Empowering Older Workers & Combating Ageism Through Workforce Training

In this episode of Real Life with the Older Americans Act, hosts Bob Blancato and Edwin Walker delve into the transformative impact of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the only federal employment and training initiative dedicated to empowering low-income older adults. The discussion highlights how SCSEP addresses pervasive workforce gaps and challenges ageism by providing older workers with vital digital literacy, tailored career pathway training, and paid community service opportunities that foster independence, financial security and a renewed sense of purpose. To explore the program's vital role in supporting economic security and community infrastructure, the hosts welcome three expert guests: Billie Tohee, Executive Director of The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA); Ann Manby, Chief Workforce Development Officer at CWI Works; and Debra Carter, Director of Employment Services and Housing for the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA). Together, they dispel common myths about older workers, share deeply moving success stories, and make a powerful case for the continued protection and funding of SCSEP under the upcoming reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.