Afternoon   

American politicians, policymakers, and the public battled each other for two centuries on how to supply, regulate, or even conceptually understand money, as the country progressed from an experimental, pre-industrial republic to a world superpower. This lecture series will explore early currency and banking crises, cultural attitudes about credit, the gold standard versus free silver, auto and home loans and the rise of personal finance, and the post-WWII transition to a new global and domestic role for the US dollar. The course contextualizes these debates with theory, scholarship, political and cultural history, and comparisons to the present. 

Chair yoga is so popular now….for many reasons. One is because people can get the benefits without getting on the floor and most everyone can do it. It increases circulation, keeps the joints lubricated, promotes relaxation, helps with better breathing, works on balance and increases strength. Come reap the benefits of this practice. You can do it! 

Conflict Resolution Through Effective Communication explores how communication shapes conflict and how everyday disagreements can become opportunities for growth. Through interactive discussions, role plays, self-assessment exercises, and practical activities, participants will improve active listening, constructive feedback, and communication skills; acquire better self-awareness; and learn strategies for managing difficult conversations. The course does not have any prerequisites, just curiosity and openness for experience sharing and learning. 

Economics plays a central role in the functioning of every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert – all of whom have a Ph.D. in Economics. Potential topics include Climate Change, Healthcare Economics, Social Security, and many more. The topics presented will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course.  No reading is required prior to the lectures. 

Creative drama is an educational art form that incorporates theatre techniques and pedagogy, such as improvisation and role-play, drawing on participants’ experiences. It is structured through hands-on interactive activities. This course aims to introduce four branches of art in a fun and engaging manner. In the first week, we will get to know one another through icebreaker activities and build a positive group dynamic. Throughout the course, we will share our stories and learn the basics each week of (1) visual arts, (2) literary arts, (3) dance, and (4) musical theater. Anyone interested in exploring these art forms in an enjoyable way is welcome to join this weekly 90-minute workshop series. This course fosters a sense of belonging within a learning community, literacy across the four art branches, and reflection on personal experiences through art. 

What happens to a middle-class family in a period of social upheaval? Russian author Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago follows the title character, a physician and poet, through the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. Painting a sweeping picture of the revolution and its human costs, this remarkable book addresses the emotional, moral, and philosophical questions of the revolutionary era. How does revolution ripen and spread in a society? How do different individuals perceive and react to revolutionary change?  How does an artist portray revolution?  How does Pasternak’s artistic vision resonate with us today? 

Have you ever gone to a Moth event and thought, “I would love to do that!” Then this is the class for you! Even if that isn’t your goal, this is still a fun and creative class. Students will learn the techniques of effective storytelling. Students will do activities in class to spark their creativity. Video clips of storytellers will be viewed and critiqued by students. Students will get to share their stories with fellow classmates to get their opinions. Finally, there will be a showcase in the last class where students can present their favorite story. 

This film appreciation course offers a brief but in-depth ZOOM dive into four movies by America's favorite French director. Each week participants will view one Truffaut movie at home to prepare for discussion and detailed analysis of that film in class. Note: This course is not a repeat of Bernie’s previous film courses. Requirements: (1) Participants commit to 1 weekly online movie-viewing at home: on TV, pc, or tablet/laptop. (2) Must have Access to the Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime and Kanopy video streaming service (via Boston Public Library or another library e-card). Most films are free, some rentals (less than $20). 

Have you ever felt stuck in old routines, habits, or ways of thinking? The good news is that lasting change often begins with small steps. In this uplifting class, we'll explore why we get stuck, how our thoughts shape our experience, and simple ways to create positive change. We'll discuss resilience, neuroplasticity, reinvention, and the power of opening ourselves to new possibilities at any age. Join us for reflection, discussion, and practical tools to help you move forward with greater hope, confidence, and curiosity. 

This course will expose the origins of the "American" Vietnam War. We will start with the presence of the French in the 1850s and travel through the years, up to and including our involvement in the fighting. Many commonly held concepts and beliefs will be shattered by the information presented. The role that our leaders, both military and political, played will be examined and critiqued. After taking this course, you will likely learn many previously untold truths about the events that happened so many years ago. Course Note: This course has been offered in the past. While the content will be similar, the discussion resulting from questions is always different.  

Students will acquire a comprehensive understanding of Yang-style Tai Chi, the most widely practiced and popular style of Tai Chi, commonly referred to as “meditation in motion.” The Yang postures are characterized by their relaxed, expansive, simple, precise, centrally aligned, and harmoniously combined nature, incorporating both hard and soft elements. These postures can be positioned at high, middle, or low stances, accommodating individual preferences. This flexibility renders the Yang form suitable for health preservation and enhancement, thereby augmenting strength, balance, and overall fitness. Each class commences with warm-up exercises designed to promote softness, relaxation, and looseness. We will delve into fundamental principles and concepts, fostering body awareness, balance, and meditation. 

 

We’ll review what has been called the first American detective story - Dashiell Hammett’s - The Maltese Falcon ‘30 which introduced Sam Spade in the ‘41 movie. This image of the “hard-boiled” private investigator is pitted against a band of criminals and his woman of the moment. Under John Huston’s direction this film (nominated for 3 Academy Awards) has been noted as the beginning of the film noir genre. 

Fred Zinnemann was a young Austrian filmmaker when he came to Hollywood in 1929. After working as a cameraman, he began making films on his own within a few years. Although he made a wide variety of films, he was particularly gifted in featuring characters who face difficult, even impossible choices, particularly in wartime.  We will view a variety of these films, including Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Fonda in Julia, which features Meryl Streep’s first film appearance, the great Paul Scofield in his Oscar winning role in A Man for All Seasons, and one of the best American westerns, High Noon with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.  

Everyone has a story to tell! This workshop is designed to give you the space to write about your life, share your legacy. Whether you want to capture your family history for your grandchildren or write about an event that occurred in your life, all stories are valid and welcome. Memoir writing can be healing and magical. When a story persists in your consciousness, it is demanding to be told. You are the best person to tell it. You’re the expert – you lived it. No writing experience is needed. This is a safe zone where you won’t be judged for the content of the story or the writing! You’ll hear where your writing resonates with us, your audience. What to expect? In each session, we will read a brief memoir piece, write for about 20 minutes from a prompt or whatever pops into your head, and finally, read our stories aloud. No one is obligated to share their work, but it's a good way to quiet your inner critic.  

Sir Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish artist and diplomat. He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens's highly charged compositions focused on works associated with classical antiquity (encompassed the culture of ancient Greece & Rome) and Christian history. Due to the enormity of his work, we will focus on his mature period after he returned to Antwerp in 1609, following his stay in Italy. Early on he served as a diplomat to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, and negotiating a peace treaty between England and Spain This period also included notable paintings such as “The Elevation of the Cross” and huge commissions like the Medici Cycle. Surprisingly, there came a sea change in his style due to his reencounter with the works of Titian in Madrid in 1628. After retiring  in the 1630s, he no longer worked on commission but rather for his own pleasure. He focused on landscapes and the life of peasants and portraits, characterized by a more relaxed, intimate technique.  

Are you ready to put AI to work as your project assistant? If you are curious to learn more about what ChatGPT and other AI tools can really do, there’s no substitute for personal experience. With long-time AI user Scott Guthery as your guide, this course will be a hands-on AI workshop for people who want to accomplish a specific objective. No AI experience is required. All you need to bring to the first meeting is a description of what you want to work on during the four-week workshop. This can be planning a vacation, learning about your neighborhood, writing a children's book, starting a business, or anything else that your smart, tireless assistant can help you with. From week to week, you will practice writing ChatGPT prompts that produce the most helpful results, discuss your results with other participants, and explore some of the advanced features that AI has to offer. 

In this course, we  revisit Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, published in 1980, from the perspective of 2026. How does A People’s History, which brings to life voices left out of most accounts of our history, help us make sense of the last decade, in which Donald Trump has dominated our political and cultural life as a nation?  We will read and discuss selected chapters from A People’s History to place Trump’s rise in a coherent narrative arc that more traditional histories miss. We will also evaluate Zinn’s prescription for healing what ails us, activism. Required text:  A People's Hisory of the United States by Howard Zinn. 

The Salon provides an opportunity to discuss perspectives, exchange ideas, critique concepts and share perceptions and thoughts with others in a convivial, collaborative environment. Each class session will focus on a different topic. Writings, videos, and/or audio clips on the topic will be presented in class as a springboard for dialogue and group interactions

Do you want to learn about the history of South Asia—a region rich in diversity, culture, art, and political history? This four-day introductory course explores South Asian societies through film, media, and visual arts. Students will examine how history, identity, religion, gender, migration, and social change are represented across the region. Students will gain a deeper understanding of South Asian cultures and histories while sharing their own perspectives in an interactive learning environment. 

Often one runs out of ideas for new poems. This course is designed to help you find new source material to create new poems.  By focusing on a topic, such as the Boston Molasses Flood for example, or paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, you will do research and then write poems based on this research. By the end of the course, the goal is to have about 5-6 poems that could be the steppingstone to a chapbook, book or longer length collection. We will also dabble our toes into poetical forms, such as sonnets or a villanelles which can help you learn to develop and flex your creative muscle. And write new poems! 

Developed by Dr. Paul Lam and the Tai Chi for Health Institute, this comprehensive program, based on the Sun style of Tai Chi, provides an in-depth understanding of its distinctive characteristics. This evidence-based program serves as an effective exercise regimen promoting holistic well-being, with customizable exertion levels suitable for individuals of varying abilities, including young seniors. It incorporates unique gentle qigong practices and a higher stance, making the learning process engaging and enjoyable. Published medical studies have demonstrated that this program offers numerous health benefits, including arthritis symptom relief, reduced pain, improved balance, fall risk reduction, flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness, immune system support, and tranquility. Arthritis foundations and the CDC recommend these evidence-based exercises. Each class commences with gentle warm-up exercises to foster softness, relaxation, and looseness, followed by the learning of fundamental Tai Chi postures, principles, and concepts. 

Using excerpts from Jill Lepore’s new book We the People as a guide, we will explore the uncertain future of the Constitution and the equality, freedom, rights, security and order it has come to promise for all.  What happened to that promise?  What exactly is the “originalism” that has been cited in a generation of decisions by the Roberts Court?  Does the Constitution need to be amended?  What are the competing visions of the future of the Constitution?  Can any of these visions repair the fraying of the promise the Constitution has come to represent? 

The nineteen century saw great strides in science such as the discoveries of Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Darwin. Artist such as Frederic Edwin Church, Charles Willson Peale, and others were greatly influenced by these new discoveries. We will learn about them. 

Have you ever felt guided by a dream, a coincidence, an animal symbol, or a deep inner knowing you couldn’t quite explain? In this reflective and experiential class, we will explore the idea of spirit guides and invisible helpers through meditation, symbolism, intuition, synchronicity, and guided imagery. Together, we’ll explore how guidance may appear through nature, dreams, signs, emotions, and meaningful moments in everyday life. This class includes slides, videos, guided experiences, journaling, and group discussion designed to encourage curiosity, imagination, and deeper connection to your own inner wisdom. Whether viewed spiritually, symbolically, or intuitively, this class offers a gentle and open-minded space for exploration and reflection. 

We will learn about the history of our nation's first capital. We will encounter great Philadelphians such as Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, Alexander Calder, Albert Barnes, and Charles Willson Peale. This course will be similar to the Cultural History of Boston class from last semester. 

Chiang Yee wrote and illustrated this charming book in 1959. Chiang Yee has a vibrant, whimsical, humorous voice which transcends time. For those of us who love the area it is all here: the Boston Common, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Charles River, Salem, Rockport, the Cape and Islands, to name a few. Yee included 16 full color paintings, 60 black and white drawings, and 20 of his poems. What better way to celebrate our 250th than to toast Boston, its surrounding neighborhoods and towns, its history and people, than to share this unique book together? We will read and discuss a portion of the book each week. Please do not read ahead. You can find the 1959 version in a library or purchase a copy from Amazon or eBay for about $8-12.  You can also find it on Internet Archive which allows you to read for free online: https://archive.org/details/silenttravelleri0000chia_u2e8/mode/2up  Long out of print, it was recently republished in 2017 in paperback.  

Artists let us see the world through their eyes, transporting us through time and space. Throughout history, art has been used to record our daily lives, share our connections with people and our environment, and to visualize what we cannot see—such as the spiritual realm. Session topics will include: Andrew Wyeth’s expressive watercolors of the people and places that surrounded him in rural Pennsylvania and Maine in the special exhibition Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor; how medieval Koreans envisioned the world beyond death in the special exhibition Ten Kings of Hell: The Afterlife in Medieval Korea; as well as various examples across the museum’s exhibitions and permanent collections.  

Vaccines and sanitation are the medical advances which have saved the most lives throughout human history, but there have been skeptics of the former since at least the 14th century. In this course we will explore how vaccines work, what the differences between vaccines are, why some vaccines work better than others, and how we test the efficacy and safety of vaccines. We will also consider how we can continue to build new and better vaccines as we move into the future. 

Join the ultimate dance-fitness party that beats a boring exercise workout any day!  Zumba (r) Gold is part of the popular Zumba (r) dance-based fitness program, and is specifically designed for active older adults.  The class includes the same wide variety of Latin and Other International rhythms, but without any high-impact moves.  It's not a dance class, though, so there are no right or wrong moves.  Stand.. sit in a chair... alternate between the two.  Just let the music move you! Wear workout clothes and sneakers, and be sure to hydrate. 

This course uses simple, guided writing exercises to help you make sense of your experiences and articulate what matters most. Through short prompts, discussion, and optional reading, we’ll explore how writing can bring clarity, insight, and perspective to everyday life. No prior writing experience is required.