Politics   

• Families: The Hidden Victims in the Justice System 

• IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road

  Approximately 2 million people are currently imprisoned in the U.S. with many more spending time in pre-detention in our jails. How do these numbers affect our communities, particularly the children and families of incarcerated individuals? Recent statistics show that more than 55% of men in state prisons and 65% of women have minor children. Losing a parent to incarceration affects the emotional, psychological, and financial well-being of children and the family. This impacts our schools and our communities. Together we will learn how we can improve support for the families and children of those incarcerated; and help improve the lives of those reentering to reduce recidivism and prevent intergenerational criminal involvement. Carolyn Madden has an M.A. in linguistics from the City University of New York and a J.D. degree from Wayne State University. She is a retired lecturer from the University of Michigan and is a member of Friends of Restorative Justice of Washtenaw County and the League of Women Voters. Kathie Gourlay holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. She is a retired Washtenaw Community College instructor who is passionate about criminal justice reform. Kathie volunteers with the American Friends Service Committee and Friends of Restorative Justice of Washtenaw County.

  

  

  

   

   

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Kathie Gourlay, Carolyn Madden

• Dates: 5/7/2026 - 5/7/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Panel: Reassessing the Enormous Changes in U.S. Government  

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent one day before class begins.

  Once again, we will assess drastic changes in style and policies. Will our rush to authoritarianism persist or stall? What do we predict for this fall’s mid-term elections? Will they even occur as before? Or will more partisan redistricting, military occupations, and new election rules shape outcomes? Looking back, what do we make of disruptions of the past eighteen months? Public confidence? An improved economy? Impact of tariffs? An empowered presidency? Weakened civil society? A shrunken federal government re: health, welfare, science, and climate? Federal involvement in private business? Military invasions of cities? Financial and moral corruption? What has the assault on immigrants done at home and abroad? And how has the U.S. dealt with challenges in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and East Asia? Will recent trends continue and strengthen? Or will they meet resistance from Republicans, Democrats, Congress, federal courts, state governments, and the public? Jeffrey Bernstein studies and teaches political science and American politics at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Jeffrey specializes in public opinion and political behavior. Michael Homel is Professor Emeritus of history at EMU. Mike’s special expertise is in the fields of 20^th century American history and American urban history. Larry Kestenbaum is the Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds. He is the creator and owner of the Internet’s most comprehensive source for American political biography, PoliticalGraveyard.com.

  

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Panel Political

• Dates: 5/13/2026 - 5/13/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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