The Next Chapter™ initiative provides expertise and assistance to community groups across the country working to help people in the second half of life set a course, connect with peers, and find pathways to significant service. Local Next Chapter projects and related programs exist in dozens of communities nationwide.

Recent research shows that Americans in the second half of life – regardless of income, educational level, or race – want to:

• explore options for the next stage of life
• retool skills, obtain new training, or pursue educational interests
• use their skills and experience in flexible work or service opportunities
• make meaningful connections with their peers and their community.

The Next Chapter initiative calls on communities to create new institutional approaches that help adults make the transition to a new productive life phase by providing support and community connections for ongoing learning, development, and contribution to society.

To that end, The Next Chapter initiative works with local communities to create places and/or programs that offer adults four key components:

• life planning programs – help assessing their status and strengths, exploring future possibilities, and setting goals
• meaningful engagement through work and service – opportunities to take on public service roles, through paid work and volunteer service
• continued learning for new directions – learning options to enrich their lives and retool for new careers
• peer and community connections – places and programs to connect with people of all ages in their community.

In addition to these core components, The Next Chapter initiative encourages optional components that offer help with issues including caregiving, employment, financial planning, leadership development, relationships, spirituality, technology and information literacy, and wellness.