Jan Hively

Twin Cities, Minnesota
http://www.shiftonline.org

Jan Hively (Janet M. Hively, PhD) is a social entrepreneur who founded the MN Vital Aging Network in 2001 and co-founded a new organization, SHiFT, “empowering midlife moves to meaning in life and work,” in 2006. Her career has included school and community planning, administration and outreach for public and non-profit organizations. What all of her efforts have in common is that they are based on the philosophy that communities and systems need to look at life through a new paradigm consistent with planning for meaningful work and personal growth all the way through life. Her mantra is, “Meaningful work, paid or unpaid, through the last breath.”

Interests

Jan's focus is on aligning the meaning of work with the work of the commons -- achieving the common good. In this consumer society, we think about "work" as what people are paid for that generates goods and services for the marketplace. The unpaid contributions of homemaking, parenting, volunteering, caregiving and citizenship are neither counted nor appreciated. It's time to reclaim the value to the commons of all good work. The new paradigm should foster personal growth through meaningful work all the way through life. People who feel that they are producing benefits for others are healthier and more satisfied with life than others.

Organizations

SHiFT (www.shiftonline.org), MN Creative Arts and Aging Network (www.mncaan.net), Vital Aging Network(www.vital-aging-network.org),Community Celebration(www.communitycelebration.org), Life Planning Network