Community Engagement   

In 1848 William and Ellen Craft did the impossible: they escaped from Georgia disguised as a white master with his black slave. Pursued and in danger of being retaken and tortured, they went public, speaking and touring northern states before fleeing to England. This class will be a deep dive into their history and encourage developing your ideas out loud. At heart, this is an American love story between a man and a woman, a couple and a country.

OLLI students will have an opportunity to view an exhibit at Chico Art Center and write about the art. This class is for beginning writers as well as experienced ones. Jean Varda and Joan Goodreau, authors and OLLI members, will guide students through the art-to-writing process.

We'll visit museums, art galleries, and studios in the area and talk with curators and artists to learn more about the places and the work. Afterwards, we'll go to coffee houses or restaurants for no-host treats and conversation with group members.

Chico State's tradition of academic excellence goes back more than 130 years. With over 900 faculty members and 13,000 students, the University's teaching and learning community is thriving. Discover the imagination, cutting-edge research, and expertise that flourishes in our own backyard!

A scintillating review of current themes in the media will be discussed in each class. Class members present a topic, discuss it, then open the floor for discussion and debate. Poetry, literature, scientific discovery, and educational progress are examples of the issues addressed. Special guests are welcome to present.

Learn simple, effective, and sustainable tools for having more meaningful and satisfying conversations with your spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, and acquaintances. Participants will also learn how to build traditions that allow for and create an environment that supports connections and a sense of community. This workshop is highly interactive and fun!

Cribbage is a great card game for two people: fast, unpredictable, and portable. Though the game has many rules, this class will take you through all facets of the game, step by step. By the time you have finished this class, you will not only know the game well, but you will also know how to teach the game to others. If you already know the game, come play with us. Been looking for someone to play with? Maybe you will find a new friend and opponent here!

California's temperate climate allows an amazing array of plants to be grown locally. Edible gardens, pollinator gardens, native gardens, contemplative gardens, and demonstration gardens are some of the many varieties to tour. Inspired by the successful model of the "Arts & Eats" OLLI class, "Garden Gourmands" will focus on touring the art of garden landscapes combined with eating locally. Join two Master Gardeners as we explore different area gardens followed by a no-host lunch at various local eateries to enjoy the bounty of Butte County.

Let's face it! We are all going to "go" one of these days, and green burial is the greenest way. Learn about the science and practice of green burial, as well as other alternative disposition methods, like water cremation and human composting. We will discuss the green burial movement and its connection with land conservation and restoration. We will also hear from conservation practitioners in this field.

It's so easy to live in a world of negativity, survival, and habit. It really does take practice to make it different, but we can do that – at any age! So let's see how and what it takes to make our lives better, happier, and more enjoyable. This class shows you both the joy of doing so and the underlying science that can make it happen.

This lecture series consists of distinct classes, each designed to address a unique area of health-related issues. Presented by highly-qualified physicians and other caregivers, these classes will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about staying healthy and active. Each class is a complete topic and participants are invited to attend any combination of the offerings during the series.

California Master Gardeners provide educational outreach from University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offices throughout the state. The mission of the Butte County Master Gardeners is to extend research-based education and technical assistance throughout the non-commercial gardening community and to foster successful gardening practices by helping individuals make informed decisions about plants, pests, and the environment, with an emphasis on sustainability. Join us as we address a wide range of fascinating subjects.

My Neighbor's Voice (MNV) is committed to encouraging respectful conversations about the things that matter most. Using MNV Listening Cards, we focus on universal community questions ranging from American culture to civic rights and responsibilities, spiritual thought to health and environment, and more. During class, we have a moderated listening practice with our cards. Each participant takes turns answering questions and listening to their neighbor answer a related question. At the end of several listening rounds, we open the forum up for free discussion of the topic of the day.

Volunteers, board members, social entrepreneurs, or just plain interested folks can deepen their understanding of the the role of nonprofits in our communities. We will look at nonprofit basics, including finances, volunteerism, governance, and the nonprofit life cycle. There will also be opportunities to explore specific questions and concerns raised by participants.

What happens when a VIP (very important person) becomes a FIP (formerly important person), a.k.a. retirement? How does a Type A (as in actively ambitious) become a Type E (as in energetic elder)? How might elders in the world of business, community, government, and nonprofit organizations engage with at least four younger generations? This class uses reflective practice to engage participants in exploring how a lifetime of leading and leadership might bridge into eldership.

The class will present a brief history of the disposal of trash through time, regulations affecting the disposal of trash, and the history of the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (landfill). Learn about the recycling and diversion of wastes from the landfill, landfill operations, monitoring, amounts of waste disposed, as well as effects of disasters, electrical power generation, equipment used, and the future of landfill and related topics.

Are you finding yourself more forgetful as you age? In this seminar class, we will discuss the normal and abnormal changes of the brain as we age. You'll learn what is common and what isn't part of the normal decline of memory as we get older. We will also discuss activities and nutrition ideas that will help keep our brains in optimum health.