All Classes   

• Earth's Forces on Plants and Animals 

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

  The earth has many various forces, such as gravity, wildfires, tornados, hurricanes, floods, lightning, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanos, and others, all of which are beneficial to life forms on earth. Our presenter, Carol Brodbeck, will begin the class by discussing these forces and their benefits. Temperature extremes are also a key force of nature. In the second part of the class, Carol will tell us about various survival techniques and methods used by plants and animals to survive and adjust to extreme heat and cold temperatures. Carol Brodbeck grew up on a farm and attended a one-room country school in Monroe County (MI). After earning a degree in Biological Sciences, she joined Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Company in Detroit, where she was part of the team that researched and developed the influenza vaccine. She then transferred to the company’s Ann Arbor labs to work on a team charged with introducing the use of computers into research and development. After early retirement, Carol earned her Advanced Master Gardener certification and served as Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. State President (2017-19). For over a decade she was part-time faculty at Washtenaw Community College. Carol loves to learn and share with others.

  

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Carol Brodbeck

• Dates: 9/10/2026 - 9/10/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Celebrating 20 Years of Peregrine Falcons in Ann Arbor 

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

  Join former Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance (WBNA) President, Ray Stocking, as he looks back on 20 years since the first post-delisting Peregrine Falcon sighting in Ann Arbor—one of Washtenaw County’s most uplifting wildlife comeback stories. Ray will take us through the Peregrine’s dramatic journey in Michigan, from near extinction in the mid‑1900s due to DDT, to its inspiring rebound after the pesticide ban in the 1970s. He will share memories from that exciting March 2006 sighting that had local birders buzzing (and maybe a little overexcitement from the University of Michigan!), plus stories about the early struggles of these falcons trying to nest atop the Burton Memorial Tower on U‑M’s campus. Thanks to the teamwork of WBNA, the Michigan DNR, the University of Michigan, and others, nest boxes placed across key campus buildings helped Peregrines reclaim the city skyline. Ray will share a true celebration of resilience, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of conservation. Ray Stocking lives in Ann Arbor, MI, and is the executive director for the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance. He also serves on the board of directors for Michigan Audubon. Ray is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where he received his B.B.A and M.B.A. degrees in business management. 

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Ray Stocking

• Dates: 9/10/2026 - 9/10/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Understanding Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities 

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

  In this class, Linda Siegel will present the major types of learning disabilities. She will explain early identification and interventions to prevent reading problems such as dyslexia and promote reading and language development. She will discuss mathematical learning disabilities. She will also elaborate on the challenges for children learning English as a second language, especially when they have a learning disability. The characteristics of these disabilities, as well as the interventions that can be used to help people with them, will be explained and discussed. Linda Siegel is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. In 2004, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Goteborg University in Sweden. In 2010, she was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence in Psychological Research from the Canadian Psychological Association. In 2012 she was awarded the Eminent Researcher Award from the Learning Difficulties Association of Australia. In 2020, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Dyslexia Association. She has written a book entitled Not Stupid, Not Lazy: Understanding Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities, published by the International Dyslexia Association.

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Linda Siegel

• Dates: 9/11/2026 - 9/11/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• 107 Days at Sea: The Journey that Changed Everything 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before class begins.

  At 63, Jill Chalsty boarded a ship alone, grieving her husband’s death and battling cancer. What began as a voyage around the world became far more than a trip. In this class, Jill shares the story behind her memoir Packets of Hope, inviting participants to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the people she met, and the reflections that transformed personal adversity into strength and global impact. Jill demonstrates how one person’s courage can create ripples that span continents. Participants are encouraged to read her memoir, available free at www.packetsofhope.com, before the presentation. Jill Siegal Chalsty has devoted her life to the transformative power of education. As founder of Overcoming Obstacles, the nonprofit she launched in 1992, Jill pioneered life skills instruction that has now reached more than 180 million students worldwide. What began as a mission to help young people navigate life’s challenges has evolved into a global movement for youth empowerment. Following the profound loss of her husband and her own battles with cancer, Jill embarked on a voyage of healing and reflection. That journey inspired her memoir, Packets of Hope, an exploration of resilience, love, and finding meaning through service. She's made her book available for free at www.packetsofhope.com.

  

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Jill Siegal Chalsty

• Dates: 9/14/2026 - 9/14/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Food Gatherers Volunteer Opportunity (Free!) 

• Come join us for a fun and rewarding experience!
  This volunteer opportunity is FREE, but you must register to attend and commit to working unless ill.

  OFFSITE: Food Gatherers Facility, 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor
  Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
  This tour is limited to 20 attendees. A waitlist will be available.
  
  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this event. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.

  Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community. Established in 1998 as Michigan’s first food rescue program and the sixth in the United States, Food Gatherers is the first food rescue program to be funded by a for-profit business, Zingerman’s Delicatessen. Food Gatherers rescues several tons of food daily that volunteers help process, inspect, and sort.

  NOTE #1: The professional staff at Food Gatherers know we are primarily seniors and will not ask our volunteers to move or lift heavy items. The shift does involve being on your feet for two hours. Our specific assignment depends on what they have on hand that day, so let's be prepared. Food Gatherers depends on our volunteers when we make a commitment, so please make every effort to attend and work the Elderwise Learning shift. 

  NOTE #2: Volunteers must wear sensible closed-toed shoes (no sandals) and shirts with t-shirt length sleeves or longer. A head covering (hat, beanie, bandana, etc.) is required for most tasks. Hairnets will be provided if you need one. You may be in the Green Room which is temperature controlled around 50 degrees F, so it’s a good idea to bring an extra layer such as a sweatshirt or a coat. Also, keep in mind you may be working with open food, and things can get a bit messy. If you are wearing clothing that does not comply with these guidelines, you will not be able to volunteer.

  REQUIRED: A Group Member Volunteer Waiver Form and more information will be sent to all registrants a few days prior to the tour. Please bring the form with you when you come to volunteer. Please be on time with your waivers filled out. If you decide to fill out a waiver on site, please arrive a few minutes early to do so. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the event.

  

• Fee: $0.00

• Instructor(s): Professional Staff Food Gatherers

• Dates: 9/14/2026 - 9/14/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Food Gatherers Facility, Ann Arbor

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• Watercolor Workshop 

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

  This class has an enrollment limit of 15. A waitlist will be available.
  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. 
  
  1st session is September 15
  2nd session is September 22
  3rd session is September 29

  If you have ever dabbled in watercolor painting and want to increase your skill and confidence, these three classes should help. Do you have some limited experience with watercolor painting but want to increase your understanding in basic areas such as (1) how to mix the colors you want and how to control the intensity of the color; (2) how to paint what you see and how to see more accurately; and (3) specific techniques such as perspective, and how to use a grid to transfer your image onto the watercolor paper. SINCE THIS CLASS IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AT LEAST SOME EXPERIENCE IN WATERCOLOR PAINTING, NO materials will be furnished. So, bring whatever paint, palette, brushes, and paper you already have. All three painting sessions will involve hands-on practice and will offer individual coaching. Julie Garvey is a gallery and online represented artist who moved from Maine to Michigan several years ago. She has studied at the University of Georgia, graduating with a BFA from The College of William and Mary in Virginia, and has been painting since she could hold a brush!

  

• Fee: $60.00

• Instructor(s): Julie Garvey

• Dates: 9/15/2026 - 9/29/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 3

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Wayfinders: The History of Maps 

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

  Gallery Walks goes Whole Earth and beyond in this brief history of maps. Our nomadic species has always utilized elements of science, art, and spirituality to make maps to aid our wanderings, ensure our survival, embellish our storytelling, guide our pilgrimages, and expand our prosperity. Since our paleolithic ancestors began making images, we have made maps to guide us through time and space. Digital communication, atomic clocks, deep space telescopes, and earth satellites have Introduced our present "golden age” of maps. But there have been previous "golden ages." Let's take time to savor some most memorable maps from long ago and far away. Michael R. Kapetan is an artist whose own work is informed by the scientific, the aesthetic, and the spiritual as he creates holy images for churches, synagogues, and temples, plus unique solar sculptures that mark the turning of the seasons. Mike is retired from the University of Michigan’s School of Art. He holds a degree in art history from Harvard University, and a master’s degree in sculpture from the University of Michigan.

  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Michael R. Kapetan

• Dates: 9/16/2026 - 9/23/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• EMU Theatre: Metamorphoses 

• In-Person Pre-Performance Class: Thursday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon
  Elderwise Learning classroom at 2275 Platt Road
  Presenter: Jennifer Felts

  Matinee Live Performance: Sunday, October 11, 2:00 p.m., Legacy Theatre, EMU Campus.

       Written by Mary Zimmerman
       Directed by Jennifer Felts

  ________________________________

  Fees:
  Members: $10 for the in-person pre-play class, plus a $14 ticket fee, added at checkout
  Nonmembers: $20 for the in-person pre-play class, plus a $14 ticket, fee added at checkout

  Emeritus Faculty: Members $10; Nonmembers $20
  Includes two tickets to the performance and the in-person pre-play class.
  Please contact the Elderwise Learning office to register for the Emeritus Faculty tickets and the in-person pre-play class,
  you cannot do this yourself online.
  
  Extra Tickets are $14 each.
  Please contact the Elderwise Learning office to purchase extra tickets. These cannot be purchased online.

  __________________________________

  This class is an introduction to the Metamorphoses production at Eastern Michigan University. Metamorphoses is a retelling of Ovid’s myths, reimagining ancient stories of love, loss, transformation, and human connection through a visually immersive theatrical experience. Known for its iconic central pool set piece, the play explores the fluid relationship between myth, memory, and performance. We will explore the play and its historical context, as well as how theatre artists develop ideas for the stage through visual storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration between designers and performers, and the creative choices that shape a production. Jennifer Felts is an EMU instructor, with a background in physical theatre. She received her MFA at the London International School of Performing Arts. Having worked at EMU for nearly 20 years she has been involved with over 40 productions as a director, choreographer and movement artist. Jennifer has acted professionally and directed locally. Note: Additional information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the show.
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• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Jennifer Felts

• Dates: 9/17/2026 - 9/17/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Dementia Awareness 2026 

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

  It was mentioned only in a whisper, if at all. In past times, “Alzheimer’s” or “Dementia” was not something one discussed out loud. That was then. It’s different now. Today we know that the memory and other cognitive difficulties that we call “dementia” are NOT just a part of getting old. They stem from diseases and disorders in the brain. They are terrible but not shameful, and a rapidly increasing number of us are dealing with dementia in one way or another, or quite possibly will do so in the coming years. This class will give you information, insight, tools, techniques, and resources to deal effectively and respectfully with dementia and with persons living with dementia. We will discuss the several diseases that cause dementia and some of the early potential signs of dementia. We will talk about risk factors and ways to lessen a person’s dementia risk. We will discuss the difficulties persons with dementia experience when they are out in the community, dining, shopping, or worshipping. We will discuss easy ways to make their experiences less difficult and more enjoyable, that is, how to help foster the growing “Dementia Friendly Community” movement in Washtenaw County. And we will discuss dementia caregiving, for those who already are caregivers, and those who may be in the foreseeable future. Jim Mangi, PhD is in his third career. The first, as a scientist and Federal government consultant, was irrelevant to his second, and much more important career, as caregiver for his wife on her 17-year dementia journey. That one led to his current career as a dementia awareness activist and leader of the non-profit Dementia Friendly Services.

  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Jim Mangi

• Dates: 9/17/2026 - 9/24/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Exploring the Fall Flora Above the Huron River

• This class has reached the enrollment limit.  Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.

• OFFSITE TOUR: Tour site location TBA

  This tour is limited to 12 attendees. A waitlist will be available.

  Please let the Elderwise Learning office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.

  Connected to Washtenaw County’s Border-to-Border Trail, new trails through the natural areas of the Trinity Health property offer access to woods that have recently been cleared of invasive shrubs. These open woods are situated on a bluff above the Huron River, where we will find some fall-blooming wildflowers, including the tall yellow flowered wing-stem. The adjacent open areas promise a good complement of goldenrods, along with purple and white flowered asters. Beverly Walters has experience both as a field botanist and a Museum Collections Manager at the University of Michigan Herbarium. Now retired, she helps maintain and improve the Herbarium's Michigan Flora Online website (https://michiganflora.net), a popular resource for plant identification. Bev pursued her botanical studies at Michigan State University. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour. IMPORTANT NOTE: The new trails, though broad and fairly level, are unpaved and uneven in places, and may be difficult for those with walking challenges. This tour is not recommended for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and those who have mobility limitations.

  

  

   

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor: Beverly Walters

  Capacity Remaining: -2

• Dates: 9/18/2026 - 9/18/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Trinity Health Ann Arbor Campus Natural Areas

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• A Cultural History of Japan, Part IV 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before each class session begins.

  Time: This class runs from 1:00 to 3:15 p.m.

  Japan has had a long and enigmatic history, oscillating between the extremes of world isolation and global engagement over many centuries. We bring this fascinating series from the Great Courses (Mark Ravina, Emory University) to a close by focusing on post-WW2 Japan and its significant contributions to modern society. This presentation will include segments on Japanese Family Life, Japan’s Economic Miracle, Kurosawa and Ozu: Two Giants of Film, and The Making of Contemporary Japan. Toby Teorey is the current Vice Chair of the Elderwise Learning Council. He retired from the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan (Computer Science) and in retirement pursues his enduring love of world history, music, and culture.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Toby Teorey

• Dates: 9/21/2026 - 9/21/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:15 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• The French Fur Trade in the 1700s 

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

  The nearly forgotten French period of Michigan history helped to frame our modern life. Michigan’s cultural heritage is deeply influenced in many of our French place names, foods and daily lives. What was life like in 1700’s “New France”? Join us as Charlie Shelton examines this dynamic period: the people, the furs, the culture, and the commerce of 1750 Fort Michilimackinac and colonial Michigan. Charlie Shelton is a Great Lakes historian with a special interest in Michigan’s Indigenous, French, British, and American experiences. Charlie is a descendent of the Chippewa Metis Nolan family. The Nolans were successful fur traders, interpreters, and educators in the Upper Great Lakes region and beyond. As a citizen of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Charlie feels a sense of gratitude when he shares his family history and its place in the context of Michigan history.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Charlie Shelton

• Dates: 9/22/2026 - 9/22/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• What is AI and How Does It Affect Me? Part II 

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

  Artificial Intelligence, or “AI,” continues to advance at an astonishing rate, bringing us many potential changes to the way we use technology. Some of the changes are useful, and some of them are “slop” (to use the technical term). As a follow-up to his winter class about AI, Jim Keen will discuss this rapidly changing landscape. What have we learned since February? How does AI affect you and me? In what ways should we be using it? Jim Keen holds a B.A. in communications and an M.A. in educational studies from the University of Michigan. He currently owns and operates Keen Focus Technology Tutoring. Jim is dedicated to not only solving problems but also striving to teach people how to fix them on their own! He uses his educational technology skills in the classroom and in the homes of his clients to help them use their technology.

  

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Jim Keen

• Dates: 9/23/2026 - 9/23/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Broadway: Over 60 Years of American Musicals 

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

  Broadway musicals have captivated American – and worldwide – audiences for many decades. In this two-session class we will view and discuss the PBS documentary film series “Broadway: The American Musical,” narrated by Julie Andrews. This class covers the period from 1893 to 1960, highlighting the Broadway shows and songs that defined each decade. The individual segments include on-camera interviews with the principals of various shows, rare performance footage, and newly restored film clips. Come to this class and enjoy the best seat in the house for the greatest Broadway shows of all time. Note: The third and final session of this series (1957-2004) will be offered in Winter 2027. Toby Teorey is the current Vice Chair of the Elderwise Learning Council. He retired from the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan (Computer Science) and in retirement pursues his enduring love of world history, music, and culture.

  

  

  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Toby Teorey

• Dates: 9/24/2026 - 10/1/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Morning Mindfulness Hike 

• OFFSITE: County Farm Park, Medford Parking Lot. 
  The Country Farm parking lot and pedestrian entrance on Medford Road is located near 2201 Medford Road, Ann Arbor.
  This secondary entrance is situated just south of Manchester Road and provides direct, convenient access to the Medford Pavillion and Britton Woods

  This tour is limited to 15 attendees. A waitlist will be available.

  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.

  The therapeutic benefits of immersing oneself in nature are too numerous to name, but relaxation, connection, and refueling are three of the most powerful. The art of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is the art of steeping yourself in the atmosphere of the forest, focusing on each of the five senses one at a time. Join naturalist Elle Bogle and mindfulness instructor Julie Woodward for a mindfulness hike through County Farm Park. This will be a slow, quiet walk focusing on communing with nature, and will include pauses for group reflection. Along the way, we will gather beautiful, found objects and experiences which we will then use to create a nature craft. This hike will last approximately 90 minutes, with 30 minutes at the end for creating our nature project. Elle Bogle is a passionate outdoor educator and adventurer who takes pride in connecting people with the beauty of nature. She worked as a naturalist with WCPARC for seven years, and is currently an environmental specialist with the Ann Arbor Public Schools where she has been teaching for nine years, an educator with the Ecology Center, and offers freelance naturalist services through her Wild Wander business. Her specialties include amphibians, reptiles, dragonflies, and mindfulness in nature. Julie Woodward, MA, MSW, RYT-200, is a wellness coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and facilitator of The Work That Reconnects. Through mindfulness hikes and resilience-based programs, she helps people cultivate well-being and deepen their connection with nature. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the hike.  IMPORTANT NOTE: This tour is not recommended for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and those who have mobility limitations.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Elle Bogle

• Dates: 9/25/2026 - 9/25/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Country Farm Park

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• Tree Walk at Janice Anschuetz Highland Preserve

• This class has reached the enrollment limit.  Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.

• OFFSITE: Janice Anschuetz Highland Preserve, 325 Clark Road, Ypsilanti

  This tour is limited to 12 attendees. A waitlist will be available.

  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.

  The Janice Anschuetz Highland Preserve is “a birder’s paradise” (over 118 species seen) with a diverse dense canopy of mature trees. There is a boardwalk, over 200 feet long, that reaches an elevation of nearly ten feet above the ground at its highest point. The Preserve encompasses 75 acres. Tom Friedlander is a retired University of Michigan trained tree-and-shrub taxonomist who spent 38 years teaching and coaching at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour. IMPORTANT NOTE: This tour is not recommended for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and those who have mobility limitations.

  

  

   

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor: Tom Friedlander

  Capacity Remaining: 0

• Dates: 9/28/2026 - 9/28/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Janice Anschuetz Highland Preserve, Ypsilanti

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• Book Club - Fall 2026 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before each class session begins.

  1st session: Monday, September 28

  2nd session: Monday, October 26

  3rd session: Monday, November 23

  Using prepared questions and our own observations, the discussion each month will explore a book selected by book club members.
  Selected books for the Fall 2026 term are:

  September    Small Things Like These  by Claire Keegan
  Published 2021    118 pages     Fiction
  Small Things Like These is a critically acclaimed novella by Irish author Claire Keegan. Set in 1985 Ireland, the book is about a coal merchant named Bill Furlong, who confronts the Catholic Church's control and a dark secret at a local convent during the Christmas season, forcing him to make a difficult moral choice. Praised for its precise prose and emotional depth, the book won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, exploring themes of courage, love, and complicity. It was also adapted into a film starring Cillian Murphy.

  October        Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America  by Beth Macy 
  Published 2025    368 pages    Nonfiction 
  Paper Girl is a memoir exploring the decline of Macy’s Ohio hometown, Urbana, due to economic hardship, the opioid crisis, and political polarization, contrasting it with her own escape through education and journalism. The book blends personal narrative with investigative reporting to examine issues like the mental health crisis, misinformation, and the hollowing out of the middle class, questioning if a similar path out is possible for today's youth. 

  November     The Correspondent: A Novel  by Virginia Evans
  Published in 2025    304 pages    Fiction
  The Correspondent is a 2025 debut epistolary novel that tells the life story of Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer in her seventies, through her letters and emails. The book explores themes of aging, forgiveness, and memory as Sybil writes to friends, family, and even strangers, while confronting a painful event from her past. It has been praised as a moving and witty story with a memorable, cantankerous protagonist, and is recommended for fans of literary fiction and epistolary novels.

  Please read Small Things Like These before the first class. 
  The facilitator will send a list of discussion questions for each book to all registrants prior to each Book Club session. 
  Debie White has been a member of the Elderwise Book Club for 10 plus years. She is an avid reader and welcomes an exchange of ideas, opinions, and interpretations.

  

  

  

• Fee: $60.00

• Instructor(s): Debie White

• Dates: 9/28/2026 - 11/23/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 3

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Whatever Works: Adventures in American Education 

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

  In his career, Karl has worked with the most privileged and least privileged students in the United States. The former were at pricey prep schools in hyper-educated communities; the latter were in prison. There are some fundamental principles to our work that are common to nearly every educational environment.

  They are:

       Play. Learning and fun are not mutually exclusive.           
       Needs. Care for the person so you can build the mind.
       Humans. What kids need is a lot like what adults need, and vice versa.  
       Relationships. Nothing is one-tenth as important as relationships.
       Disciplines. Academic disciplines have value.                  
       Expectations. We rise and fall to the level ofexpectations.
       Amidst. Walk amongst them; better to be Gandhi than Mussolini.          
       Humor. Humor is a core principle.
       Skills. Teaching skills are relevant to most jobs.               
       Hypocrites. We are all well-meaning hypocrites.
       Kindness. Kindness is not weakness.
  
  Karl Sikkenga earned a PhD in education from the University of Michigan. He has spent 35 years in the field of education, serving as a teacher, principal, dean of students, teacher educator, coach, proctor, and director.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Karl Sikkenga

• Dates: 9/29/2026 - 9/29/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• She's Gone Missing: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women 

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

  There is an epidemic that no one is talking about outside of Indian Country. Within the Indian community we are dealing with an epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. With numbers so high that they are unreported, how do we deal with it all? Why aren’t there concrete statistics? What has the FBI done to help with this epidemic? Why do the crimes go unreported? What does “Missing White Woman Syndrome” have to do with this? Join us to discuss some history, and to learn about why this is an issue and what we can do in and out of the Indian Country to make sure that our sisters, mothers, daughters, wives, and girlfriends, don’t become statistics. Heather Bruegl is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a first-line descendant of the Stockbridge- Munsee Tribe. She is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she studies First Nations Education. Heather’s research focuses on the importance of telling the truth in history, in museums, and in cultural institutions. She is also a public historian, activist, and independent consultant who works with institutions and organizations for Indigenous sovereignty and collective liberation.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Heather Bruegl

• Dates: 9/30/2026 - 9/30/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Essentials of Knitting for Beginners 

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

  This class has an enrollment limit of 12. A waitlist will be available.
  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. 

  1st session: September 30
  2nd session: October 7

  Materials needed for the first class:
  Medium sized (US 5 to 7) straight or circular needles for medium weight DK yarn, or
  (US 7 to 9) straight or circular needles for worsted weight yarn.
  Yarn in a light or bright color.  

  Have you never knitted but always wanted to learn how? Have you started, but became frustrated and hung up with dropped stitches? This class may help. We will explore basic equipment (needles and yarn weights); basic terminology used in patterns; basic stitches (knit, purl), and knitting styles using just “knit” and “purl”; how to cast on and off. We will attempt to create a mini sampler in the first class, highlighting simple textures (stockinette, garter, moss, ribbing ). Depending on interest and success, we will move on to more advanced stitches that involve increases and decreases, twisted stitches, cables, bobbles, and eyelets if there is interest. Betsy Lindsley is a retired Public Housing administrator who has been knitting since grade school. She has a BA in French Literature, and an MBA/CPA. She took a hiatus from knitting during work years, but in retirement, thanks to family and friends having kids and grandkids, she resumed knitting to create fun hats, kids’ sweaters, and blankets. In addition to knitting, Betsy enjoys gardening (master gardener and rain gardener); avid needle pointer; devoted foodie and cook; loves UM sports, books, and travel with her husband. She is also a cat-mom.
  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Betsy Lindsley

• Dates: 9/30/2026 - 10/7/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Blood and Lipstick: Inside the Minds of Michigan's Most Lethal Women 

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

  Join us as we welcome true crime author Tobin Buhk, who will tell us about the infamous Michigan Borgia who used strychnine to lop off an entire branch of her family tree, and three sirens who lured a rich lawyer to his death. The Detroit House of Corrections was the only Michigan prison to house women serving long sentences. Learn about an inmate there who poisoned her victims solely to attend their funerals in her black dress. True crime afficionados are sure to love Tobin’s meticulous research and vintage photographs. Tobin Buhk is a true crime writer and researcher who probes the dark corners of history from his base in West Michigan. To research his first two books, he became a volunteer in a county morgue. Tobin is currently working on his 20th book.

  

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Tobin Buhk

• Dates: 10/1/2026 - 10/1/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• A Friend, A Fraud, A Founding Family: Visiting the Hack House and Museum  

• OFFSITE: Friend-Hack House Museum, 775 County Street, Milan

  Join us as we tour the beautiful 135-year-old Friend-Hack House Museum in Milan, Michigan, also known as the “House that Sugar Built.” Retired teacher and former president of the Milan Area Historical Society, Anne Farmer will lead us through the house and tell us the story of:

  A Friend – the woman who had the house built

  A Fraud – the scandalous story of where the construction money came from

  A Founding Family – going back to Bethuel Hack, one of the original founders of Milan

  This lovely home, built in 1888, is now listed with the National Register of Historic Places. After the house tour, participants will be free to wander the property and go through the outbuildings, including the three-hole outhouse that had a unique flushing system. And, hopefully, the beekeeper will be available to show you the site’s working hive of honeybees, which has a permanent home and display in the aviary building. Anne Farmer holds a B.S. degree in elementary education and an M.A. degree in special education. Prior to retirement, she taught in the Milan school system for 26 years. She is a long-time member of the Milan Garden Club, whose members maintain the Hack House gardens. Anne has been active in the Milan Area Historical Society for more than 18 years and recently stepped down after serving as president for 14 years. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour. Special Note: The house is not fully accessible. Please contact the Elderwise Learning office with any questions, espcially if you use a wheelchair. Thank you. 

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Anne Farmer

• Dates: 10/2/2026 - 10/2/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Friend-Hack House Museum, Milan

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• Relocation Readings: Immigration in Classic and Contemporary Literature 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before each class session begins.

  Moving to a new country with an unfamiliar culture has been the subject of many novels both past and present. Participants in this class will read and discuss two such works. Week one will be devoted to Harry Leon Wilson’s Ruggles of Red Gap (1915), a satire-filled tale of British servant Ruggles’ assimilation from aristocratic societal norms to the freewheeling American Northwest. The second week will focus on Emanuela Anechoum’s Tangerinn, an Italian novel whose English translation was published in 2026. Tangerinn is a contemporary tale of a young woman’s migration from Southern Italy to England and how it is impacted by the death of her father, who had also left his homeland. Class registrants should read each novel prior to its class session. Cecilia Donohue enjoyed a 25-year career of undergraduate instruction, graduate teaching, and academic administration. Currently serving as an Associate Editor of The Steinbeck Review. Cecilia has written extensively on America’s southern writers, notably Robert Penn Warren and Anne Tyler. She now resides in East Tennessee with her husband Bill and their trio of equine, feline, and canine companions.

  

  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Cecilia Donohue

• Dates: 10/5/2026 - 10/12/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Paws With a Cause 

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

  Paws with a Cause is a national nonprofit organization that has been training Assistance Dogs since 1979. The dogs learn special skills to help individuals with physical mobility, seizure response, and hearing. They get their initial training with foster families, then further training with a field representative, then a staff member, before final placement. Some dogs even spend six months in a special program being trained by prison inmates! Join us for a fascinating morning learning about the extensive training process and placement of these highly skilled intelligent dogs. Dogs that don’t quite make the rigid requirements for assisting individuals, have other career paths such as assisting law enforcement with Electronic Storage Detection or Ignitable Liquid Detection. You will also be meeting one of the dogs from the program! Liz Hood has been with Paws with a Cause for 15 years. Starting as a volunteer foster, she went on to join the staff, working as a field representative, and teaching puppy fostering. Liz is a lifelong dog lover. Along with the dog she is currently training, she has two dogs of her own.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Liz Hood

• Dates: 10/6/2026 - 10/6/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• English Paper Piecing 

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

  This class has an enrollment limit of 20. A waitlist will be available.
  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. 
  
  Fee:  Member $10   Nonmember $20
  Plus an additional fee of $10 for materials, added at checkout

  Slow, precise, and surprisingly soothing – this class introduces English Paper Piecing, a hand-sewing technique that builds shapes into patterns using paper templates and invisible whipstitches. It’s portable and methodical in the best way – the kind of stitching you can do sitting on the couch while the world quiets down. In this two-hour session we will cover fabric cutting and grain, basting techniques, layout planning, crisp points, and how to finish without warping your seams. Everyone will leave with a finished hexie rosette coaster or appliqué patch, plus the skills to scale up to bags, garments, wall hangings, and quilts. All materials are included: pre-cut templates, pre-cut fabrics, thread, tools, and a take-home resource sheet. Join us for a calm class with plenty of hands-on help. Matthew Addonizio is a designer and multimedia artist in Philadelphia. He attended Kalamazoo College and has been working in fiber arts professionally for the past several years. His eponymous label (Matthew Addonizio LLC) and his fabric import company (Approved Textiles LLC) work with artisan communities in India and Africa to produce fabric and clothing using traditional hand craft techniques. He is the son of Joan Bulmer, a long-time Elderwise Learning member, from whom he inherited this creative curiosity.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Matthew Addonizio

• Dates: 10/6/2026 - 10/6/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Poems Without Borders 

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

  We will read and discuss poems from A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry, a collection of 300 short and accessible poems whose brevity belies their force. The editor, Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz, selected each poem for its ability to communicate intense human experiences through vivid imagery. We will sample poems from several intriguing categories, including The Secret of a Thing, People Among People, Travel, The Moment, and Woman’s Skin. In our open-ended discussion of each poem, we will enjoy sharing various interpretations of these small masterpieces. Harcourt Brace & Company.1996. ISBN 0-15-600574 (pb). Copies of the poems will be emailed to participants a few days prior to the class. Leonore Gerstein was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and spent many of her formative years in Israel, first at a kibbutz, and then in Jerusalem, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy. Leonore is passionate about poetry and is always eager to explore a variety of works with veteran and new Elderwise members.

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Leonore Gerstein

• Dates: 10/7/2026 - 10/7/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• One Extraordinary Mind: Leonardo da Vinci  

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

  Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t just a painter from 500 years ago; he was a visionary whose ideas spanned aviation, engineering, art, anatomy, architecture, and design, and whose influence still surrounds us today. In this engaging presentation, we explore how Leonardo’s extraordinary powers of observation, captured in notebooks he wrote in reverse, revealed principles of flight centuries before they could be tested. But Leonardo’s genius extended far beyond flight. In art, he transformed how we see the world, perfecting perspective, pioneering the use of light and shadow (sfumato), and creating masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, where human emotion, natural landscapes, and scientific observation converge. Through powerful visuals and compelling comparisons, we connect Leonardo’s living legacy to the innovators who followed, and to the technologies we rely on today. Along the way, we uncover the remarkable journey of his notebooks: scattered, lost, rediscovered, and ultimately preserved as the codices that continue to inspire the modern world. Join us to discover how Leonardo isn’t just part of history – he is still shaping how we think, create, and soar. Once you see the world through his eyes, you may never look at everyday things the same way again. Wendy Zielen, originally from upstate New York, became a lifelong Michigander after meeting her husband at the University of Michigan. As Executive and Development Director of Bendix Academy, a nonprofit in Brighton, Michigan, she fosters mentorship through hands-on toolmanship education. Deeply committed to historical preservation and youth advocacy, Wendy draws inspiration from the “can-do” spirit of WWII. Her passion for history grew while retracing her Doughboy grandfather’s footsteps across France, and she continues to honor the legacy of America’s heroes by working to help empower future generations.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Wendy Zielen

• Dates: 10/8/2026 - 10/8/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• The Heart of India 

• HYBRID: In the classroom and online. A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants one day before class.

  This class runs from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

  Join George Jabol for this exciting slideshow presentation of his 2009 journey to India. George will take us to sites in northern India, including Delhi, Jaipur, and the Ranthambore National Park, where tigers roam. We will visit the breathtaking Taj Mahal In Agra, the exotic temples at Khajuraho, and the sacred city of Varanasi on the Ganges River. With his outstanding photography, George is eager to share the wonders – often strange to Western eyes – that he encountered on his unforgettable journey to the heart of India. George Jabol received his B.A. degree from Ohio’s Muskingum University, and a Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. Fully retired now from a career with the federal government, George creates photographic slide shows as a way to remember his travels and share them with others.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): George Jabol

• Dates: 10/8/2026 - 10/8/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Hybrid: In-Person and Online

  Room: In the 2275 Platt Road Classroom and on Zoom

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• Hike at the Tom A. Freeman Preserve 

• OFFSITE: Tom A. Freeman Preserve, Ann Arbor (North Entrance on Ford Road)

  This tour is limited to 12 attendees. A waitlist will be available.

  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.

  The Tom A. Freeman Preserve is mainly forested, with many beautiful mature trees, and has considerable topographic variation. There are wetlands and a creek (Kirk’s Brook), and the trails can be muddy, with a few creek crossings on muddy logs. The Preserve itself includes 71 acres, with much more land in the nearby Horner-McLaughlin Woods on the north, and in the Marshall Nature Area on the east. Tom Friedlander is a retired University of Michigan trained tree-and-shrub taxonomist who spent 38 years teaching and coaching at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. Additional important information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the tour. IMPORTANT NOTE: This tour is not recommended for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and those who have mobility limitations.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Tom Friedlander

• Dates: 10/9/2026 - 10/9/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Tom A. Freeman Preserve

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• 200 Years of History Meet at Three Streets 

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

  “Past, Present, Possible” is Washtenaw County’s Bicentennial theme as we celebrate the County’s 200th Anniversary throughout 2026. In October, a new exhibit exploring the County’s earliest days will open at the Museum on Main Street, located at the intersection of North Main, East Kingsley, and Beakes Streets in Ann Arbor. Built in 1835—just nine years after the County was officially organized in 1826—the house was moved from Lowertown across the Broadway Bridge in 1990 to become a “Museum of County Life.” It has also become a center for community collaborations. In this session we will connect the County’s past to the present through photos, stories, memories and more. Beverly Willis is the current administrator of the Washtenaw County Historical Society at the Museum on Main Street in Ann Arbor. She has 15 years of experience working with and learning from local historians and meeting some of the people who make that history.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Beverly Willis

• Dates: 10/13/2026 - 10/13/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Music Therapy, Memory, and Everyday Tools 

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

  This presentation explores how music impacts the aging brain—supporting memory, mood, connection, and overall quality of life for older adults. We will look at the neuroscience behind music’s effects, basic music therapy interventions that are utilized with older adults, share case studies where music therapy made a difference in individuals, and share practical, accessible ways caregivers, families, and individuals can intentionally use music in everyday settings. The goal is to empower anyone working with seniors, as well as seniors themselves, to use music thoughtfully, even outside of formal music therapy. Rachael Lawrence-Lupton has been a music therapist for 18 years and is the owner of Gentle Care Music Therapy. She specializes in older adults/hospice and has worked in Southeast Michigan, the Chicagoland area, and Southern California during her career. She has overseen many interns and practicum students and is one of the co-chairs for the Association Internship Approval Committee of the American Music Therapy Association. Rachael is the mother of two incredible kids who keep her humble and ready to take on whatever adventures come her way.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Rachel Lawrence-Lupton

• Dates: 10/14/2026 - 10/14/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Istanbul: Culturally and Geographically Fascinating 

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

  Strategically located between Europe and Asia, between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the city has been a crossroad of civilizations for 2500 years, starting with the Greeks creating Byzantium. The Romans incorporated it into their Empire as Constantinople, and in 1453 it was captured by the Ottoman dynasty and renamed Istanbul. We will trace its cultural and religious changes by visiting its many World Heritage sites, visit its breathtaking architectural temples, cathedrals, and mosques, as well as observe the beginning of the Silk Road. Admired by millions of tourists, we will visit its museums and castles and walk the breathtaking bridges between the two continents. Gerlinda Melchiori holds advanced degrees in history and business, and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Michigan. She has served as international consultant to universities around the world. Her special interests include the history and arts of regions and cultures worldwide.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Gerlinda Melchiori

• Dates: 10/14/2026 - 10/14/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Celebrating the Genius of Composer Rimsky-Korsakoff 

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

  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff (1844-1908) is usually known as the composer of the colorful tone poem Scheherazade. In fact, he accomplished much more than that and is now recognized as the most important composer of late 19^th Century Russia. Largely self-taught during a career in the Russian Navy, Rimsky-Korsakoff wrote numerous colorful operas, tone poems, and chamber works. He helped fellow composers such as Borodin and Mussorgsky finish work, and taught a later generation of musicians including Stravinsky, Prokofieff, and Glazunov. In this presentation we will consider his brilliant career and play excerpts from operas and orchestral works. During the second hour, we will show a video of the Ballet Russes production of Scheherazade. Henry Aldridge is an EMU Professor Emeritus of Electronic Media and Film Studies and an avid music lover. He has served for many years as one of the organists at the Michigan Theater.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Henry B. Aldridge

• Dates: 10/15/2026 - 10/15/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• How Farming Transformed Human Life 

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

  How did humans go from hunting and gathering to growing crops, keeping animals, and living in villages and cities? In this class we will look at one of the most important changes in human history: the shift from foraging to farming. We will explore archaeological evidence for how and when this unfolded in different parts of the world, possible explanations for the transition, and why experts still debate whether it was really a “revolution.” Along the way, we will look at the surprising consequences of farming, from rising populations and technological innovations to disease, inequality, and war. Drawing on examples from several continents, the class offers a lively introduction to a change that still shapes the world we live in today. Raven Garvey is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Associate Curator at the University of Michigan, where she investigates how past peoples adapted to—and sometimes thrived amid—challenging environments and dramatic climate changes. She has conducted archaeological research in ten U.S. states and four countries, and for the last 20 years has focused on Patagonia (southern Argentina and Chile), where she and her colleagues unearth clues about human ingenuity and resilience. In recent years, she has also partnered with aerospace engineers and geophysicists to explore how unconventional approaches and cross-disciplinary team efforts can further illuminate ancient mysteries.

  

  

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Raven Garvey

• Dates: 10/15/2026 - 10/15/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Bus Trip to the Guardian Building in Detroit

• This class has reached the enrollment limit.  Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.

• OFFSITE: Guardian Building, 500 Griswold Street, Detroit

  Time: 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

  Enrollment: This tour is limited to 15 attendees. A waitlist will be available.

  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this tour.
  This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. It also helps the onsite class assistant have an accurate roster.

  Fee: Member $10   Nonmember $20, plus an extra $30 fee to cover the roundtrip bus fare and Guardian tour. This will be added at checkout. 
  The cost of lunch is not included.

  With the frequent D2A2 bus schedule, a trip to Detroit is now easy. So, let’s go to Detroit and tour the Guardian Building, considered to be the most beautiful building in Detroit. It is one of only five local attractions to receive the coveted Michelin 3-Star recommended site. Known as the “Cathedral of Finance,” this building is an architectural treasure. On the tour, learn the building’s rich history and get an up-close appreciation of the architectural magnificence showcased in every minute detail. Best of all, we will enjoy exclusive access as we visit several spaces off-limits to the public, including hidden bank vaults complete with stories of the gold they once held. Our tour of the building starts at 11:00 a.m., so we will meet at Blake transit center in Ann Arbor at 9:15 a.m., take the 9:30 a.m. D2A2 bus to Detroit, and the QLine down Woodward to the Guardian. After the tour we will have lunch. The cost of lunch is not included in the class fee, please bring money/credit card to pay for your lunch. Thanks! Then we will go to Hart Plaza if there is time, or back to the bus stop. We will arrive back in Ann Arbor at 3:45 p.m. Joan Bulmer has led several trips to Detroit on the public bus and has thoroughly enjoyed them all. She is a long-term member of Elderwise Learning and is involved with the Tech Team, the Curriculum team, and was Treasurer for the past 10 years. She teaches an occasional sewing class, but the bus trips to Detroit are her very favorite. Additional important information will be emailed to registrants a few days before the tour. IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be a fair amount of walking on this trip, including stairs. Visiting the former vault area requires approximately 25 steps, and there is no elevator access to that portion of the tour. This tour is not recommended for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and those who have mobility limitations.

  

  

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor: Joan Bulmer

  Capacity Remaining: -9

• Dates: 10/19/2026 - 10/19/2026

  Times: 9:15 AM - 3:45 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Offsite

  Room: Guardian Building, Detroit

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• February in Florida, May in Michigan 

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

  Join frequent Elderwise presenter Don Chalfant for a photographic presentation that explores the flora and fauna of Florida and Michigan. Although the times/locations are only three months and 1,100 miles apart, February in Florida and May in Michigan show striking differences shaped by both season and latitude. We will discover the plants and animals found in Florida but not Michigan, and those found in Michigan but not Florida. These interesting differences might explain why Don and his wife, Loree, choose to spend half the year in each state! Don Chalfant has been entertaining and enlightening the Elderwise community for many years with his profound knowledge and stunning photographs of North America’s natural world. Don received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan. Since retiring from teaching in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Don is eager to share his passion for birds and other flora and fauna through his photos.

  

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Don Chalfant

• Dates: 10/20/2026 - 10/20/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Cemetery Art and History 

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

  From the Greek words “taphos” (tomb) and “philia”(love), a taphophile is a person with a strong interest in cemeteries and graves, and the history and art associated with them rather than a morbid fascination with death. Taphophiles might visit cemeteries to appreciate their historical significance, document gravestone art, research personal genealogy, visit the grave of a well-known citizen, or find solace and reassurance in the belief of an afterlife. Many cemeteries are also places for the living. Because of their many plants and animals, some cemeteries are also designated as arboretums. First introduced as “garden cemeteries” in the 19th century, these burial places were a welcome respite from the crowded and polluted cities of the Industrial Revolution, and a way to enjoy the quiet beauty and health benefits of nature. Kathy has visited most of the cemeteries in her presentation, but a few are still on her bucket list. Join us, and you may discover that you too are a taphophile and might include a cemetery as part of your next travel itinerary! Kathy Gunderson is a retired Art and Humanities teacher with an educational background in Art and History. Since shortly after her retirement, Kathy has continued her love of learning about art and its history by giving art presentations in the Ann Abor and Chelsea areas and, especially, sharing that love with those who previously have had little background in the arts. In addition to her art presentations, Kathy has been a docent at the University of Michigan’s Kelsey Museum of Archaeology for almost ten years. She also enjoys travel, gardens, and visiting museums of any kind. 

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Kathy Gunderson

• Dates: 10/20/2026 - 10/20/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Stephen Sondheim: A Master of Broadway 

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

  Stephen Sondheim won eight Tony awards, eight Grammy awards, an Oscar, and a Pulitzer, although he wrote only one hit song. This class is for people who adore the American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021), and also for those who would like to learn about why he is so revered. With interviews and excerpts from his shows, we will examine his early life, his musical influences, his first Broadway successes, and one big flop. Film clips from his Broadway shows and movies will include West Side Story, Gypsy, Topper, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Company. Note: Hank will present two more classes on Sondheim in future terms. Hank Muir is a retired teacher and medical practice administrator. He has a bachelor’s degree from Graceland College and a master’s in American history from the University of Nebraska. He is a collector of books, records and movies.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Hank Muir

• Dates: 10/21/2026 - 10/21/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Taking Apart the News, Special Midterm Edition 

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

  1st session: Wednesday, October 21

  2nd session: Friday, November 6

  It certainly appears that this year’s midterm elections will be more important than the average off-year voting, and also a crucial test of President Trump’s power and ambitions, even though he is not on the ballot. Recent polling indicates that large percentages of likely voters see certain actions as genuinely intended by the White House as efforts to increase presidential authority while limiting aspects of America’s democracy. All three branches of government are unpopular, but so are the major media. Our two classes will evaluate the nation’s tensions and polarization leading up to the midterms, and then the results and outlook three days after the voting. The same battleground states, all of which Trump won in 2024, again will be in play. Watch Georgia and Michigan, which have highly contested and expensive races for all major offices. In our beleaguered two-party system, Independents may determine the outcomes. Al Chambers is a veteran journalist and communicator who continues to focus on the power and speed of news, media and technology in this rapidly changing world.

  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Al Chambers

• Dates: 10/21/2026 - 11/6/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: W F

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Louise Erdrich: The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse 

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

  Published in 2001, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse is Louise Erdrich’s eighth novel. Set on a remote Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota and covering several decades, the story brings together three of the author’s most memorable characters: Father Damien Modeste, Sister Leopolda, and Nanapush. Thematically, identity and belonging, belief and faith, and community and isolation are explored in this narrative in richly complex ways. Our two sessions will focus generally on the author’s life and specifically on the novel. Class registrants should read the novel prior to class. Kevin Eyster is a professor emeritus at Madonna University in Livonia where he continues to teach courses in literature. He has been presenting at Elderwise Learning for over 25 years. Along with spending time with family, he enjoys swimming, bike riding, reading, and following one of his alma mater’s sports teams.

  

  

• Fee: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Kevin Eyster

• Dates: 10/22/2026 - 10/29/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Lisboa: Capital of Portugal 

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

  Lisboa (or Lisbon) is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. It boasts a rich and colourful history, enchanting visitors with its old-world charm and modern vibrancy. We will walk the maze of narrow cobblestone streets, admire the Azulejos tiled buildings, and ride the iconic yellow trams that wind their way around the city. Join us as Pat takes us to the many historic places both Lisbon and the surrounding area have to offer: the castle, the cathedral, and UNESCO listed buildings such as the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, and the nearby beautiful town of Sintra. Later, we can delight in Lisbon’s street art with its murals, graffiti, and sculpture reflecting social, political, and cultural narratives, or simply relax in one of the many tascas, where the traditional soulful Portuguese music fado drifts on the night air. Pat Butler was the Elderwise Learning Administrator until retiring to Warwick, England in 2017. She has since qualified as a Tour Guide for the National Trust’s Living Back-to-Back History Museum in Birmingham, U.K., and enjoys taking groups of visitors around this popular venue. Pat also presents classes on social history to the U.K.’s University of the Third Age.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Pat Butler

• Dates: 10/23/2026 - 10/23/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• An Introduction to Islam, Part II 

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

  Due to popular demand, this class will be a continued discussion of the material presented in the Spring 2026 class. With more than 1.8 billion Muslims in the world today, Islam is the world’s second largest religion. Islam’s association with conflict and instability in the Middle East has led to persistent misconceptions and misunderstandings about the faith. In this class, Michael Fahy will continue to discuss the origins of Islam and its relationship to other Abrahamic monotheistic faiths of Judaism and Christianity, as well as the main tenets of Muslim theology and varying trends within the faith. Like all major religions, Islam is internally diverse, and we will continue to discuss how different ideas and beliefs are practiced at different times and in different places, referencing, in particular, gender roles and religious extremism. Michael Fahy holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan and taught for 20 years at the University’s School of Education. He is an anthropologist of the Middle East, where he lived and pursued research for several years. Since 2004, Michael has offered presentations on Middle Eastern history and culture to American military personnel across the United States and Europe.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Michael Fahy

• Dates: 10/23/2026 - 10/23/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• King Charles III 

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

  Many people have thought that the media has treated England’s new king harshly. In this class we will consider Charles III’s upbringing and adult actions. We will take a look at the problems he experienced as the heir to the throne. We will also look into how he occupied his time as he waited for the succession, including his relationship with his mother as she aged. Finally, we will discuss his current interests. Susan suggests that class participants may want to watch the following prior to the class: the series The Crown;  an interesting film The Queen, which considers the death of Diana; Spencer, which portrays Diana facing difficulties in accepting her role as an HRH; and finally, a film version of the play King Charles III. Come ready to contribute to the class discussion. Susan Nenadic holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history and English. She is known for her integration of history and literature in teaching, and is the author of several books and articles, including A Purse of Her Own: Occupations of 19th Century Women, and Legendary Locals of Ann Arbor. Susan currently leads Friends of Amoru, a non-profit organization building a secondary school in Uganda.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Susan Nenadic

• Dates: 10/27/2026 - 10/27/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• National Midterm Elections Panel: Predictions and Outcomes 

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

  1st session: Wednesday, October 28

  2nd session: Wednesday, November 11

  It has been ten years since the first Elderwise politics panel, and our panel members (The Three Amigos) still offer differing views as they struggle to figure things out. Almost a week before the November 3 election, they will speculate on the impact of foreign wars, living costs, and personalities on partisan allegiances. What do polls suggest? Will incumbent parties, as usual, falter in off-year elections? Donald Trump is not on the ballot; will that make a difference? Then a week after the election, our trio asks, first, did voting and reporting results occur freely and accurately? If not, why not? If so, did Republicans maintain their U.S. Senate majority? Did the GOP keep its U.S. House majority? What about Michigan federal and state outcomes? What turnout patterns emerged? What issues proved decisive? Join us as we try to understand where we are now, and what’s in our future politics and policies. 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 20th 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: $40.00

• Instructor(s): Panel Political

• Dates: 10/28/2026 - 11/11/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: W

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• 1950s Horror Film: THEM! 

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

  Regarded as one of the first "nuclear monster" movies that rose to prominence in the 1950s, Gordon Douglas' 1954 sci-fi horror film Them! features violent, enormous, irradiated ants who mutate in the New Mexico desert after atomic tests are conducted. Lauded for its spectacular special effects (which also earned it an Oscar nomination), action-packed storyline, and spine-tingling creatures, Them! took the cinema by storm and was a massive critical and commercial success. Join us during Halloween week as we journey back to a time when horror movies crept into our nightmares, sent chills racing down our spines, and made us fear they might actually come true! Mary Miller is a long-time Member of Elderwise Learning and the current Council Chair. She is involved in Friends of Restorative Justice and The Dispute Resolution Center and enjoys spending her free time reading and watching films. 

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Mary Miller

• Dates: 10/29/2026 - 10/29/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Frank Gehry's Architecture: Big Dreams and Big Fish 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before class begins.

  His father thought Frank Gehry (1928-2025), a Canadian and American architect and designer, was just a dreamer who would never amount to anything. It took until age 68 for him to rocket to fame with the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. We will trace Gehry’s story, fish and all. Besides Bilbao, his works include the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and many other structures. Gehry was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Wendy Evans was raised among the museums of London, England, and holds advanced degrees from Oxford University and Wayne State. She taught art history at Wayne State University and is a long-time docent volunteer at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Wendy loves to share her passion for art with groups like Elderwise. More information is available at www.art-talks.org.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Wendy Evans

• Dates: 11/2/2026 - 11/2/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• PTD Productions: Family Pains 

• In-Person Pre-Performance Class:   Wednesday, November 4, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                                                                Elderwise Learning classroom, 2275 Platt Road
                                                                Presenter: Marie Jones

  Matinee LIVE Performance:              Sunday, November 8, 2:00 p.m.
                                                               Riverside Arts Center
                                                               76 North Huron Street, Ypsilanti, MI
  
                                                               Written by Erin Osgood
                                                               Directed by Marie Jones

  _________________________________________________

  Fees:
  Members: $10 for the in-person pre-play class, plus a $17 ticket fee, added at checkout
  Nonmembers: $20 for the in-person pre-play class, plus a $17 ticket fee, added at checkout
  
  Extra Tickets are $17 each.
  Please contact the Elderwise Learning office to purchase extra tickets. Extra Tickets cannot be purchased online.

  _________________________________________________

  Family Pains, written by Michigan playwright, Erin Osgood, is an empowering story of embracing your true self. Pippa Mathews returns home to share her life-changing news with her eccentric and intractable family. She fantasizes about how she wishes her news will be received, but reality is never the same. Join us as we discuss, and experiment a bit, with the design elements that both support the story that is told in a play, and the emotional and artistic subtext needs as well. Marie Jones began her journey with PTD Productions as an actor (You Can’t Take It With You) in 1996, and as a director (Bent) in 1998. The subsequent decades have provided many more opportunities to act and to direct. The nature of a not-for-profit community theatre lends itself to supporting the company’s productions in many ways, and Marie has been a producer, costumer, set builder, and a member of the PTD Board of Directors. Additional information will be emailed to class registrants a few days before the show.

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Marie Jones

• Dates: 11/4/2026 - 11/4/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Alzheimer's in 2026: Latest Advances  

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

  Alzheimer’s disease was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. Today, it is regarded as the most common form of dementia. In this class Dr. Bruno Giordani will provide background information on Alzheimer’s disease and explain what is going on in the brain when someone has this form of dementia. We will learn about the latest findings from this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and several other recent conferences where new information is being presented, including information on risk factors, early detection, innovative prevention and treatment approaches, and new initiatives to support research. Bruno Giordani is a professor at the University of Michigan in the Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Psychology, and in the School of Nursing. Dr. Giordani currently serves as Associate Director of the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center. His research interests include identification of early signs of cognitive impairment and cross-cultural applications of new assessment and intervention models.

  

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Bruno Giordani

• Dates: 11/5/2026 - 11/5/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Mountain Climbing in the Antarctic 

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

  A mountain-climbing expedition to travel to Antarctica was formed by a commercial venture with the goal of making the first recorded summits of two Antarctic peaks. The expedition consisted of two women and sixteen men, including our presenter, Bud Thomas. Join us for this presentation, which highlights the challenges associated with scouting out and climbing the snow-covered peaks, and showcases the beauty of Antarctica and the abundant wildlife near the climbing sites. Bud Thomas is a retired aerospace engineer with over 50 years of experience, including rocket engine design for the Saturn-V Apollo rocket, the Space Shuttle’s main engine, and jet engine design for commercial and military aircraft. Bud has experience in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

  

   

   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Bud Thomas

• Dates: 11/5/2026 - 11/5/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Holiday Papercrafting Cards 

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

  This class has an enrollment limit of 8. A waitlist will be available.
  Please let the Elderwise office know if, after registering, you are unable to attend this class. This gives students on the waitlist an opportunity to join. 
  
  Fee:  Member $10   Nonmember $20
           Plus an additional $15 for materials, added at checkout

  Come enjoy a fun filled time creating three holiday cards to give to friends and family or just keep for yourself! Even if you have never done paper crafting before, Sidnie will walk you through the process and provide you with all the supplies and tools you need to create your holiday cards. There will be six card designs to choose from. Use your imagination and surprise yourself with how creative you can be! Sidnie Kubien has been scrapbooking for over 20 years. When she moved out to the country in Jackson County, there was no convenient place to get greeting cards, so she got inspired to create her own greeting cards. She fell in love with the craft and started teaching classes in Hillsdale, MI.

  

  

  

  
  
   

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Sidnie Kubien

• Dates: 11/11/2026 - 11/11/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Documentary: A Letter to the West Side 

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

  Uncover Ann Arbor’s hidden Black history! A Letter to the West Side is a touching documentary that explores the rich history, challenges, and resilience of Ann Arbor’s historic Black community, the West Side. Through personal stories and historical accounts, this film looks at the vibrant social atmosphere of the West Side, thriving Black local businesses and schools, and the systemic challenges that shaped the community and eventually led to its loss. A Letter to the West Side pays tribute to the trailblazers who laid the foundation for progress, celebrates the community’s remarkable achievements, and sheds light to the injustices once faced by giving a voice to those whose stories have been silenced and forgotten. This film was written and directed by Kameron Donald, a two-time Emmy Award-winning storyteller and driven by a mission to use compelling visual storytelling and strategic communication to bridge communities and institutions. Mary Miller is a long-time Member of Elderwise Learning and the current Council Chair. She is involved in Friends of Restorative Justice and The Dispute Resolution Center and enjoys spending her free time reading and watching films. 

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Mary Miller

• Dates: 11/12/2026 - 11/12/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Pilates: Kitchen Workout 

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

  Join us for a step-by-step workout guide on how to move more in your kitchen. Your kitchen gadgets are the only equipment you will need for this low-impact workout. Moving more everyday matters, and since we spend a lot of time in our kitchens waiting for things to warm up, boil, brew, or stew, it is a perfect time to engage in more physical movement. Natural moves such as squats and kitchen sink planks and push-ups, along with Pilates exercises, are the key focus in the effective kitchen workout. Props Needed: kitchen towel, massage or tennis ball, two unopened soup cans. Gwyn Jones has offered personal training sessions, workshops, and classes on Pilates for more than ten years. She is certified in STOTT Pilates and TRX suspension and annually enrolls in continuing Pilates Education.

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Gwyn Jones

• Dates: 11/13/2026 - 11/13/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: F

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Songs That Make You Feel Ideas 

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

  Songs that make you feel ideas: That is how composer Yip Harberg (“Over the Rainbow,” Finian’s Rainbow) described the marriage of words and music in songs of the American Musical. Nicknamed “the conscience of Broadway,” Harberg echoed the sentiments of many in musical theatre: “Songs are the pulse of a nation’s heart. A fever chart of its health.” This class will chronicle the work of the composers and lyricists who reflected, reinforced, and, at times, raised America’s civic and social conscience. More importantly, we will learn how they did it with optimism, humor, and sentiment. It’s a whirlwind tour of the musical theatre with stops, some surprising, to see and hear the work of artists like Jerry Bock, Stephen Sondheim, Gretchen Cryer, Nancy Ford, Bert Williams, Will Marion Cook, Oscar Hammerstein, Abe Borrows, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Ken Stevens began his theater career in Cincinnati where he co-founded the Showboat Majestic and served as a Rockefeller Fellow at Playhouse in the Park and the University of Cincinnati. In 1972 Ken joined the faculty of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where he created both the musical theater program and the graduate and undergraduate programs in arts management. He serves on the board of Villa Barr Art Park and Novi and the education program of Michigan Legacy Art Park, a wilderness sculpture park at Crystal Mountain Resort.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Ken Stevens

• Dates: 11/17/2026 - 11/17/2026

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• Origins and Global Spread of the Indo-European Languages 

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

  What do Sanskrit, English, Pashto, Greek, Welsh, and Yiddish have in common? In this presentation, based on the book Proto by Laura Spinney, we will learn how their precursor, Proto-Indo-European, arose near the Black Sea in the 5th millennium BC, spread around the globe, and fractured into the Indo-European language family. This story is still emerging but depends on studies of linguistics, archeology, and the genetics of ancient humans. Rick Neubig holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and an M.D. and Ph.D. from Harvard and MIT. He taught Pharmacology at U of M and Michigan State University. Rick has a passion for nature, especially birding, and recently became entranced with the study of ancient human origins.

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): Rick Neubig

• Dates: 11/17/2026 - 11/17/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: 2275 Platt Road

  Room: Classroom

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• America's National Parks and Monuments 

• HYBRID: In the classroom and online. A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants one day before class.
  
  Our inveterate wanderer, George Jabol, returns to Elderwise with more tales of his travels. In the fall of 2014, he took a three-week tour of several of America’s national parks and monuments. In this class George shares some of the majestic sights he discovered in our western backyard, and some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenery. This trip included six different western states, and visits to the Badlands, Chief Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore, and Devil’s Tower. We will also journey to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde National Park (including the Anasazi cliff dwellings). George Jabol received his B.A. degree from Muskingum College in Ohio, and a Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. Fully retired now from a career with the federal government, George creates photographic slide shows as a way to remember his travels and share them with others.

  

  

  

• Fee: $20.00

• Instructor(s): George Jabol

• Dates: 11/19/2026 - 11/19/2026

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Hybrid: In-Person and Online

  Room: In the 2275 Platt Road Classroom and on Zoom

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• Rise of Detroit's Motown Records in the Late 50s and Early 60s
  Dates: 9/9/2026 - 9/16/2026

• ONLINE registration for this class is now closed.
    If the start date of the first session has not happened yet,
    please call or email the Elderwise office to get registered.
    Thank you!
•  

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

  More than sixty years later, the “sound of young America” still stirs us, evoking memories of hope and lost youth. That's when a black-owned business made Detroit world famous for something other than automobiles. This class on Motown Record's early years tells how the combination of a vibrant community, an ambitious family led by a single-minded entrepreneur, abundant local talent, and wise musical and business strategies, secured stunning cultural and financial success. We hear wonderful music, meet the people who made it, and briefly mention forces behind Motown’s unfortunate downfall. Michael Homel is Professor Emeritus of History at Eastern Michigan University. He specializes in 20th century American history and American urban history. He is the author of Unlocking City Hall: Exploring the History of Local Government and Politics, and other publications on urban politics and education.

  

  

  

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• Classic Michigan Food and Drinks: The Stories Behind the Brands
  Dates: 9/9/2026 - 9/9/2026

• ONLINE registration for this class is now closed.
    If the start date of the first session has not happened yet,
    please call or email the Elderwise office to get registered.
    Thank you!
•  

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

  If you grew up in Michigan, you are certainly familiar with Vernor’s ginger ale, Faygo pop, Jiffy Mix, Gerber, Sanders, and Better Made Potato Chips. Plus, we practically invented cereal! Did you know that Ritz crackers were invented in Jackson? To learn more about our great state’s food history, join us for a highly entertaining and informative afternoon of food memories. Gail Offen and Jon Milan, authors of the book Classic Michigan Food and Drinks:The Stories Behind the Brands, will amaze and delight you with their stories of road trips throughout both peninsulas, exploring Michigan food brands. Be prepared for a gustatory trip down memory lane! Gail Offen is an adjunct professor at Lawrence Technological University and an award-winning advertising creative director, writer, and branding specialist. She and writing partner Jon Milan have written Grand River Avenue: From Detroit to Lake Michigan, Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor, and Michigan Haunts: Public Places and Eerie Spaces. Jon Milan is a lecturer, journalist and photographer specializing in topics related to Michigan social history, travel, and music. He is a professional pianist and was a Corporate Communications manager. In addition to the books he authored with Gail, he has also written Detroit: Ragtime and the Jazz Age, and Old Chicago Road: US-12 fromDetroit to Chicago.

  

  

  

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