Wednesday Courses   

Bygone Badass Broads by MacKenzi Lee features 54 remarkable and forgotten trailblazing women from all over the world. With tales of heroism and cunning, in-depth bios, and witty storytelling, Bygone Badass Broads gives new life to these historic female pioneers. Starting in the fifth century BC and continuing to the present, the book takes a closer look at bold and inspiring women who dared to step outside the traditional gender roles of their time. Coupled with Lee's humorous and conversational storytelling style, this book is an outright celebration of the badass women who paved the way for the rest of us.

Required Reading: Bygone Badass Broads by MacKenzi Lee

Venturing back to Europe in 1947, Martin Buber delivered six lectures to a group of Dutch religious socialists. As we closely read and discuss The Way of Humanity According to Chasidic Teaching, we may discern Buber's profound need to offer a spiritual, existential, and moral anchor to a European humanity shattered by the Holocaust, the devastation of World War II, and the alienation of modern life. Is the advice from a breakaway 18th-century Jewish movement applicable to us today? Martin Buber (1878–1965) was a renowned Austrian-Israeli philosopher, theologian, and educator, best known for his philosophy of dialogue and the "I-Thou" relationship, developed in his 1923 masterpiece I and Thou. A proponent of cultural Zionism, he advocated for a binational Arab-Jewish state before moving from Nazi Germany to Mandatory Palestine in 1938, where he became a professor of anthropology and sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The Way of Humanity will be on a shared screen during class discussions. If you wish a copy of your own, see: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Humanity-According-Chasidic-Teaching/dp/0881236373.

A class on discovering an understanding of the Soul and Karma. Delving into the historical background on reincarnation from several beliefs. Then taking this and studying verifiable instances of remembered reincarnation. In doing so, we can hope to expand our beliefs in what happens after death and possibilities of coming back again.

Mark Twain on opera: "I enjoyed it in spite of the singing." Join this lively class and discover the universal appeal of opera—no musical background required. Through engaging stories, videos, and guided listening, we will explore operas from the 18th to the 21st centuries that can be seen locally during this term or shortly thereafter, helping participants deepen their understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of this remarkable art form. Learn how music, staging, and voice combine to create powerful theatrical experiences while uncovering the history, culture, and humanity that give these works their timeless resonance. Each session offers behind-the-curtain insights that make opera approachable, entertaining, and meaningful. Whether you are a first-time attendee or a seasoned opera enthusiast, this class welcomes you. 

Archaeology fascinates many people, especially when there are structural ruins to visit. Most fans, including Americans, have focused on the Old World, primarily at sites around the Mediterranean—but we have equally fascinating cultures to study in the Americas. In this course, we will "visit" sites in North, Central, and South America to learn about human migration and settlement patterns, along with facets of their respective ancient cultures. We will also look at new research methods that have made this knowledge more accessible.

More familiar sites and cultures to be studied include the Ancestral Puebloans, the Maya, and Machu Picchu. Some less well-known cultures include the Nazca Lines, Mississippian, Iroquois, Woodland, and Pacific Coast settlements. Our "visits" will be made via lectures from The Great Courses, supplemented by handouts and guided discussions.

Art isn't something that happens to other people—it's a living conversation across centuries, and you're invited to join in. Artrageous wants to shock and amuse you, to understand, enjoy, and even make modern art—without the stuffiness. We will journey from the radical rule-breakers of late 19th-century Paris all the way to the dreamers and provocateurs of the Surrealist movement, stopping at every wild detour in between. This is not a lecture course. Each class blends rich visual presentations of landmark works with short film clips, participatory games, and creative exercises drawn directly from the art movements themselves. No prior knowledge of art history is required. What is required: an open mind, a willingness to be surprised, and a sense of humor.

August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, honoring his powerful portrayal of African American culture. In this course, we will read, watch, and examine plays from Wilson’s American Cycle, which represents each decade of the 20th century. We will explore his life and influences while focusing on Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Seven Guitars, tracing his interpretation and celebration of African American culture.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Climb aboard a fun musical train trip, making whistling stops in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Oakland, Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati, and Jackson, Mississippi. Stops will feature music from the 1930s to the 1970s, presented chronologically, including soul, funk, blues, and gospel. Come discover America's national musical gems - mostly obscure, many never heard on radio - culled from over 50 years of research and personal vinyl digging. There will be opportunities to dance, as music from each city will be featured along with a weekly train song. The format resembles a live radio show or DJ session, with 85% of the time dedicated to listening. You'll also participate in discussions and provide feedback on tracks and videos. Join us on a one-of-a-kind aural adventure - without leaving your seat, that is, if you can stay seated! All aboard!

Bridge Basics I is a course for individuals new to bridge or those who have been away from the game for a while. Further, this course would work for anyone currently playing bridge who would like a refresher. This course is taught on Wednesdays, online, for eight weeks. The class starts at 9:30 a.m. and finishes at 11:30 a.m. The classes are two hours long and consist of direct instruction and play of bridge hands via the Shark Bridge app.

There is a $20.00 non refundable fee for this course, paid to the teacher. The fee must be received by the instruction by the 2nd class. The fee covers the cost of the book for this class, Bidding in the 21st Century. The book is provided by the American Contract Bridge League.

This course will cover six key economic issues: the current slowdown in economic growth, economic inequality, the United States' mounting national debt, the United States' inefficient health care system, soaring prescription drug prices, and immigration. Here are some of the questions that will be addressed: Is the current slowdown in U.S. economic growth a temporary lull or the beginning of prolonged economic stagnation? What is driving the United States' widening income inequality? What's wrong with big government deficits and a growing national debt? Why does the United States spend so much more on health care than other high-income countries, and is it getting its money's worth? Why do prescription drugs cost so much more in the United States than in other industrialized countries? What are the benefits and costs of immigration to U.S. citizens, and does one exceed the other?

This course dedicates its first hour to a discussion of the current week's events. Dick will do the first week's overview, after which two class volunteers are invited each week to provide a recap of the previous week. The second hour will be a discussion of a specific topic. This course approaches current events from a distinctly progressive political perspective.

Class members should expect to see one of the facilitator's favorite films and be expected to take part in the discussion at the conclusion of the film. Films will likely include (based on availability) They Shoot Horses Don't They, Elmer Gantry, On The Beach along with five other films. Class will start at 12:45pm and may extend a few minutes past 3pm.

Joe Christmas doesn't know if he's Black or White—and in the Jim Crow South, that uncertainty is lethal. Ruthless, rootless, drifting into Mississippi, he passes as White until his secret lover, a Yankee spinster, is brutally murdered. Betrayed and accused as a Black man, Christmas becomes the target of a vengeful manhunt. Faulkner brackets this dark story between two others: Lena Grove searching for the father of her unborn child, and Reverend Hightower, a disgraced minister haunted by Confederate ghosts. In Faulkner's most straightforward major novel, these entangled tales confront us with persistent, complex issues. Class discussion will include race and gender relations, burdens of history, repressive religious traditions, cultures of violence, and the meaning of community.

Required Text: William Faulkner, Light in August, Vintage International Edition, 507 pages, ISBN 0-679-73226-8, or equivalent. The Audible Modern Vanguard audiobook version narrated by Will Patton is also quite good.

No class on 10/21.

Great Decisions is a program of the Foreign Policy Association, updated each year. High-quality educational materials are prepared and distributed to discussion groups in cities and universities throughout the United States. For each topic, participants receive a chapter describing current issues and a video featuring background information and interviews with world leaders and scholars.

Required book: Great Decisions 2026 Briefing Book, available from the Foreign Policy Association. https://fpa.org/product/great-decisions-2026/

All-new speakers. All-new topics. All-new AI.

Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every aspect of our lives, from healthcare, education, and transportation to business, aerospace, and personal technology. Through a series of engaging presentations and discussions, participants will explore how AI is being used today, how it is shaping the future, and what opportunities and challenges it presents for society.

Industry leaders and subject-matter experts will share real-world examples of AI in action. Speakers from organizations such as Lockheed Martin, CareerWise, and other innovative institutions will discuss topics ranging from aerospace design, military preparedness, healthcare advances, workforce development, and education. Field trips: Arapahoe Community College's Anatomage anatomy lab and possibly the CSU Spur innovation campus will provide firsthand exposure to cutting-edge applications of AI and technology.

No technical background required—just curiosity about possibly the most influential developments of our time. 

By 1890, the hubris of Europe's imperial powers was leading the world toward war. WWI ushered in the modern world and created a host of complications - from the autocratic rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Czar Nicholas II to the rise of Lenin, Mao, and Hitler. The world would wrestle for stability. The Great Depression and political chaos created instability in world leadership and a struggle to find a peaceful path into the 20th century. Join me for a journey through 1890 to 1939, a period that continues to shape today's world.

A fascination with Irish history arises primarily from two different phenomena: the country's unique status as the first 19th-century colonized nation—with the Act of Union's dissolution of the Irish parliament in 1801—that battled to regain its independence more than one hundred years later; and the far-reaching role of poets, playwrights, and authors (Standish O'Grady, W.B. Yeats, Joyce, O'Casey, Shaw) as they mediated and interpreted the culture of rebellion and debated what independence should look like. We will travel through the Famine, the Fenians, the Easter Rising, World War I, the Civil War, and up to the death of Yeats and the start of World War II in 1939—with excursions into the land of the faeries and the occult—using the lens of artists and intellectuals to examine the culture of rebellion and query how and why this culture, by 1922, had produced such an economically and socially conservative Free State.

This PowerPoint presentation, comprising three sessions, will briefly touch on the origins of the countries surrounding Israel and the issues of water, natural resources, religion, and regional alliances. It will then examine Israel's relations with its neighbors, along with threats to and opportunities for peaceful coexistence. It will address the Abraham Accords, what is evolving from them, and which countries might be next to join. It will discuss in some detail Iran and its proxies and how Israel broke through the "Iranian noose," bringing matters up to the current moment.

This course is a history class with a laugh track. We will analyze the 20th and 21st centuries against their historic context, using humor as the platform. We will discuss how comedy was shaped by and responsive to American society, and how comedians influenced and shaped American life. We will cover Silent Films, Vaudeville, Radio, Screwball and Romantic Comedies, and the Golden Age of Television. We will study how each generation’s identity influenced what (and whom) they laughed at.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

My Favorite Bridge Conventions is a course for individuals who have played bridge before or are currently playing on a regular basis. This course is taught on Wednesdays, online, for eight weeks. The class starts at 1:00 p.m. and finishes at 3:00 p.m. The classes are two hours long and consist of direct instruction and play of bridge hands via the Shark Bridge app. If you have questions about this course or are unsure if this is the right course for you, please contact the instructor, Mike Holmes, at mdholmes8@yahoo.com.

There is a $20.00 non-negotiable or refundable fee for this course, paid to the teacher. Note: The fee must be received by the instructor by the 2nd class. The fee covers the app fees for using our virtual bridge table "Shark."

This four-week course is for people who suspect that curiosity does not retire. We'll explore artificial intelligence slowly and thoughtfully—not as technicians, but as human beings navigating a profound cultural shift. Practical questions and bigger ones are both welcome. Retirement was supposed to be the quiet part. Then humanity invented machines that can converse, explain, summarize, brainstorm, argue, and occasionally sound wiser than your cousin Larry. Bring basic copy-and-paste skills and a willingness to wonder. WiFi tablet or laptop helpful but not mandatory.

The class on 10/21 will be online.

Puerto Rico sits at the convergence of the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and their intersecting influences make it unlike anywhere else. This four-session course takes curious learners on a lively journey through the island's layered history: from the ancient Taíno to the complexities of its unique political relationship with the United States, from the rhythms of bomba and salsa to the global phenomenon of Bad Bunny, from the economic upheavals of the 20th century to the hard-won resilience that followed Hurricane María and the mass protests of 2019. Participants will leave with a richer understanding of Puerto Rico's past and present, and a clearer sense of how the island's story connects to broader questions of identity, colonialism, and resilience. No tests, no homework, no pressure — just fascinating stories, lively conversation, and a few surprises along the way.

Have you ever considered the role FEAR plays in American politics? Fascinatingly and unfortunately, FEAR tends to drive our political environment. FEAR of Unions, of Outsiders (anarchists), of African Americans, of “Others” among us. This course examines the cultural and political world that emerged from World War II. Suspicion, mistrust, and paranoia created by the Cold War world drove the US government into the arms of fear mongers and demagogues. What motivated the House Unamerican Activities Committee? Were there spies in the government? Were movies truly spouting “red propaganda?” How and why did naming names become blood sport on Capitol Hill? Careers were both made and destroyed by FEAR. The aftereffects of the Cold War continue today, negatively impacting the lives and rights of all Americans.

Recommended Reading: Naming Names by Victor Navasky; Red Scare by Clay Risen

At the heart of science fiction are big questions. Are we in control of the science and technology we create? What is the next step in human evolution? Are we alone in the universe, and what would happen if we made first contact with other intelligences? Science fiction is also a way of creating profound allegories about the societies we live in and the ones we hope or fear we will create. These are movies that make you think. In this class, we'll explore these questions and more through the medium of science fiction film. Aside from watching and discussing individual movies, the facilitator will provide background on each film and on science fiction in general.

The Industrial Revolution marked a cataclysmic change in human development, unlike anything seen since humans first learned to grow their own food. And these changes first appeared in Britain—by this time little more than a small island with a second-rate economy. But the shift from agriculture to industrialization sent England, and humankind, on a new trajectory. We will look at some of the key innovations and individuals that drove this transition, including: why it started in Britain; the shift in textile production from cottages to factories; the use of water, then steam power; the industrialization of metal production; and the rapid expansion of new transportation networks. Along the way, we will discuss the impact on society—both positive and negative.

The Framers of the Constitution detested factions and political parties. They believed self-interested political divisions were incompatible with republicanism, destructive of civic virtue, and dangerous to the stability of a nation. Organized political opposition, they feared, would poison the republic. Yet by the end of the 1790s, the United States had developed its first party system. What happened to cause such a dramatic change?

This course examines the events and personalities of the 1790s that triggered opposition, faction, and party. Debates over finance, constitutional power, regional interests, and America's relationship with Britain and revolutionary France divided the nation's leaders into rival camps with competing visions of what kind of republic the new nation should become. Americans were forced to ask if political opposition could exist without destroying republican government itself. What emerged was something new in the history of the world: the acceptance of a legitimate political opposition.

Required Reading: Gordon S. Wood, Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789 - 1815. Oxford University Press, 2009. Chapters 1 - 8

Will China Overtake the United States as the World’s Leading Superpower? China’s extraordinary economic growth and military modernization have made it the principal challenger to American global leadership. This course examines China’s rise from Deng Xiaoping’s market reforms in 1978 to Xi Jinping’s drive for national rejuvenation and expanded global influence. We will also explore the 3,000-year cultural and historical traditions that continue to shape China’s political values and worldview. Topics include the tension between individual rights and the common good, China’s ambitions toward Taiwan and the South China Sea, the difficulties facing minorities such as Tibetans and Uyghurs, and the implications of China’s rise for the United States and the world. Classes will include lectures, videos, and discussion.

This 8-week class focuses on some of the most powerful, important photographs in history, the stories behind them, and the photographers who captured them. Remember 'Migrant Mother,' symbol of the Great Depression? Flag raising at Iwo Jima? Rosa Parks on the bus? Apollo 11 moon landing? Tiananmen Square 'Tank Man'? V-J Day kiss in Times Square? Marilyn Monroe on a NYC subway grate? Afghan Girl? Photography impacts journalism, art, and sometimes history itself and how we see the world. It documents social and cultural conditions and sometimes entertains. Photographs show things not seen through words alone. They preserve family history and evoke personal memories and reflection. Come share thoughts about memorable and important photos of our and your times.

How does DNA reshape our understanding of ancestry and identity in the Americas? In this course, we will explore genetic genealogy through early contact between European and Indigenous peoples, using the New Mexico DNA Project as a case study. We will examine Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, Indigenous haplogroups, and the Spanish castas system. We will consider the ethical and political implications of DNA testing and the limits of what genetic evidence can, and cannot, tell us about race and belonging.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

This course covers the biographies of Leonard Nimoy, Alan Rickman, and Madeline Kahn, along with lesser-known information about each—including high-interest trivia, such as Leonard Nimoy, who once drove a taxi for Senator Jack Kennedy. Nimoy drove at night, so that he could audition during the day. Additionally, videos of their work will be shown, followed by discussion.

What happens to human consciousness when we die? In 1975, Dr. Raymond Moody's landmark book Life After Life reported on 150 people who died clinically, but were subsequently revived. Because they reported similar extraordinary experiences, his book started a revolution in popular attitudes regarding an afterlife and forever changed how we understand both death … and life. Now five+ decades of research conducted on thousands of NDEs by physicians and professors at prominent universities, medical schools, and hospitals have brought us powerful evidence that there is indeed "life" after physical death—and what awaits us is both heart-warming and comforting. This course brings you up to speed on these findings and on what we now know about other exceptional paranormal phenomena, like “out-of-body” and “shared death experiences.”

This dialogue-based seminar will span three terms: Fall 2026, Winter 2027, and Spring 2027. We will cover the history of various kinds of socialism, as well as the cases that have been made in favor of or against it. We will review the history of various kinds of capitalism for comparison and contrast. In the Fall term, we will examine policy proposals that are compatible with socialist thought and practice, such as Universal Basic Income, a Land Value Tax, Public Banking, and Modern Monetary Theory. Subsequent classes will address topics such as Economic Democracy, a Debt Jubilee, Carbon Dividends, a Job Guarantee, a Maximum Wage, and Medicare for All, as well as additional suggestions by participants.

Recommend Reading: Understanding Socialism by Richard Wolff ($25 paperback, $10 kindle)

A lively current events class that bring awareness to what media is feeding you. Are you wasting your information calories at this most critical time? We'll compare news sources and shows literally up to the minute class begins. This class should change the way you see local and national news no matter what your news source. Political ads are on the menu too, with a side of ethics in journalism, algorithms, show stacking and producing.