With support from The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Civic Ventures and Libraries for the Future, Chandler's Boomerang project is one of four Next Chapter projects offered in metropolitan Phoenix designed to respond to the unique aging trends of boomers and assist them with the transition to another life stage - that of meaningful retirement. The programs, services, and spaces provided for in these Next Chapter projects will help this generation born between 1946 and 1964 answer the question "What's Next?"
In September 2002, the Maricopa County Commission on Productive Aging came together to study how aging and retirement are changing and how new ideas about service, community spaces, and choices might be put into practice. The Commission initiated a process of change and set the stage for the Next Chapter Initiative in Maricopa County .
A request for proposals was issued in 2003 for organizations to plan for projects in their own communities that were reflective of the ideas and findings of the Commission. The Chandler Public Library received one of seven planning grants from The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to evaluate to the needs of Boomers in the Chandler community. A series of eight focus groups were held in locations throughout the community, and the attendance profile was reflective of the overall community. Working with a variety of community partners, Chandler 's Boomerang project is a direct reflection of what Chandler boomers said they wanted to assist them in pursuing the next stage and the blue print established by the Commission on Aging.
In September of 2004, the Chandler Public Library was selected to receive one of four grants from The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to implement the Boomerang project as part of the Next Chapter initiative. The other Maricopa County Next Chapter Projects include:
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Mesa Life Options
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Scottsdale Life Ventures
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Tempe Connections
Chandler-Gilbert Community College/Sun Lakes Center is proud to be a leading partner with Chandler Public Library in the development of the Chandler "Boomerang" Project, a Maricopa County "Next Chapter" Initiative. The Sun Lakes Center and CGCC's Pecos Campus will serve as two of the six "points of entry" for this Project.
You are encouraged to connect to myboomerang.org to learn more about the Project and the many varied resources, programs and services which are available to you. Welcome to myboomerang.org, "coming back to see what's next".