"Life Reimagined" Event in Philadelphia

AARP recently held a successful “Life Reimagined” event to show people 50+ the paths to new and exciting possibilities. Over one hundred people attended the event which took place at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia. AARP’s meaning for “Life Reimagined” is all about envisioning, evaluating, and making dreams a real possibility. The event’s two powerful speakers demonstrated this vision by sharing their personal stories.

Lydia Hernandez Velez, Deputy Managing Director for Aging in Philadelphia shared her process of putting the power of change in her hands and taking control of her transitions when she accepted the new position as Director for Aging. She also touched the audience by explaining how she cares for her aging mother and how that role gives her life a fresh meaning of importance and responsibility.

Our second speaker, Loida Nicolas Lewis, undoubtedly captured the hearts of the entire room with her humorous personality and inspirational story. Mrs. Lewis serves as an industrialist, philanthropist, social civic leader, motivational speaker, author and lawyer and shared how she explored all these possibilities starting from the time she was born in the Philippines. She shared with the audience her father’s dreams for her to become a politician in the Philippines, but how instead she dreamed of more after meeting her late husband Reginald Lewis, the first African American billionaire.

When Loida concluded her talk it was deservingly met with a standing

ovation and tears of inspiration from audience members. Both speaker’s backgrounds and their unique inspirational stories connected to the multicultural audience.

During the Q&A, the audience members felt empowered to follow the speaker’s example by sharing stories of looking at their life reimagined. The program generated a flurry of questions from the audience.

Overall, attendees were excited to discuss their personal life’s transitions as well and asked AARP to produce more events like “Life Reimagined.” AARP is pleased to take the mystery out of change and give people real possibilities for their future.

For more information about AARP's "Life Reimagined" visit http://lifereimagined.aarp.org/