems.
• Additional session topics on creative aging include cognitive fitness for seniors, creative expression in the golden years, coaching for creative third agers, and finding grace at the center in the mature years.

In support of creative aging programming, CPSI 2005 is pleased to have the partnership of the Vital Aging Network, Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality, and the Center for Third Age Leadership.

CPSI 2005 offers additional programs covering creative thinking and problem solving in a diversity of topics. Additional featured presenters include economist and author Richard Florida, Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels, the Guthrie Theater’s Joe Dowling, retired FBI agent Coleen Rowley, Toyota's head of training Mike Morrison, Intel anthropologist Genevieve Bell, and author Efiong Etuk. Complete information about the conference can be found online at http://www.cpsiconference.com or by phoning 800-447-2774 or 413-559-6614.

As the centre for Applied Imagination, CEF helps individuals, organizations and communities transform themselves as they confront real-world challenges. Publisher of the Journal of Creative Behavior, CEF is a membership organization of practitioners in the field of creativity theory and practice. CEF is an independent, nonprofit organization supported primarily by grants and contributions from foundations, corporations and individuals. CEF is strictly nonpartisan and takes no institutional positions on pending legislation. For information about the Creative Education Foundation, visit http://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org.

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