Project Renewment Group

The book Project Renewment, published in 2008, has caught my imagination--not so much for the book itself, but for the possibilities it stirs up for me. Two women wrote the book--Bernice Bratter, a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and advocate for women & aging; and Helen Dennis, an expert on aging, employment, & retirement--after developing a new model for career women looking for an alternative to the traditional forms of retirement. Project Renewment began as one small group in California, connecting women close to retirement or recently retired, and has grown into a movement of sorts with groups continuing across the country. The authors describe the concept as "a combination of retirement and renewal," suggesting "optimism and opportunity, growth and self-discovery." It's really about women learning together, from each other and from themselves, to make the coming years abundant with life, passion, and purpose.

My vision is to start the process in the Chicago area, with the first group beginning September 21, a Monday night at 7:00, in our Park Ridge offices. We will meet together for 4 weeks, processing some of the book topics together (including "Who am I without my business card? What if he retires first? What is productivity anyway? Why do I feel guilty reading a book at 3:00 p.m. on a Tuesday? How do I feel about not earning another dollar?"). We will also bring in other relevant resources as needed or desired by group members--from books, movies, and news sources. This is not a "therapy group"; but it is not a traditional "support group" either. It is a new creation developed by and for career women, building on the strengths and processes that already have aided women in their professional lives. My hope is that group members will find sufficient support and inspiration to continue meeting on a longer-term, monthly basis, as highlighted in the Project Renewment model.

If this process catches your imagination as well, please contact me before this group fills up (we're limiting the first group to six women). Reach me by phone at the Willow Wellness Center at (847) 318-8200 or email at lcampbell@willowwellness.com. Thanks.