|
- A New Age of Scams (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 1/29/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Jay Haapala
Scammers are stealing more money from Americans than ever before, and their tactics are evolving with great sophistication. Advances in technology, alternative payment methods, and increasing social isolation are among the factors that keep the criminals untraceable and all of us more vulnerable. The AARP Fraud Watch Network program helps people stay safer, recover from victimization, and track the trends. When people are aware of specific scams and consumer protections, they're much less likely to lose money or even waste their time dealing with the scammers. This four-part series will cover all aspects of fraud, identity theft, cybersecurity, and the psychology and technology used by scammers to steal our money.
|
|
|
|
- American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest Films (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 1/29/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Paul Chialastri
The final four films of the AFI’s 100 Greatest Films list will be viewed in this Winter term session! Participants watch each film and, if time allows, have a brief discussion.
Winter term films are Titanic, Sophie’s Choice, Goodfellas, and The Last Picture Show.
|
|
|
|
- Billy’s Best Movies: Wilder's Worldly Eye (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/5/2026 - 2/2/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Clarice Roseen
Consider the consequences of either succumbing to or surviving a corrupt world. Billy Wilder's classics Double Indemnity (1944) and Sunset Boulevard (1950) dramatize the consequences of succumbing; his 1959 and 1960 comedies Some Like it Hot and The Apartment celebrate survival. All four reflect the enduring art of this foreign-born, Vienna-raised, Berlin-trained, 1934-transplanted Hollywood director and his clear-eyed take on American culture.
NOTE: Campus will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A make-up class will be scheduled during Week 5.
|
|
|
|
- Bridgerton: The Novels
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 8
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Lawrance Bernabo
When Bridgerton premiered on Netflix and became a phenomenon, people either (a) watched the first series and immediately read all of the Julia Quinn novels; (b) watched each series in turn and ignored the novels; or (c) ignored the whole thing. All three types of people are welcome in this class, in which participants will read one novel a week for eight weeks, and we’ll discuss them in class. We will be considering the genre of romance novels, the history and culture of Regency England, and anything else that pops up in our heads. For the first three weeks we will reserve time at the end of each class to compare and contrast novels one, two, and four with their respective Netflix versions for those who have seen them. Eating Regency Era food for lunch during the Zoom classes is optional.
Books (required):
Bridgerton Family Series Collection by Julia Quinn, ISBN 9798999373229
NOTE: The book is also available on Kindle from Amazon in three sets of three novels: 9780063045118, 9780063138933, and 9780063138957. Since the class is about the novels, reading one each week is essential.
|
|
|
|
- Cocktail Economics (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/3/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: John Bobbitt
Learn enough economics to be able to understand and hold friendly conversations with non-specialists, for example, at a cocktail party. We will start with some basic terms and ideas and move to more specific areas such as capitalism and socialism, jobs of the future, money and banking, the Federal Reserve system, and income and wealth inequality.
|
|
|
|
- Cosmic Adventures (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/5/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: Bob King
Learn sky basics along with the winter constellations and planets. Special topics include Jupiter and its auroras, the secrets of starlight, and where planets and stars come from. We'll also preview the upcoming lunar eclipse in March and spend an optional night stargazing with a telescope on Skyline Parkway. One of the four classes will be held at the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at UMD.
|
|
|
|
- Creative Writing (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/4/2026 - 2/25/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Cheryl Reitan
Join us to have fun with writing. Practice observing, using your imagination, and expanding your use of language. Engaging prompts will help you explore several different genres, including poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. LIMIT 12
|
|
|
|
- Defending Democracy
-
Dates: 1/7/2026 - 2/25/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: Charles Gessert
Democracy thrives – or dies – within a framework of written laws and cultural traditions. In this class we will examine selected aspects of democracy, such as the role of elections, the separation of powers, the rule of law, and information systems. We will focus on the challenges we are facing and steps that can be taken to nurture democracy.
Book (recommended, not required):
Age Of Revolutions by Fareed Zakaria, ISBN 9781324105824
|
|
|
|
- Early Civil Rights Movements (7 weeks)
-
Dates: 1/7/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 7
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Kathy Rous
Take an in-depth look at Reconstruction and Jim Crow laws, and learn about the efforts of African Americans to gain the equity they had been promised in the U.S. Constitution.
|
|
|
|
- Fifty-Five Years of Email (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/6/2026 - 2/27/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 4
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Thomas Anderson
The year 2026 marks the fifty-fifth anniversary of the first electronic message from a computer to another computer over a network. Ray Tomlinson, a contractor working for the United States Department of Defense, created software for communicating over ARPANET, the government’s network that allowed computers to access centralized computing resources. Today, email is pervasive, and it’s not going away. Almost eight billion mailboxes are in use today, with many of us using more than one email account. This class covers the history of email along with a detailed description of how it works.
|
|
|
|
- Genealogy I (7 weeks)
-
Dates: 1/7/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 7
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Vickie Chupurdia
This class introduces students to the fascinating world of genealogy. Through a mix of historical records, digital tools, and hands-on techniques, learners will gain the skills to trace their ancestry, interpret evidence, and share their family stories. This class is open to all levels of interest, beginner to advanced.
|
|
|
|
- Get It Together: Organize Your Records so Your Family Won't Have To (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/5/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Brad Jenson
The intended outcome of this class is that you will be able to implement a system for organizing all of your important documents and other important information for the time when someone else may need to manage your affairs if you are incapacitated or manage your estate after you die. When you “get it together,” you will have organized your bank records, credit cards, secure places and passwords, past/present employment records, insurance policies, real estate records, tax records, retirement accounts, estate planning documents, funeral and burial arrangements, and more.
Book (required):
Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To by Melanie Cullen, ISBN 9781413332025
|
|
|
|
- Great Books: Counterparts
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Bonnie Lloyd
Counterparts features paired works around themes such as love, art, science, literature, and gender. Discussions will include stories, essays, and poems from writers ranging from David Sedaris to Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, Betty Friedan, and Michel Foucault. LIMIT 16
Book (required):
Counterparts, Great Books Foundation, ISBN 9781939014252
NOTE: The book is required. You can order it from the Great Books Foundation or find it used on sites such as Amazon.
|
|
|
|
- How to Pay for Long-Term Care without Going Broke (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 1/27/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Greg Gilbert
Many families are scared that the high cost of nursing home care and other long-term care will deplete their life savings and other assets. Recent changes in laws such as the Big Beautiful Bill may make this problem worse. This class will teach strategies and options to help families pay for long-term care.
|
|
|
|
- If the Trail could Talk: Secrets of Duluth along Its Superior Hiking Trail
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 8
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Judy Gibbs
The Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth spans forty miles and boasts a rich history. Through excerpts from an upcoming book and a collection of historical and recent photographs, you'll gain an intriguing insight into Duluth's past, via an abandoned Little League field, ski jumps, soapbox derby track, and more. You’ll also hear stories from the more than two-hundred people who were involved in building the trail.
|
|
|
|
- Inventing the Truth: Memoir Writing
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Carol Mohrbacher
The goal of this memoir writing group is to finish (or nearly finish) one piece in our eight weeks together. Activities include mostly writing and workshopping with some short informative lectures and examples. LIMIT 16
|
|
|
|
- Inventions and Discoveries of the Twentieth Century
-
Dates: 1/5/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: Heather Sweetland
From nuclear power to washing machines without mangles, from vaccines to soft toilet paper, the twentieth century was a time of amazing inventions and discoveries. Learn about various inventions and their inventors, discoveries and their finders, and consider how all of them have affected our lives.
|
|
|
|
- Learning History through Music (7 weeks)
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 2/17/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 7
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: Harry Cottrell
Music is an important component of history. The ultimate quest of learning about history is to make it more real and meaningful, by making students feel like they were there. The music of an historical era can serve as a time-machine, providing us a path to take the ultimate field trip back into the past and giving us a more real and meaningful understanding of history. The class will be a trip through time, focused on American history with an emphasis on the music of the Vietnam era.
|
|
|
|
- Lights On: Drama and Improv Workshop (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/5/2026 - 2/2/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Cheryl Skafte
This interactive, hands-on workshop will explore basic theater concepts through short scenes and improv games. No experience necessary! LIMIT 15
NOTE: Campus will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A make-up class will be scheduled during Week 5.
|
|
|
|
- Lunch on the Hill (2nd three weeks)
-
Dates: 2/4/2026 - 2/18/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 3
Building: Off Campus
Instructor: Margaret Cleveland
This group will visit three restaurants near UMD: Tavern on the Hill, At Sara's Table, and Chilly Billy's/MadHouse Burgers. We will hear from owners/managers to learn about running a food business "on the hill." We’ll go "Dutch," but we can get creative in sharing menu selections. LIMIT 15
|
|
|
|
- Maritime Disasters and Their Impacts (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 1/29/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Richard Dow Stewert
Following an introduction to admiralty law, the international law of the sea, the nautical rules of the road, and marine insurance, we will examine significant maritime disasters from the eighteenth century to the present. Each disaster will be analyzed as to circumstances, probable causes, and how the incident influenced maritime laws, regulations, and insurance. Examples will be used from both international and U.S. waters, including the Great Lakes and navigable rivers. We’ll conclude with a discussion of the current state of maritime safety worldwide.
|
|
|
|
- Mysticism in the World
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Ron Henley, Craig Carlson
Mysticism has influenced the human journey in every historical and social period. “Swimming in a Transcendent Sea" is a helpful metaphor for how one finds meaning and purpose in life’s journey inwardly and outwardly. We will look at how Western and Eastern mysticism differ in their historical origins, core beliefs, and spiritual practices, though both share a common goal of experiencing a deeper reality or connection with the divine. Small and large group discussion will be included and will focus on inner and outer journeys.
|
|
|
|
- Native Nations of Minnesota (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 1/29/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Elizabeth Blue
Let’s examine the various tribal nations of Minnesota. We will explore tribal economies, cultures, and clan/family structures at each Minnesota tribal location. We will discover current political, business, and educational structures, open a window into history, and meet/learn about current tribal leaders. The class is a companion to the second-four-week class on Native Nations of Wisconsin. You may enroll in either or both.
|
|
|
|
- Native Nations of Wisconsin (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/5/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Elizabeth Blue
This class will examine the various tribal nations of Wisconsin. We will explore tribal economies, cultures, and clan/family structures at each tribal location. We will discover current political, business, and educational structures, open a window into history, and meet/learn about current tribal leaders. The class is a companion to the first-four-week class on Native Nations of Minnesota. You can enroll in either or both.
|
|
|
|
- Nordic Skiing (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/2/2026 - 2/23/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Building: Off Campus
Instructor: Nancy Bauer
Explore various trails in the Duluth area, to be determined according to the weather and snow conditions. Be prepared with appropriate dress, and make sure your equipment is up-to-date. A Minnesota trail pass is required for all public ski trails. LIMIT 15
Equipment can be rented through UMD's Recreation, Sports, and Outdoor Program.
|
|
|
|
- North Shore Shipwrecks in Lake Superior (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/7/2026 - 1/28/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Stephen Daniel
Shipwrecks lie beneath the waters of Lake Superior outside nearly every city and town along the North Shore of Minnesota. This will be an opportunity to discover the maritime history many people may have sailed, motored, or paddled over as they enjoyed the beauty of the North Shore. Come learn about the different ships that plied the inland seas and ended their days nearby as the result of storms or other disasters that happened long ago.
Book (recommended, not required):
Shipwrecks Along Lake Superior's North Shore by Stephen B. Daniel, ISBN-13 9780873516181 and ISBN-10 0873516184
NOTE: The book will be available to purchase in the classroom.
|
|
|
|
- Northland Weather 101 (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/2/2026 - 2/23/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor:
Calling all weather enthusiasts! This class will be an opportunity to take a deep-dive into the science and safety of weather phenomena, instructed by meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Duluth. Topics will include NWS Duluth forecasts, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, winter storms, blizzards, extreme cold, lake-effect snow, fire weather, airport weather forecasting, and conditions on Lake Superior. No previous weather experience or expertise is required. Come join us for an interesting and informative look at weather in the Northland.
National Weather Service meteorologists out of the Duluth office will lead each class. We will provide a brief introduction of ourselves at the beginning of each class. We look forward to meeting you!
|
|
|
|
- Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/7/2026 - 1/28/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Steven Coz
This class will focus on the June 6, 1944 landings in Normandy and the buildup of the personnel and material needed to make and sustain the landings. We’ll also look at, to a lesser degree, the battles that were fought to enable the Allies to break out into open France. We’ll discuss the important players on both the Allied and Axis sides and identify the major problems anticipated and overcome.
Books (recommended, not required):
-
Overlord by Max Hastings, ISBN 9781982110772
-
The Americans at D-Day by John McManus, ISBN 0765307448
-
The Americans at Normandy by John McManus, ISBN 076531200X
-
The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, ISBN 9780671890919
NOTE: There is no required reading, but I will be relying on the books listed above.
|
|
|
|
- Pharmacy Perspectives: Ethics, Substance Use, and Mental Health across the Lifespan (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/5/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor:
Join local pharmacists for an engaging discussion of some of today’s most important health topics. Learn how medical cannabis works and where it fits in patient care, explore how communities can respond to substance use disorder and the life-saving role of naloxone, consider the ethical questions involved in a pharmacist’s right to refuse prescriptions, and gain insight into common mental health medications used by older adults. This session offers practical information and open conversation about how pharmacists support patients and communities throughout life’s stages.
Presenters:
Dr Meg Little (Week 5) worked as a registered nurse in a variety of settings prior to earning her doctorate, including pediatrics and mental health. She serves as an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, teaching community health, provider wellbeing, and interprofessional collaborative practice. She is also a member of the Research for Indigenous Community Health (RICH) Center. RICH is an interdisciplinary center motivated to reduce American Indian/Alaska Native health disparities and promote protective factors.
Laura Palombi (Week 6) is a Research Scientist III at Essentia Institute for Rural Health; Adjunct Faculty, College of Pharmacy, UMN Duluth; and a pharmacist. Her expertise is community-based participatory action research focused on preventing and addressing substance abuse.
Tim Stratton (Week 7) is a pharmacist and also Professor Emeritus in the College of Pharmacy, UMN Duluth, where he taught for twenty-one years. He is currently the advisor in residence for HOPE Clinic, the interprofessional student-run free clinic in Duluth.
Dr. Mark Schneiderhan (Week 8) is a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) and associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Minnesota. His expertise is in the management of symptoms of schizophrenia, major depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD and PTSD, behavioral dyscontrol disorders, and substance use disorders.
|
|
|
|
- Phone Photography (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 1/27/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: Helen Mongan-Rallis
Do you want to take your phone photography to the next level? This informal, hands-on, collaborative class will introduce you to key (and easy-to-learn!) principles of photography that will move you from basic point-and-shoot pictures to ones that will have your family and friends saying, “Wow! How did you do that?!” Each class session will begin with brief demonstrations of different photography principles and techniques. Participants will then experiment with applying these lessons by taking photos around campus, coming together to share results and provide feedback to one another. This class is suitable for beginner to intermediate-level aspiring photographers using any type of smartphone. Each participant will need a cell phone to take photos. LIMIT 12
|
|
|
|
- Plagues and People in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 1/29/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: Tom Burns
Plagues (also called pandemics) altered the lives of millions of people in pre-modern Europe. We will concentrate on the Justinianic Plague of the 6th c. CE, and the so-called Black Death of the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries. At our first meeting the class will view Ingmar Bergman's awesome ninety-three-minute film The Seventh Seal (1957). Bergman captures the pain, the sorrow, and the essential dilemma of mass death and inexplicable suffering. LIMIT 16
|
|
|
|
- Resource Renew: Rethinking Waste (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/3/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor:
Explore the history of Resource Renew, the brand of the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD). We will discuss the problem-solving programs developed by Resource Renew that help it fulfill its mission as the region’s wastewater and solid waste authority and ensure responsible reuse and renewal of water, solid waste, and energy to advance the health and resiliency of our communities. Resource Renew staff will share insights on what happens to the waste that we throw in the trash, flush down the toilet, or send down the drain, and the role bacteria play in these processes. You will learn how to become resource renewal champions through discussions on recycling, waste reduction, composting, and reuse. For the last session, we’ll take a tour of Resource Renew so you can see first-hand the operations at the water recovery facility.
Environmental Programs Staff at Resource Renew will be leading this class. They are responsible for education and outreach, program development and implementation, and communications and marketing for Resource Renew.
|
|
|
|
- Slavery, Lincoln, and the Civil War
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Room:
Instructor: William Miller
The Civil War is the greatest crisis, costliest war, and, many historians say, the defining episode in our national identity. Its effects have rippled through American history for more than a century, up to the present. Central to the cause of the war was the issue of slavery. And central to the execution and outcome of the war was Abraham Lincoln. This class will examine each of these three critical stories in American history. Each of them will be examined in itself but also in the larger context of how they reflect the development of the United States.
|
|
|
|
- Stephen Crane: Prose and Poetry (7 weeks)
-
Dates: 1/5/2026 - 2/23/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 7
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Warren Howe
Stephen Crane was a much admired writer who died far too young. Class participants will read and discuss several of his poems and prose works.
Book (required):
Crane: Prose and Poetry, Library of America, ISBN 1883011396
|
|
|
|
- Tai Chi (Tuesdays)
-
Tai Chi is a slow, graceful exercise that is sometimes called a moving meditation. Its many benefits include reduced stress, increased flexibility, improved balance, and cardiovascular fitness. Whether you are new to Tai Chi or a seasoned expert, all are welcome! Members may enroll in one or both offerings of this class. LIMIT 25
|
|
|
|
- Tai Chi (Thursdays)
-
Tai Chi is a slow, graceful exercise that is sometimes called a moving meditation. Its many benefits include reduced stress, increased flexibility, improved balance, and cardiovascular fitness. Whether you are new to Tai Chi or a seasoned expert, all are welcome! Members may enroll in one or both offerings of this class. LIMIT 25
|
|
|
|
- The Harlem Renaissance: Going Deeper
-
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: David Tryggestad
This class will more fully flesh out the brilliant work and vibrant lives of some of the most important writers of the Harlem Renaissance than in the class offered during the fall term. Authors to be discusses include Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Jesse Fauset, Countee Cullen, Gwendolyn Bennett, Claude McKay, Nella Larson, Jean Toomer, Paul Robeson, and Wallace Thurman. It is not a requirement to have attended the previous Harlem Renaissance class.
Books (recommended, not required):
1. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature, Volume 1, Fourth Edition edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr., W.W. Norton & Company, 2025, ISBN 9781324047049
2. Voices from the Harlem Renaissance by Nathan Irvin Huggins, Oxford University Press, 1995, ISBN 9780195093605
3. The New Negro by Alain Locke, Mint Editions, 2021, ISBN 1513282395
4. On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance by Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, with Raymond Obstfeld, 2007, ISBN 9781416534891
5. Ebony Rising: Short Fiction of the Greater Harlem Renaissance Era edited by Craig Gable, 2004, ISBN 0253343984
|
|
|
|
- The Pursuit of Better Possibilities (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/4/2026 - 2/25/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Tone Lanzillo
Using the words and wisdom of Parker Palmer, Brene Brown, Wayne Dyer, and Rebecca Solnit, we will explore how to actively participate in the shaping of one's future and find a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in our daily lives.
|
|
|
|
- The Russian Revolution
-
Dates: 1/5/2026 - 3/2/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 8
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Chris Thomalla
Make an in-depth examination of the causes leading up to the Russian Revolution and the events ending in civil war and the Soviet State. In this multi-media class, pictures, photos, music, and videos will be used to illustrate the presentation. Films, several from the USSR, United States, and the Russian Federation, will dramatically describe the events of these times.
|
|
|
|
- The Sonnet: Short, Powerhouse Poems (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/9/2026 - 1/30/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Tim Blackburn
At just one-hundred-forty syllables, fourteen lines, and ten syllables per line, the sonnet is a simple, brisk poetic form; yet it has a five-hundred-year history in English, with new sonnets continually being composed. What makes this kind of poem so potent and so attractive to poets and readers? (One even adorns the Statue of Liberty.) We will study the form, its variant rhyme patterns, and how it works. We will read sonnets by Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Wordsworth, Keats, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Frost, and many others, including perhaps people in the class. Some of the sonnets we will read are about love, some are humorous, some are profound, and all of them will be interesting, enjoyable, and thought provoking.
|
|
|
|
- Understanding Wills & Trusts (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/9/2026 - 1/30/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Jeffrey Cadwell
Learn about the basics of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, real estate, and other property transfers. Explore the benefits of charitable giving strategies. Get answers to your questions about creating or updating your own estate plan.
|
|
|
|
- Unraveling History through Science
-
Dates: 1/6/2026 - 2/24/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 8
Building: Online via Zoom
Instructor: James Amato
Science can help us decipher the history of virtually everything around us. Radioactive dating tells us much about the history of human civilization, art, agriculture, diet, and migration patterns. Tree rings, ice cores, and ocean sediments indicate past climate patterns and the development of our planet’s atmosphere. We will discuss the origin and early history of life, the demise of the dinosaurs, the life cycle of stars, and the birth of our solar system. We will view selections from The Great Courses, supplemented by slides and classroom discussion.
|
|
|
|
- Why Russia Deserves Respect (1st four weeks)
-
Dates: 1/7/2026 - 1/28/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Kirby Plaza
Instructor: Tom Morgan
Russia has repeatedly felt disrespected and unappreciated by the West. This mentality can be traced back to the Middle Ages and is a critical element in Russia's national mythology today. It also explains--in part--Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Book (required):
How the West Brought War to Ukraine by Benjamin Abelow, ISBN 9780991076703
|
|
|
|
- Winter Walks (2nd four weeks)
-
Dates: 2/5/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Building: Off Campus
Instructor: Suzanne Griffith
Get outdoors, have fun, and enjoy the natural beauty that winters in Duluth bestow. The group will meet in a different location each week and walk on a variety of trails. Poles, snowshoes, or ice cleats may help mobility. Participants are expected to dress for the weather and arrange their own transportation. LIMIT 25
|
|
|
|
- Wonderful Watercolor
-
Dates: 1/9/2026 - 2/27/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 8
Building: A. B. Anderson Hall
Room: 124
Instructor: Edna Blanchard
Beginners, intermediates, and those who just want to get together to paint while inspiring others: bring a brush and join the class! The weekly sessions consist of a demonstration, time to paint and ask questions, and the opportunity to share individual projects. Basic watercolor supplies are required. LIMIT 20
|
|
|
|
