Our Story
Born from lived experience, built for collective survival, powered by community
300 Applications. 2 Interviews. Zero Offers.
I’m Jolene MacFadden, and I’m 63 years old.
I have 30+ years of experience in digital marketing and 25+ years in web design. After my children were grown, I wanted to return to full-time work. I went to coding bootcamps. I earned a Google IT Customer Service Representative Certificate. Then a Google Marketing and Social Media Certificate.
Over 5 months, I submitted 300 job applications.
I received 2 interview requests.
Zero job offers.
That’s when I understood: This isn’t about MY qualifications. It’s about systematic age and gender discrimination. So I went back to school—got my BA in 2023, and now I’m pursuing a Master’s in Social Media at the University of Florida. Not because I need more skills. Because I need to survive the next 30-40 years of my life on $1,400/month Social Security.
The Question That Changed Everything
If employers won’t hire us despite our experience and fresh certifications… If Social Security doesn’t cover rising rent costs… If we have 30-40 years of life remaining but the system treats us as disposable…
“Where do we GO? And how do we survive with dignity?”
What We’re Building Together
📱 Mobile App
Firebase-based mobile application mapping 175+ Florida state parks with camping/workamping opportunities, safety ratings from solo women, cell service info, and peer community features. Launching Spring 2026 as graduate capstone project.
🔬 Research Base
40-page white paper documenting demographics, economic data, employment discrimination statistics, and housing crisis affecting women over 50. Fully cited in APA 7th edition. Available free to download—it validates what we’ve lived.
👭 Community Platform
Safe space for solo women travelers to share experiences, coordinate meetups, offer mutual support, and collectively advocate for better policies. Because we’re stronger together than fighting this alone.
Why Florida? Why Public Lands?
🌴 Florida is Ground Zero
- 50,615 baby boomers moved to Florida in 2023 (net migration—more than double #2 North Carolina)
- 900+ people move to Florida daily, many age 60+
- 175 state parks plus national forests and public lands
- Year-round accessibility for research and testing
- 22 of 67 counties expected to have 30%+ senior populations by 2025
⛺ Why Workamping Works
- Safe parking in exchange for 20-24 hours/week volunteer service
- Dignity and purpose (“volunteer” vs “homeless”)
- Community connection with other camp hosts and visitors
- Modest income supplementing inadequate Social Security
- Meaningful work for women with 30-40 years of life remaining
Built on Academic Rigor
Solo Sojourn isn’t just passion—it’s my graduate capstone project at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications (graduating Spring 2027, currently maintaining 4.0 GPA).
The research combines digital self-efficacy studies, social connectedness research, economic insecurity data, and human-computer interaction design—all applied to the lived reality of solo women over 50.
About the Founder
Jolene MacFadden, M.S. (cand.)
Education: Graduate student pursuing Master’s in Social Media at University of Florida College of Journalism and Mass Communications (Spring 2027, 4.0 GPA). BA completed 2023.
Professional Experience: 30+ years in digital marketing, 25+ years in web design. Founder of Southern Dragon Publishing Services LLC (digital marketing, website design, publishing consultation for indie authors).
Author: Writes steampunk mystery romance fiction under pen name L.J. Green. Hosts “Jolene’s Book and Writers Talk” podcast. Author of Build Your Author Brand: A Practical Marketing Guide for Your Publishing Journey.
Community Leadership: Publicity and Social Media Coordinator for Sunshine State Book Festival. Marketing Coalition Leadership for Writers Alliance of Gainesville.
RV Experience: Lifelong Florida resident (born 1961) with extensive RV travel experience. Previously lived full-time in RV. Advocates for solo women travelers through Solo Sojourn Project.
Personal Mission: Creating economic alternatives and community support for women over 50 facing employment discrimination, housing insecurity, and systemic devaluation based on age and gender.
What We Stand For
Radical Honesty
We don’t sugarcoat the reality of age discrimination, housing insecurity, or economic vulnerability. We name what’s happening and build solutions anyway.
Collective Action
Individual resilience isn’t enough when the problem is systemic. We advocate for policy change while creating immediate alternatives.
Research-Backed
Lived experience matters AND data matters. We combine both to build credible arguments for the resources and respect we deserve.
Community-Driven
Solo women travelers ARE the experts on what we need. Every feature we build starts with listening to the community.
Join the Movement
Solo Sojourn works because of community contributions. Here’s how you can help:
Questions? Contact us — we read and respond to every message.
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