Jessica Mendes

Bio

As a writer and blogger, I am deeply committed to helping to change how older women are perceived in North America, and to dispeling the stigma around aging. Toward that end, I came up with the concept of a dating site that celebrates the inherent eroticism and intelligence of the older woman, and am working with two incredible men to build it. We are not interested in the cougar stereotype but rather, the authentic older woman. There is a sensuality and a wisdom about older women that younger women can only dream of, and luckily, there is a significant pool of men out there who "get" it. We want to tap into that, and will hopefully be launching later this year. In the meantime, I want to do what I can to help stimulate, inspire or encourage public discussion, on a national level, that helps to change attitudes around aging for the better. I am on Twitter (going by the user name SeptemberMay). I also produce and host a radio program, Being There, on campus radio, featuring in-depth interviews on a wide range of subjects. My background otherwise is varied. I have worked as an organizational consultant for small businesses, an event producer for several non-profits, and even as a housing support worker for those diagnosed with schizophrenia. My last major gig was a book project for an international company exploring the philosophies and legacy of a family-run business. The job involved extensive interviews over a one-year period with the president, diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The transcription of those interviews – making coherent that which was often fragmented – was one of the biggest challenges of my professional life. I was hired for my ability to think outside the box, and to relate to people who are different.