Serving Baby Boomers through GIS at GateWay Community College

GateWay Community College is creating a service-learning project that will target re‐careering baby boomers, getting them involved in community service and civic engagement options as they consider, or become involved in, midlife career transitions. GateWay faculty and administrators involved in this boomer‐focused project, see service-learning as an important strategy for connecting disadvantaged or re‐careering boomers with opportunities in the workplace and the nonprofit sector. Service-learning opportunities can give boomers who are enrolled in a community college class or workshop the opportunity to transition their skills to appropriately support the nonprofit environment. Boomers will have the opportunity to augment and reframe their existing skills while doing service-learning. To create a method for matching boomers with meaningful opportunities in the areas of healthcare, education, and social services, GateWay is developing a GIS (Geographic Information System) map of community partners that can be used when placing boomers/students at a volunteer service site.