Roundtable: Solutions to Support Older Workers and the “Un-Retired”

Genevieve Waterman serves as the Director of Corporate Partnerships & Engagement at the National Council on Aging (NCOA), where she leads initiatives on economic security, housing, and employment in later life. During her tenure at NCOA, Dr. Waterman has led innovative programs to help low-income older adults create customized plans to achieve financial security and curriculums that educate older adults to avoid scams and financial exploitation. Dr. Waterman also developed the strategic vision of NCOA’s Age Well Planner, a digital tool that guides individuals through key decisions designed to make their money last longer and address health care needs.

Genevieve holds a Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. She also holds a Master of Aging Services Management from the University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology and a Master of Applied Gerontology from Towson University’s Center for Productive Aging.

Maura Porcelli is the Senior Director of the Senior Community Service Employment Program. She is based in the Arlington, VA office where she oversees the administration of SCSEP and develops strategy to ensure effective job training and job search support is provided to mature job seekers.

Denise Minter is an artist, a writer, a dedicated worker, a good friend, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a cancer thriver/survivor and a Wisdom Qigong teacher. Denise works at Felton Institute, as a Content Creator and Researcher to tell the story of the oldest non-sectarian non-profit in San Francisco, CA.

Marian has been with the Nashville Public Library and involved in efforts to close the digital divide for 26 years. She has combined her love for teaching with her role as an IT professional and the two fuel her passion for helping those in the Nashville Community who have yet to become 21^st Century Digital Citizens.

As Manager of Digital Inclusion Initiatives, Marian coordinates the library’s digital literacy outreach program and develops partnerships with organizations such a West End Home Foundation, National Council on Aging, Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, Fifty Forward and others to deliver digital inclusion programs to Nashville’s older residents within their local neighborhoods or where they currently receive services. During the pandemic, Marian’s team initiated a “Telehealth for Older Adults” program that earned The Nashville Public Library an Urban Libraries Council TOP Innovator Award.

Cathy Spensley, LCSW is the Senior Division Director at the Felton Institute, a large nonprofit social service agency in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cathy develops and oversees programs in aging services, older adult mental health, workforce development, and advocacy. She oversees the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in San Francisco, under NOCA, as well as the program in other SF Bay Area counties. Cathy is a founder member of the San Francisco Tech Council, a unique multi-stake collaboration to support digital inclusivity for all, as well as a founder of the Felton Tech Squad to inspire, connect, and train older adults in California being left out of the digital world. She continues to be dedicated to the field of aging and to support programs that empower older adults. Cathy has a BA in Communications from American University and a Masters in Social Work from UC Berkeley.

Amy Yu is the Program Director of Workforce and Engagement Services at Felton Institute.  She has worked with older adults her entire professional career and has experience in operations and programs management. She has direct oversight of the Senior Community Service Employment Program in multiple counties in California.

Samantha Sorscher joined Fiverr in 2021 as a leader on Fiverr's Community Team with the responsibility for leading global Community and Social Impact efforts. Samantha's team is responsible for creating and executing meaningful strategies related to taking the potential of the Fiverr marketplace and extending it to disadvantaged communities. Prior to joining Fiverr, Samantha has spent time working on issues-based and electoral grassroots campaigns and within the education technology space.

Lakindra Askew currently serves as the Director of the Urban Seniors Jobs Program (nationally known as SCSEP) at the National Urban League. Lakindra has been with the National Urban League for 5+ years but has over 12 years in the workforce development space. Lakindra has worked with populations across all demographics and has been recognized for her work locally and nationally. However, if you ask Lakindra, maximizing impact and creating opportunities is what really drives her. Lakindra is a passionate writer, speaker, and doer. When it comes down to it, Lakindra is committed to doing the work to connect Black and Brown communities to meaningful work.