Community Calendar

“Breath is Life, Movement is Life.” Data and experience suggests an increased focus, energy, self-awareness, and overall happiness while regularly practicing Mindful Movement. This class introduces several systems of mindful movement and how to integrate these practices into your daily lives to obtain a greater sense of personal empowerment and balance.

Ed Mink will bring his 35 years of experience as a wellness educator to this interactive class. The holistic lifestyle of Yoga will serve as the foundation for the series and also the connecting thread as we explore Pilates, Boxing and Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing). This engaging, interactive and experiential weekly class will be somewhat flowing in focus, incorporating a blend of soft and dynamic movements designed to improve balance and coordination while enhancing personal wellness.

Did John Adams listen to Abigail? Was Mary Todd Lincoln depressed? Did Eleanor advise Franklin? Did Edith Wilson really take over for the president? Was Hillary really a co-president? These are questions frequently asked about the First Lady. She has no job description and her position is unpaid. There is nothing she is required to do, but much that we expect. From the birth of our country through the present, this course will explore the evolution of the role and the Office of First Lady.

In addition to biographical information, we will explore topics and themes related to the women behind the men. We will examine how they helped shape history and how they left lasting legacies that impact many of us today.

(Current OLLI Members Only)

Class schedule: Live lectures will take place on Mondays via ZOOM

Monday, September 30 Live Lecture 1
Monday, October 7 Live Lecture 2
Monday, October 14 Live Lecture 3
Monday, October 21 Live Lecture 4
Monday, October 28 Live Lecture 5
Monday, November 4 Live Lecture 6

“Eskimos have many words for snow.” “A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.” “Aborigines speak primitive languages.” “English has the world’s richest vocabulary.” “Children learn languages more easily than adults.” “Languages die because they are not fit enough for the modern world.” “Animals speak their own language.” You may have heard many of these statements, but are they actually true?

In this course, we will examine these and related beliefs about language. We will investigate what aspects of these statements are true and what aspects are false or even nonsensical. In doing so, we will explore topics including language diversity, language history, children’s language acquisition, adult language learning, animal and human communication, and much more. We will also consider where language myths come from and why they persist despite all the scientific evidence to the contrary.

(Current OLLI Members Only)

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of medieval scientific thought, encompassing various disciplines such as medicine, astronomy, and geography. We will delve into the groundbreaking insights and theories proposed by influential figures like Alhazen and Hildegard of Bingen. Through in-depth analysis and interactive discussions, we will uncover the complex network of scientific inquiry that defined the medieval era. This journey into medieval science promises intellectual enrichment. Additionally, it offers a unique opportunity to engage with historical methodologies and scientific concepts, fostering a deeper understanding of the medieval worldview. Join this enlightening exploration as we discover the wonders of medieval science.
(Current OLLI Members Only)

Class schedule: Live lectures will take place on Mondays, from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm via ZOOM

Live Lecture 1 Monday, 9/30/2024
Live Lecture 2 Monday, 10/7/2024
Live Lecture 3 Monday, 10/14/2024
Live Lecture 4 Monday, 10/21/2024
Live Lecture 5 Monday, 10/28/2024
Live Lecture 6 Monday, 11/4/2024

Join us for a casual and informative financial literacy session designed to help you wrap up the year on a strong financial note. Pink House Alchemy coffee and pastries included! Come with questions and leave with practical steps to better inform your year-end plan.

Folk healing has a long tradition in the Ozark Mountains. Author and folklorist, Brandon Weston, explores a variety of beliefs and practices, everything from home remedies to the profession (or calling) of a folk healer in Ozark communities. Details are based on the folk records collected by famous folklorists like Vance Randolph and Mary Parler as well as modern accounts of where these healing traditions are today.

The class will be divided into four sections: What is Folk Healing?; Mountain Herbalism - Healing With Plants; Charms, Prayers, and Rituals - Healing With Faith; and Is Folk Healing Still Needed Today?

Welcome to this introductory course designed to provide a broad, yet insightful, glimpse into different areas of psychology. We will learn more about how psychology can help us understand humans’ individual personalities, as well as group dynamics. We will look at the influence of geography on psychology, and what psychology can learn by becoming more cross-cultural. Whether this is your first step into the world of psychology, or you are looking to deepen your existing knowledge, the discussions around classic studies, as well as the presentation of novel research findings, promise something new and exciting for everyone.

Explore the peacebuilding stories behind the headlines. Within the broad field of peacebuilding, the scales are decidedly tipped to study the phenomena around conflict resolution, transitional justice, and third-party interventions, most of them at the hands of diplomats and politicians. While these areas represent legitimate efforts to negotiate treaties and monitor compliance, history has shown the Sisyphean nature of these approaches in terms of implementation and securing sustainable peace. What has drawn far less attention are the valiant and courageous efforts of peacebuilders on the ground who are working in unimaginable circumstances, and in many cases in partnership or cooperation with sworn enemies. This course will examine the elements of a construct known as “positive peace,” which can and does exist, even in areas where conflict continues, through the lens of peace activists working on the ground. This six-week program will include a mix of background reading, videos, faculty presentations, and small-group interaction.
(Current OLLI Members Only)

This course explores mental, spiritual, and physical health and wellness through interactive discussion, brief meditation, creative writing, reading aloud, and plenty of humor. The workshops explore universal human issues while offering valuable techniques for enhancing both written and oral communication. Classes are low-tech, focusing on meaningful interaction, and a satisfying shared experience. Topics include managing stress, creative self expression, the power of words, the value of self-care, adapting to change, and establishing healthy boundaries.

The 20th century was a time of social and political changes that brought about varied responses in the art world. The social changes manifested during World War I and its aftermath were felt in the cutting-edge art movements that questioned the existing world order. From the broken planes of Cubism to the jazzy images of the Harlem Renaissance, artists found their voices through varying degrees of despair in an attempt to capture the awaking spirit of the 20th century. In the aftermath of World War II, artists rallied to make sense of the changes brought about through post-war shifts in society to a new prosperity in consumerism. From the confusing images of the Abstract Expressionists to the playfulness of Pop Art, we will explore how artists challenged and knocked down the walls of not only traditional art but the heretofore avant-garde art forms of the earlier 20th century.(Current OLLI Members Only)