Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

This cross-generational pair—Phoebe 76 and Erica 43—believes that younger women don’t hear enough from older women about what it looks like to keep “living out loud…and contributing actively” during the later decades. Why should women accept the cloak of invisibility when they continue to be curious, inventive, and full of light? Their feature documentary profiles eight professional women over 70 who continue to work. They also co-produce a podcast that features conversations with inspiring women over 70 who refuse to stop contributing to society because of their age. Through their work, Phoebe and Erica expose and challenge major 'isms' such as sexism, racism, and ageism. Connect with Erica and PhoebePodcast: Work While You Have the Light on Apple PodcastsDocumentary: https://www.workwhileyouhavethelight.com/Emails: phoebe@parisroosevelt.com; erica@ericajanefilms.com

Living through the unimaginable - caregiving her son from his diagnosis of carcinoma at age 13, and through a 2nd diagnosis at 19, completely altered the trajectory of Allura's life. Her son died at 20.  Even before that, Allura’s brother, with whom she was very close, also suffered from cancer and died on her son’s 18th birthday. Her marriage crumbled, and she was left with her grief and younger son, Eli. Allura chose to see these tragedies from a positive point of view. She believed there must be something better ahead for her.  “As we expand the heart we expand our capacity for love and growth.”While her son was ill, she began creating healing products, continued her practice of meditation, and became a full-time healer and coach. Today, Allura works with women with limiting beliefs to increase the life force energy, clarity, and power within. She believes every woman has something special within her. Allura has been a meditation teacher since the 70s, studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his trained teachers across the globe. Now a Master Healer, she works with Quantum Goddess energies, is certified in several modalities, and has created more than 150 Divine Healing products to help us through this intense transitional time.Allura is also a writer, editor, and speaker.Connect with Allura:Email: allura@letyourgoddessshinethrough.comWebsite: www.divinehealingenergies.comProgram: Ageless Goddess Coaching System

“There will be junctions where it will be important for you to ‘just let it happen.’ We ourselves are many people at the same time.”Deanna Berman is an interior architect working with the bones, geometry and structure of 3-dimensional living and working spaces. She believes it is important to connect historic images with contemporary ones and says, “The old and new inform each other. You need to know both worlds.” Most importantly, it is how people wish to live and work in the space. When the architecture already exists, she asks, “What obstacles am I working around, what can I simplify, how can I make the whole thing flow better?” One of the most exciting parts of her work is when people ask her to think differently.This work feels like a constant journey to her which allows her to explore new projects and think differently. At 85 she intends to continue to work for as long as she can. She does not think about her own aging and yet, has modified how she thinks about work to fit who she is now. This is not an easy time we’re living in right now. Nurture yourself, hold on to your spirit.Connect with Deanna:Email: deannaberman@yahoo.com

[spp-player]Roxanne Lorch, age 85, from Cary, NC, is a full-time artist with a studio in DurhamNC who exhibits her work in juried shows and wins awards. Roxanne was amongthe first women to work in commercial design and graphics (who was not asecretary) and then in sales. In 2001, Roxanne became one of the original 17members of The Transition Network (TTN) and currently is on the steeringcommittee of TTN-Coast-to-Coast (TTN-C2C), a nation-wide chapter that addressesthe interests of older women in transition. She thinks she “might possibly be theoldest first-time bride in history!” Now widowed, Roxanne resides in an Over 55retirement community where she engages fully with people and activities. She co-founded Thriving in Place (TIP) so neighbors can help neighbors."Women over 70 are still going through transitions and we can still makegood decisions for ourselves."Connect with RoxanneEmail: roxxlor@aol.comWebsite: www.roxannelorch.com

Playwright, director and collaborators for 50 years, Terry and Carolyn fearlessly tackle lesbian and feminist themes. They are thrill-seekers. While Carolyn is married with children, the pair seize every opportunity they can to work together. Terry moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974 and founded Lilith, a women's theater collective, which she led for five years. Carolyn, the engine that pushes 'things to happen' joined her there. In 1981, Terry and Carolyn wrote a play about lesbians from a lesbian’s point of view: Dos Lesbos: A Play By, For and About Perverts. It inspired and was published in Places, Please, 1985, the first anthology of lesbian plays.In January 2008, A Coupla Crackpot Crones premiered in New Mexico. “Terry wrote on LillithTheater.com: The Crones’ feminist sketch comedy and improvisation have graced the New York International Fringe Festival (2012), the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival (2013, Women on the Way Festival and the National Queer Arts Festival, the University of Redlands (CA), and various venues in New York, Oregon, and California.  In 2016, the Crones toured Mexico, performing in English and Spanish in Mexico City, Oaxaca, and San Miguel de Allende.”  In 2014, they produced a play about Eleanor Roosevelt and her lover, Lorena Hickok, drawing on 2,336 letters Eleanor wrote to Hick.  HICK: A Love Story, The Romance of Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt won awards at the New York and San Francisco Fringe Festivals. In 2019 Exit Press published One Dyke’s Theater: Selected Plays by Slightly World-Renowned Lesbian Playwright Terry Baum, edited by Carolyn Myers.During the pandemic, Baum and Myers, as Lilith Theater, produced several ZOOM productions:  HICK: A Love Story, Divide the Living Child, Immediate Family, and Eve in Therapy. "We have the same values, we laugh a lot and unconditionally support each other."Connect with Terry:Email: terryjoanbaum@gmail.comWebsite: www.LilithTheater.comWebsite: www.Terrybaum.blogspot.comBook: One Dyke’s Theater: Selected Plays, 1975-2014 by Terry Baum. Edited by Carolyn Myers Available at Amazon.com

Celina Edelstein lived in New York, was married and had a son. They divorced while their son was young. With a background in chemistry and a love for science, she sought a job in research. Angelo, a research doctor, offered her the opportunity to help him open a research lab. Together they wrote grants, studied molecules that carry cholesterol and cause atherosclerosis and thrombosis and published research papers. He became her professional mentor and they worked together for 44 years. Angelo’s wife died and, some years later, after they closed the lab, Angelo and Celina discovered they cared for each other and eventually lived together for seven years." People live through tragedies - they make a life and create careers." - CelinaCelina is a Holocaust survivor and had worked since 1963. This is a story of resilience, reinvention and a remarkable woman who found a path that filled her with passion, purpose and love.Connect with Celina:Email: celinaed@icloud.com

Joyce Klowden Porter, 73, has been an actor in 60 films, taught college for 30 years and is a non-fiction author. She recently won several awards for the film, Stairs, and continues to act as roles become available.Joyce’s late husband, Paul, gave her occasion to learn many things in relation to his multiple illnesses. Her book, Mastering Senior Life: Thriving and Surviving, is a testament to her resilience and care-taking. In the book she offers tips on how to enjoy your senior years to the fullest and learn ways to protect your family. Joyce also shares important information relative to Medicare, insurance, mobility devices and so much more. Her creative imagination enables her to think outside ordinary convention and find new ways of coping.Make the most of what you can do while you can do it. - Joyce PorterConnect with Joyce:Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-porter-901aa12/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086241203346Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Senior-Life-Thriving-Surviving/dp/0999511610Website: http://www.joyceporter.com

Francesca James, age 71, from Ingelwood CA, is a full-time intuitive wellness coach and energy healer. After a life-threatening bout with cancer, Francesca gave up high-stress work as a successful Black woman in white corporate America to connect “more deeply with my inner world.”  This journey inspired her book, Resurrecting the Muse: Woman’s Guide to Rising Above Societal Conditioning.  These are Francesca's three non-negotiables. #1. "I am unapologetic in my Blackness," which includes teaching white people about unconscious bias and racism in her class on ‘Deconstructing Racism: Moving from Discomfort to Action.' #2: Listen to and trust your intuitive voice. #3: Honor and nourish your body as a temple.Connect with Francesca:email: francesca@francesca-james.comwebsite: francesca-james.comBook:  Resurrecting the Muse: Woman’s Guide to Rising Above Societal Conditioning

As a voice coach, singer, and songwriter Barbara McAfee’s mission is to ‘midwife’women’s voices. “Tell me your story about your voice” is Barbara’s invitation tohelp aging women break the sounds of silence, express new sounds for healing,and experience singing for the joy of it. Her original music taps into jazz, gospel,and folk roots. In 2007, Barbara founded the Morning Star Singers, a volunteerchoir that sings for people facing illness, end- of -life, depression, or grief. She isthe author of Full Voice: The Art and Practice of Vocal Presence.Connect with BarbaraEmail: barbara@barbaramcafee.comWebsite: https://www.barbaramcafee.com

Edwige Gilbert is French. As founder of New Life Directions, she guides women to reinvent their lives and create fresh starts driven by a purposeful vision. She is passionate about women taking care of their bodies and allowing themselves to feel sexy even as they age. “It is vital that we eliminate stress from our lives and not feel victimized by our age. How are women to age gracefully if age is constantly demeaned?” It comes down to believing in yourselves, in turning stress into success. As a transformation guide she teaches older women to get in touch with their bodies. Edwige asks you to create a vision of who you want to be. What keeps you young is your life purpose, your ability to be excited and interested in keeping your life spark alive, all while experiencing Joie de vivre.Coco Chanel said, “Check yourself in the mirror and take something off.” Dressing is about sophistication and elegance, harmony and balance, finding your personal style. Embellish what you already have. Your appearance should be in sync with who you are. Honor yourself. Allow your mind to create your reality.  There is no expiration date on taking care of your health, your body. You can love your body and be sexy as you age. - EdwigeConnect with Edwige:Email:  edwige@newlifedirections.comWebsite: https://www.newlifedirections.com/