Terri  Banner Fitzsimmons hails from British Columbia. She has been in the field of education most of her adult life, as a teacher of all grades, Sociology Professor for twenty years, director of an Independent Study Program, helping adults earn their diploma. Author of 5 books, she won many awards, including being recognized for initiating a girl power group, developing innovative career strategies, and her work for United Way, helping parolees find employment.  She has worked with various Indian Reservations, homeless shelters, and the Cal-Works program at a local college.All this after losing everything in the Paradise CA tragedy. “I had to lose everything to gain everything.”CONNECT WITH TK:Website: https://www.tkbanner.com/Email: fitzsimmonsterri@gmail.com

As a therapist and writer, I support women who struggle with real problems to bolster their agency. - Dian GreenwoodGrowing up in the basement of the courthouse adjoined to the jail in South Dakota, Dian developed an affinity for people who struggle against the odds. As a therapist, Dian has specialized in alcohol abuse and, currently, focuses on difficulties faced by women over 60. These experiences, among many, are gist for Dian’s successes as a writer who knows how to “take risks with my characters. They are not always likeable, but they are real.” Dian’s debut novel, About the Carlton Sisters (2023), will be joined by three new books in progress—stories of immigrants and of women’s friendships.Connect with Dian:Email: greenwooddian@gmail.comWebsite: www.Diangreenwood.comAbout the Carlton Sisters (2023/spring, She Writes Press)https://thebigsmoke.com/us/author/dian-greenwood/

Cheryl Keen, EdD—scholar, activist, Quaker—has always tried to follow her callings which personify commitment, connection, and community. As a pioneer in significant movements--peace education and justice, service-learning, and progressive higher education--Cheryl job-shared seven leadership positions with her husband, Jim. They are parents/grandparents to one biological family as well as three ‘made families.’ They have always lived communally because “ethically, I need to share the space that I have.” Now in the new chapter of retirement, Cheryl relishes “just letting myself be in the moment, enjoying hours of unscheduled time, never feeling bored.” In the midst of gardening, singing in choruses, remodeling their home for safer living on the first floor, traveling, playing with grandchildren, and managing a ‘green condo community' in Florida, Cheryl is trying on new identities. She is exchanging her colorful business jackets for garments better suited to her flexible lifestyle.Connect with CherylEmail: Cheryl.keen@yahoo.comCo-author w/ L. Daloz, J. Keen, & S. Parks, (1997). Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World.Cheryl & Jim, founders of the Governor’s School of Public Issues and the Future of New Jersey (GSPINJ) news article: https://gspinj.org/the-founders/

Meet Beige. Beige is reliable, practical, sensible, and safe. Beige doesn’t put up a fuss; it follows the rules, blends in, doesn’t want to stand out. Now meet  Liz Kitchens. She is more of a magenta. Magenta is rich, dynamic, loud, sometimes garish, and not easily overlooked. While that does not exactly describe Liz, she is the author of Be Brave, Lose the Beige: Finding Your Sass After 60. It focuses on women’s empowerment issues. Magenta is a metaphor for how we live our lives. There are 35 maxims in the book that help women take back their sass. Liz conducts workshops and seminars on creativity, is a writer, author and blogger. "Women have a biography as long as the veil on a wedding gown."Connect with Liz:Email: bebravelosethebeige@gmail.comWebsite: https://BeBraveLosetheBeige.com

Author of more than a dozen books, Noelle has appeared on national and international radio and television, been interviewed, quoted or written about in dozens of publications and has spoken on the subject of appreciation before audiences in the U.S., Canada, England, The Netherlands and Australia.Noelle did not come into her own until she was in her mid-thirties. Life growing up was difficult. She says she was a pessimist and reached out for help from therapists, read books and worked hard to gain confidence in herself. Today she is on the go all the time. “My life feels like a wonderful, full life. Competitive sports have helped to build my confidence,” she says. Competing as a ballroom dancer (and, yes, starting at age 70 and winning), has been a great confidence booster for her. “Physical activity is important at every age - don’t stop, adapt to the level you are supposed to work at.”"Happiness is a result. Curiosity means you are learning and learning brings joy. " CONNECT WITH NOELLE:Contact: Noelle@noellenelson.com Newsletter, "A Note From Dr. Noelle Nelson," Podcast: Up! Uplifting, Inspiring, Practical - provides skills to use appreciation's powerful energy to improve our lives.Facebook: stories about older people who are leading rewarding and fulfilling lives on Meet The Amazings BOOKS:The Longevity Secret: How to Live Happy, Healthy & Vibrant into Your 70s, 80s, 90s and BeyondPhoenix Rising: Surviving Catastrophic Loss: Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and TornadoesThe Power of Appreciation - The Key to A Vibrant Life

Born in Athens, Greece, Esther Gandica came to the United States, on her own, on a Fulbright scholarship in 1967.She was born in 1949. Her parents lived in Salonica, Greece, which had the largest Jewish population at the time, outside of Israel. The family spoke Ladino, a form of archaic Spanish. Esther is a Sephardic Jew. Her father’s family did not survive the war. Her Mother’s family survived by hiding. She grew up speaking French and 5 other languages.Esther is flexible. She consciously keeps herself from falling into patterns. She avoids habitual living. It was easy to leave her full-time position doing special chemistry testing related to thyroid disease so she could make time to be with her children. After they were born she reimagined her career and went back to school to earn a degree in accounting. This allowed her to work part time and stay at home. Esther always liked the idea of learning new things. She is a perpetual student. Esther and her husband both taught in universities and are now retired. Health challenges have changed the active lives they enjoyed together. She is learning to be active on her own.Intriguing and joyful, Esther Gandica lives life to the fullest.I never want to slow down. I have to keep moving fast. Life has so much to offer. -Esther GandicaCONNECT With Esther:egadinca@gmail.com

 Dr. Val and Byrdie are co-founders of Boom Home Medical, a “lifestyle brand that makes home medical products.” Dr. Val, a public health and preventive medicine physician, and Byrdie, a literary agent turned health care leader, recognized that home medical equipment is outdated, inconvenient, and a sightly embarrassment. Designed for both attractiveness and function, their products allow women to care for themselves with dignity. Consider middle-of-the-night peeing. Their company’s first product is Loona--a bedside urinal with a feminine design that fits the female anatomy. “It’s the most elegant solution to relief, anytime and anywhere.”  Their next product line will be pleasingly designed incontinent pads for beds and sofas.  Every category of consumer goods is handsomely designed and technologically sophisticated. Why not have beautifully designed medical equipment for our homes?Connect with Val and ByrdieEmails: valerie@boomhomemedical.com; byrdie@boomhomemedical.comWebsite: https://boomhomemedical.com

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