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In this course, we will celebrate the music of this volatile decade, while appreciating the context in which it emerged. The music of the 1970s can be understood as a reaction to the advances of the sixties. While rock styles and audiences become irreversibly fragmented, a new generation of fans emerged, throwing off the 60s burden of creative thought and imploding towards disco. 

 

The Berlin Wall opened in November 1989, ending forty years of German division following the Second World War. But what came after the celebration? A proliferation of Holocaust memorials in Berlin post-1989 served to help Germany atone for its dark past and educate the world on the horrors of genocide. For many East Germans, reunification was a time of great disruption and loss. The return of German nationalism was also accompanied by a spike in xenophobic violence against refugees and asylum seekers and the surging support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party.

 

Exploring how people created living spaces is a glimpse into their culture itself.  Each building is designed around visionary use and practical needs.  Within the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, buildings are also time capsules that trace history.  This series gives brief glimpses into the variety of building types and styles that define architecture.  

This is the second part of a multi-part series on US Presidents. (No prior course required.) This term will include four talks including 1) The best prepared presidents 2) The most impactful presidents 3) The unexpected presidents and 4) post-presidencies. 

A sweeping and true history of three generations darkened by the long shadow of the Holocaust, The Cello Still Sings is a vivid, moving recounting of the decades of silence and deeply hidden secrets, the consequences of trauma, and the quest for truth. It portrays the lingering scars healed through the spiritual sustenance and power of music. The course will feature my career, Hungarian World War II history, the effects on the following generation, resilience and reconciliation, and draw parallels to current issues of displacement, statelessness, and the plight of current refugees.

 

This is a course that explores the cultural cross-currents that defined America in the 1970s. While not designed to address or rehash the political developments of the era, obvious overlaps will occur when investigating the contextual environment of American socio-cultural experiences. Literature, film, television, sports, music and the vibrant 'liberation' ethos in society will attract our attention. Busing, affirmative action and other matters of culture in law and before the courts will be covered as well.    

Recommended reading: A Deep Funk in Funkytown by Tim Rosenfield, Smith Publishing, 2025. Available at: facinghistoryblog.com. 

 

Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, first published in 1838, focuses on universal issues, such as family and marital relationships, debt, and power--as well as education, business, and the theater.  It is also a great read, with satisfying villains and heroes, as well as some good love stories.  Course participants will read and discuss the book in seven sessions.  The course leader will locate the novel in historical context and guide discussions.

Required reading: Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, Penguin Classics, 1999. 

 

Jane Austen's Persuasion has been reimagined by a number of contemporary authors. It is a less complex novel than Pride and Prejudice, but there is room to reimagine situations and events. In this brief course, we shall review some of the major variations set in the Regency and in our time. Wentworth and Anne come alive again in a variety of settings. Their timeless love wins out in the unfavorable atmosphere of her family and close associates.

Recommended reading: Persuasion by Jane Austen, any edition.

 

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this travelogue/art exhibit offers travel sketches from around the US, from California to Maine. Lucy Rose tells how art enriches the experience of travel. She shares her tools and techniques and describes how she manages to sketch in diverse and sometimes challenging conditions. 

This course will explore conversations and topics about Shakespeare's King Lear. Throughout the session, we will watch video clips from Gielgud to Cumberbatch to enhance our understanding of this tragedy. Required reading: King Lear, any edition.

 

The seventeen string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) have been considered defining examples of chamber music composition since their first appearance between the late 1790s and mid-1820s, a perpetual source of intimidation for composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The characteristic style of the composer’s early, middle, and late periods of writing are each represented brilliantly among ten opus numbers, the last six so innovative and individualistic that they constituted a prototype for the concept of the avant garde as cultivated in music composition of the 20th century.

This course will follow the history of human settlement in what becomes the United States from migration across the Asian Land Bridge to the present day arguments over legality and deportation. There will be a lecture that includes Q&A, and discussion in small groups that report back to the whole class. 

 

The United States Constitution comprises 7,591 words.  In this class, we will read every one of them aloud.  After each passage is read, the course leader will add comments and an explanation.  In this way, we will gain an understanding of how our constitution works.  We will learn how it allows us to govern ourselves, how it protects our rights, and how its amendments have changed it.

 

This course provides participants with opportunities to engage in playful experiments with words on the page during free writing. By slowing down and paying attention to whatever turns up, participants can expect to hone their observational skills. Opportunities to share writing are provided but not required. The last three sessions will center on free writing done by participants between classes. Listeners will be asked to tell us exactly where in the piece they felt surprise, interest, wonder or the desire to ask the reader a question.

 

Hollywood was silent about the Holocaust until 1947. Thereafter, it addressed issues of antisemitism and Jewish assimilation through films in both direct and indirect ways. This course will screen several films that capture this process. We will also consider Hollywood itself as a “test case” of assimilation. We will watch several films together during our class meetings, but will have ample time for discussion and questions. Please note that this is a two-hour long class. 

Vergil’s Aeneid is the pivotal western epic, bridging the Trojan War Greek works attributed to Homer and subsequent masters Dante, Milton, even down to Joyce, Gaddis, and Pynchon. An opening lecture on the Aeneid and its influence will be followed by six discussion sessions on the poem, co-led by volunteer class participants.

Recommended reading: Contemporary translation of the Aeneid by any of the following: S. Bartsch, R. Fagles, R Fitzgerald, A. Kline, S. McGill & S. Wright, S. Ruden

 

One of the great novels of adultery, the first "realist" masterpiece, the first modern novel, or "a book about nothing" (Flaubert's own phrase)—Madame Bovary has been called all of these things.  We will try to understand what makes Madame Bovary not only a great novel but  one of the most influential novels in the history of the genre. Please read as much of the novel as you can before the first class. Course format will be mainly lecture but with discussion encouraged.

Required reading: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, trans. Lydia Davis, Penguin (2010).

 

Very rarely is the music of Hector Berlioz, the 19th-century composer, heard in the Twin Cities because of the large forces required to play the music. In this course, Philip Brunelle will present a vivid description of Berlioz and this music.

Create impactful photographs by editing your images. Editing will make your images mirror the feeling or mood you had when pressing the shutter. The class goal is to learn and improve image editing skills with practice, patience, and passion. Anyone with a serious interest in photography is welcome and can use any camera. RAW file format is required – even cell phones shoot RAW. This course will start with Adobe Lightroom Classic and finish editing in Photoshop, using the new TK9 v4 Plugin for Photoshop. 

Required Software: Editing software is an investment for long-term use and is essential for proper image editing; subscription to Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop.  Purchase the Photography Plan that includes Lightroom Classic and Photoshop at adobe.com  $19.99 mo. TK9 v4 Plugin for Photoshop, available from Tony Kuyper at his website goodnight.us.

In February 1964, over 70 million Americans watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan — and nothing was the same again. This seven-session course takes a deep dive into the musical earthquake that followed: from the Beatles' ascendancy to the Rolling Stones' dangerous swagger, from Dusty Springfield's blue-eyed soul to the Who's amplifier-smashing fury. We'll explore not only the music, but also the music business, the technological changes, and the cultural forces that made it all possible. Beatle boots or go-go boots — optional.  

 

As part of the America 250 recognition for July 4, 2026, this course will explore the little-known impact the American Revolution had on the "Franklin: The Lost State." At the conclusion of the American Revolution, North Carolina ceded nearly 26-million acres of land to the United States. This left citizens in that unorganized territory on their own to create a new state: the State of Franklin. This presentation will explore why residents created their own state, where it was located, and the reasons why it ultimately failed.

In this class we’ll explore the folk music of Spain (Andalusia, Galicia), Portugal, Italy (Liguria, Puglia, Tuscany), and France (Provence, Auvergne, Brittany) along with one or two side trips to Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. We’ll examine the instruments, including the hurdy-gurdy, accordion, tamboura, cajon, guitar, etc. discuss the relationships between folk, classical, and popular styles, and provide information about where such music can be heard live in the Twin Cities today.

Every composer of music approaches the creative process differently, based on a range of considerations: personal experiences, technical training, place in history, preferred media, professional circumstances. Contrast, for example, the description of moonlight found in Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata and in Debussy’s "Clair de Lune," or the portrayal of impoverished young artists in La Boheme and RENT. In this class we’ll look at and listen to a variety of musical interpretations of existing tunes, texts, and entities, each one reflecting the unique background and outlook of its creator. 

 

More than sixty years after the Beatles first entered a recording studio, their music remains as influential and fascinating as ever. This lecture, listening, and discussion course traces the band's recording career from their earliest sessions through Let It Be. We will explore the stories behind the twelve U.K. studio albums, as well as key singles, EPs, and U.S. releases, examining the creative partnerships and musical innovations that shaped their remarkable career from 1961 to 1970. This is an updated version of the course previously offered in Fall 2024.

Join us for discussions of favorite mystery movies facilitated by Bonnie Nelson, Tom Rooney and George Dow. Viewing parties will take place on Wednesday evening before each Thursday class discussion. The tentative lineup will include these movies: The Big Sleep, Death Trap, The Rainmaker, Gosford Park, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Get Out, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

King Lear may well be Shakespeare's greatest play, and performing the title role is the dream of an actor's lifetime. Together, we will explore Shakespearean drama in general, read and enact King Lear, and attend the Guthrie Theater's presentation of Kunene and the King, by South African playwright John Kani. Theater professionals will join us for discussions about bringing a play from the page to the stage. Neither experience nor comfort with Shakespeare is necessary to enjoy this course–just a desire to experience one of literature’s consummate works and ponder its contemporary parallels.

Recommended reading: https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/king-lear/read/

 

Join University of Minnesota Press author Cary Griffith for a discussion of his new book, Gunflint Falling: Blowdown in the Boundary Waters. On July 4, 1999, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), a  bizarre confluence of meteorological events resulted in the most damaging blowdown in the region’s history. Gunflint Falling tells the story of this devastating storm from the perspectives of those who were on the ground before, during, and after the catastrophic  event—from first-time visitors to the north woods to returning paddlers to Forest Service Rangers. Books will be available to purchase at event.

Seamus Heaney came into international prominence during Ulster's sectarian Troubles of the 80's and 90's. This caused him to explore the costs and advantages of belonging to a particular group in a time of conflict without succumbing to mere partisanship. We will track his struggle through six of his most famous poems. No special knowledge is needed. Please join us for this examination of an artist reflecting his time and place in art that seeks to be universal.

Jordan is a critical country in the turbulent Middle East, surrounded by Syria, Iraq, Israel, and the West Bank territory. Governed as a monarchy by the Hashemite Tribe, they have had just three leaders since the 1920's.  We will examine their history and demographics since the country's creation, and how it continues to play a key role in ongoing regional conflicts.  Why does the United States continue to be such a staunch supporter?

We will explore the symbiotic relationship between television shows and their theme music.  Was “Love Is All Around” a great song because of The Mary Tyler Moore Show?  Or was the TV show great (or made greater) because people liked the theme song?  If someone mentions Gilligan’s Island, does “a 3 hour tour” automatically pop into your head?  We will look at whether iconic theme songs elevate a series to greatness, or if the quality and popularity of the music is elevated by commercial radio success and high Nielsen ratings. Be prepared to hear a lot of great music and catchy tunes!

Puzzles of all kinds provide enjoyment and mental stimulation.  Solving puzzles is reported to benefit brain function by maintaining and strengthening mental competence, agility, and memory. Many people are familiar with Sudoku but may not be aware of the many other types of numerical logic puzzles. This course will explore the origins and specific rules of many of these puzzles. Solving strategies will be demonstrated and discussed. Class time will include opportunities to solve various puzzles in small groups. Whether novice or expert, this course is intended to be fun for all.

 

Robert Caro’s multi-volume study of Lyndon Johnson—the best biography in American letters—will soon be completed with its fifth and final volume. We will examine volume 4, The Passage of Power, which chronicles Johnson’s relationship with the Kennedys, both Jack and Bobby, from the late 1950s through the transition to the Johnson presidency.

Recommended reading: The Passage of Power, by Robert Caro (Knopf, 2012). 

 

This 1975 novel follows a group of workers in 1937 Berlin struggling to resist fascist society.  They confront ancient art, contemporary culture, failed revolution, and everyday horrors in a project of self-education to inspire their own history-changing practice.  The course will aim to find resonant passages in this poetic and philosophic novel, to inspire our interpretations and perhaps challenge our commitments. Contextual information will focus on the art, selected historical figures and events. This course will read as far as Part I of Volume I. 

Required reading: The Aesthetics of Resistance by Peter Weiss (J Neugroschel & J Scott, trans), Duke University Press, 2005. Vol. 1.

 

We are all blessed with rich life experiences but often lack comfortable opportunities to share what we have learned.  Each session will begin with one brief story.  The story is not the lesson.  It is the doorway into a meaningful conversation.  We will share our stories of life and living as a group. This will be discussion based rather than lecture heavy.  It will be community building through personal reflection and listening to each other. 

Tom Stoppard is hailed as one of the finest playwrights of our time. Class members are encouraged to attend (on their own) Park Square Theatre's production of Stoppard's farce, ON THE RAZZLE, between Sept. 30 - Oct. 25, 2026. We will also examine other plays throughout Stoppard's career, his life, and philosophy, as well as a screenplay or two. Fun, witty and thoughtful, it is said that Stoppard changed theatre with his intellect and blazing success. He is the only playwright to win five Tony awards for best play.

Required Viewing (movie or video): Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, film, available on over a dozen streaming services

The Age-Friendly University (AFU) of Minnesota Council invites you to join a special screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary, Silver Screamers, a heartwarming and inspiring film that follows a spirited group of older adults as they step far outside their comfort zones to make a low-budget horror film. Defying stereotypes with humor, resilience, and heart, the film proves that creativity and purpose have no expiration date. Following the screening, join us for an exclusive Q&A session with the film’s director, Sean Cisterna. Together, we will discuss healthy aging, lifelong social engagement, and how we can reshape societal assumptions about what older adults are capable of when given the right space, support, and opportunity. Course fee includes film, popcorn, and a soda!

 

This course will walk through one of the most famous studies of fascism across time, Robert Paxton's Anatomy of Fascism. Each week, will cover the main ideas from a chapter of the book, as well as advances in the field since its publication in 2004. Learners are invited but not obligated to read each chapter at home before each class. Note: this class meets twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Recommended reading: The Anatomy of Fascism, by Robert Paxton, Vintage, any edition. 

 

Do you or someone you know plan to roast a turkey this November? Did you know there is a science behind this? Empirical rules in cookbooks suggest times and temperatures for roasting turkeys. These rules can be predicted from the physics and chemistry of turkey flesh. Doing so shows how science can be used to correlate, predict and extend knowledge to other situations, like cooking a dinosaur!

Join a Great River Greening Ecologist (and staff) for a hands-on introduction to Minnesota’s native prairies. Learn about local restoration efforts, then head into the fields to hand-harvest native grass and wildflower seeds that help restore vital habitat. Held at Lake Elmo Park Reserve, with support from Washington County staff, this fall workshop combines ecology, stewardship, and outdoor exploration during peak seed season. This course requires walking off-trail across uneven terrain.

 

Soon after the publication of On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin began exploring the hidden lives of the wildflowers growing in the woods and fields outside his country home. His eccentric observations and ingenious, homemade botanical experiments have been overshadowed by his much more famous work, but they led him to discover things no one in his day had ever noticed about surprisingly animal-like abilities of the living, sentient beings we know as plants. This two-session course, one lecture and one lab,  is a look at Darwin’s second, much less famous, journey of scientific discovery. First class meets at Roseville Lutheran; Second class session meets at the Plant Growth Facilities Lab Classroom #132, 1552 Gortner Ave, Falcon Heights, MN 55108. Park: Gortner Ramp, St. Paul Campus. 

Have you noticed all the recent news stories about decades old cold case homicides getting solved? This course will explain how law enforcement is combining cutting-edge DNA technology with traditional genealogy family tree building to solve some of the oldest and most prolific cold cases.

The fascinating evolution of statistics in baseball. Three veteran OLLI instructors who share a love of baseball examine how statistics have been woven into the historical fabric of baseball since the days of the Black Sox and Babe Ruth. Statistics have now come to play vital roles in roster building, player training methods, and game-time decisions. What might the future hold as these techniques become even more refined? As baseball strategists advance their craft, new questions of ethics and fair play emerge.  This course will feature statistical vignettes about the Twins' past, present, and future.

The market and regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies has changed significantly in the two years since we did the first iteration of our course.  In response, the course will now explore the technical aspects of evolving cryptocurrencies and, to a lesser extent, NFTs. This includes the historical motivation behind cryptocurrency and the roles played by cryptography, blockchains, and consensus methods to make cryptocurrencies secure. The course will survey cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology stocks available for investing, as well as their impact on portfolio risk and return.

From Martians building canals to human travel, we have long dreamed of life on Mars. Our knowledge of Mars has changed dramatically since the turn of the century, making now the perfect time to explore. This three-session course covers the evolution of our understanding. Session one will explore Mysterious Mars: the early history and early mission successes and failures. Session two will explore Rovers on Mars: the advanced rovers and their groundbreaking findings. Session three will explore Humans on Mars: the realities of travel, living, and ethics of exploration in space. All are welcome; no previous space travel required!

Discover how, for the health of all of us, American medicine must shift from reactive "healthcare" to proactive health. We’ll first explore the critical need for primary care alongside game-changing innovations like AI and groundbreaking GLP-1 therapies. We'll uncover the hopeful science of epigenetics. You'll learn how everyday choices—sleep, movement, connection, and purpose—act as powerful levers to extend your health span through the epigenetic influences of your daily life decisions on the expression of “good” and “bad genes.”  

Recommended reading: The Great Healthcare Disruption by Dr, Marschall Runge,  Forbes Books, 2025.

 

Let's address the real revolutionary impacts of AI on identity, organizations, geopolitical structures,and thinking itself. What does this transformational technology do to people? How does it inflect them, define them, alter them? Our work with AI should focus on WHY not HOW. The technical details of HOW matter but how they come home to our humanity matters more. The Third Mind is an emergent cognitive domain that results from that collaboration and is neither the AI's nor ours, but something different. That difference and how to leverage it is the subject of this talk.

When we think of animals that provide the greatest insights into animal cognition and behavior, primates and honeybees come to mind, or perhaps whales or octopuses. What about the raccoons that plunder our rubbish at night, or the coyotes that threaten pets and livestock, or the gulls that divebomb for snacks at the beach? Based on Marlene Zuk’s new book, Outsider Animals, this talk challenges everything you thought you knew about the overlooked animals that live in proximity to humans, sharing the stories that each has to tell about adaptation and cohabitation on our increasingly crowded planet.

Recommended reading: Outsider Animals by Marlene Zuk, Princeton University Press, 2026.

This course examines how scientific discoveries move from research settings into public discourse.  Focusing on the themes of scientific literacy, media literacy and societal impact, we will examine the processes that connect scientists, journalists, policymakers and the public. Recent news stories in areas such as cancer, genetics, climate science and AI serve as case studies to critically evaluate how scientific findings are communicated in the media. 

The 3-minute Thesis Competition challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their dissertation research in just three minutes, with the aid of a single, static slide. The first session of this course will discuss the history of the nation-wide competition, judging, and how students prepare with Assistant Vice Provost Noro Andriamanalina and Itoro Watt, winner of the 2025 University-wide competition. For the second session, OLLI members will attend the 3-Minute Thesis Competition on the University of Minnesota campus followed by lunch. An optional third session on Zoom will invite participants to discuss their experience at the competition afterwards. 

 

Why are we here? Not Minnesota, or even Earth, but how is it that we (and life in general) can even exist in the universe? If you like lying awake at night thinking profound thoughts, then this is the right course for you. Whether you prefer the actions of a divine hand or the random vagaries of quantum chance, there will be plenty to chew on. We will combine presentations with open discussions on the mysteries of life. Weekly readings will be on the internet, and participants wishing more detailed discussions are encouraged to explore the recommended books. 

Recommended reading: The Mind of God, Paul Davies;   A Fortunate Universe: Life in a  Finely Tuned Cosmos, by G.F. Lewis and L.A. Barnes

 

Carbon dioxide is an integral component of life on Earth whose rising atmospheric concentrations have been one of the biggest contributors to rising temperatures in recent decades. To aid in climate change mitigation strategies and to tap into an abundant source of carbon, scientists have been researching the production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fuels, and materials from carbon dioxide captured from the air. This course introduces concepts of environmental science, chemistry, and scientific inquiry and collaboration in the context of scientists’ efforts to leverage carbon dioxide usage.

Recommended reading: The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything: How Carbon Dioxide Made Our World – A Natural History of Climate and the Future of Life by Peter Brannen, Ecco, 2025; The Story of CO2: Big Ideas for a Small Molecule by Geoffrey Ozin and Mireille Ghossoub, Aevo UTP, 2020.

 

Biochemistry converts DNA genomes into RNA, and this RNA gets transcribed into protein. Since the 1990s, we have learned that this is only part of the story. Scientists have found that RNA does much more than carry information. It can regulate expression of genes, act as an enzyme, and bind to specific targets - just like proteins - and each of these roles has been engineered in the lab. This course will provide a short survey of some of the surprising new roles researchers have found for RNA.

 

10-6: Deborah Dillon/Steve Birch: Peak Higher Education: How to Survive the Looming Crisis by Bryan Alexander.

10-13: Maureen Smith: All the President’s Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, by Megan Gorman.

10-20: Merrily Mazza: The Think Tank Racket by Glenn Diesen.

10-27: Sherrie Gette: More Everything Forever by Adam Becker.

11-3: Phil Fishman: Suffrage by Ellen Dubois

11-10: Dan Hunt: King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild

11-17: Ann Knapp: The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt

 

When Animal Farm was originally published, Stalin's Russia was the target. Today its themes about attacks on personal freedoms, the rewriting of history, and ways of governing compromised, seems particularly relevant.  Let's examine Orwell's allegorical masterpiece in terms of its relevancy in our times.

Recommended reading: Animal Farm by George Orwell, any edition.

 

Economics plays a central role in  every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert – all of whom have a Ph.D. in Economics. Potential topics include Climate Change, Social Security, Economic Inequality, and many more. The topics will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course.  No reading is required. Course guide correction: The first meeting of this course is on Thursday, October 8th. 

Jews, Christians, and Muslims are often in the news, but it's sometimes unclear what these traditions have to do with each other. This course offers a very brief introduction to three religions that have had an outsized influence on world events, both historically and in recent memory. Students will gain knowledge about the origins of these traditions, as well as some orientation to how they continue to relate today. We will not begin to solve any ongoing political disputes, but we will chip away at ignorance in hopes of better understanding. 

Recommended reading: Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters (Omid Safi, 2010); The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions (Marcus Borg and NT Wright, 2007); Judaism: A Very Short Introduction (Norman Solomon, 2014). 

 

Executive functioning (EF) and self-regulation (SR) involve the highest level of human brain function, are required to perform new and challenging activities and are activated when we encounter obstacles in interpersonal interactions. Learn how the brain develops to provide EF/SR and its trajectory across the life span. How do relationships impact EF/SR? Trauma? How do EF/SR contribute to resilience? The course provides a nontechnical and comprehensive view of recent findings and their applications. Small group discussions will explore implications for you and your community. 

In the late 1930’s, a time of significant crisis, John Dewey proposed that democracy is not a static form of government, but rather an approach to living and learning in community that must be reimagined and enacted anew each generation. In this 5-session workshop, we will explore techniques that can be used in classroom and community settings to work collectively to reinvent democracy in response to the challenges of our times.    

Jackson was a military leader and the President of the United States. This course will discuss all aspects of Jackson's life, including but not limited to: his early life, plus his marriage and family, his status as a slave owner, involvement in pistol duels, his experiences in the War of 1812 (including the major battle at New Orleans and treatment of troops), involvement in Native-American removal westward, his presidency, controversies, an assassination attempt, and the Slave Revolt by Nat Turner with Jackson's response.

In this course, you will explore the full sweep of the religion of Islam. The course will begin with the basic tenets of Islam, followed by its sources, the life of Muhammad, and a brief history of Islam. Next, we will analyze the concept of Jihad in Islam, & Islam in the later days. You will learn about the Islamic understanding of Jesus, Mary, & the People of the Book. Finally, we will discuss Islam in the current world. Ideal for beginners, this course answers questions of particular concern to those who care about the West’s relation with Islam. 

Citizenship in the US is a complex issue. What is it, and what happens to people who are denied citizenship and are stateless? This is a 3-part course.1: Why citizenship matters, why vulnerable minorities are excluded, efforts to end statelessness, and the impact of wars and conflicts; 2: Citizenship manipulation from Nazi Germany to the US; and international laws guaranteeing citizenship. 3: Statelessness today: the impact of 'climate migrants', wars and borders, and anti-immigration movements. Course fee: $10

 

The Nobel Conference is a 2-day conference held at Gustavus Adolphus College. This fall’s topic is the Mississippi River and will be held on 6-7 Oct.  Lectures will explore racial, historical, geological, and biological facets of the Mississippi River and its inhabitants. OLLI participants can watch the free conference either in person or through streaming and then we will have three Zoom meetings to discuss the lectures.  For more info about the Conference go to: https://gustavus.edu/about/nobel-conference. Attending in person includes other conference activities.

YWCA St. Paul, located in the Summit Hill neighborhood, has been a staple of the community for over 100 years.  This course will explain what we know helps vulnerable families transition out of crisis, homelessness, and/or domestic violence situations into self-sufficient and stable living. We will discuss the intricacies of supporting vulnerable families,  Supportive Housing Programs, Youth Leadership Programs, Foster Care Youth Transition Programs, Career Pathways, and, most importantly, what you as an individual can do to support families in these situations.

 

Friday, 10/23: Todd Lefko, U.S. Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy

U.S. trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?

Todd Lefko is President of the International Business Development Company, an import-export firm dealing with water purification equipment, kilns, linen, art, and new technologies.

10/30 - No class.

Friday, 11/6: Christi Silver, The Future of Human Rights and International Law

As democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?

Christi Siver is a Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. 

Friday, 11/20: Anne Linnee, U.S. Foreign Policy: America and the World

The federal administration has broken from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This session explores the impact of isolation and diminished influence in relation to current U.S. foreign policy. 

Anne Linnee retired from the State Department in 2023 following a more than 20-year career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. 

 

Cannabis policy, products, and conversations are changing quickly in Minnesota, leaving many people confused. In this session, staff from the University of Minnesota's Cannabis Research Center bring clarity to the topic of cannabis in Minnesota by sharing cannabis basics, including key terminology, product types, and an overview of the cannabis policy landscape. They will also highlight current Minnesota-centered research on who is using cannabis and how use patterns are evolving.

This session will explore the four most common dementia diagnoses and provide an overview of disease progression. Course leaders will share strategies for connecting with individuals living with dementia and better understanding their unique experience. 

 

At 63, Jill Chalsty did something extraordinary. After losing her husband to dementia and surviving breast and lung cancer, she set off alone on a 107-day journey around the world. At every port, she met with education leaders to share her nonprofit's free life skills curriculum, turning her grief into a mission that continues to change lives. Jill writes about this journey in her memoir, Packets of Hope, exploring healing, identity, and finding purpose after profound loss. Her talk offers an inspiring conversation about resilience and the small steps that help us rebuild.

Recommended reading: Packets of Hope by Jill Chalsty,  2025. Free download: https://www.packetsofhope.com/get-your-copy.

This four session course will meet at the Urban Growler Brewery and cover the following topics:

Session 1: History - Ancient History, Middle Ages, Modern Times

Session 2: Ingredients - Water, Grains, Hops, Yeast

Session 3: Process - Grist Mill, Mash Tun, Lauder Tun, Brew Kettle, Fermenter, Packaging

Session 4: Beer Styles - Ales, Lagers, Hybrids, European Styles

Urban Growler is located at: 2325 Endicott St, St Paul, MN 55114. Plenty of free parking available. 

 

This one session course explores the pros and cons of e-bikes, an increasingly popular form of recreation and transportation. We will look at types of e-bikes, strengths and weaknesses of them, and MN laws and regulations surrounding e-bikes. 

Recommended reading: Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike by Grant Petersen, Workman 2012

What if creativity isn't about talent or inspiration, but courage — and what if courage is contagious? In this lively, story-filled class, we'll explore what sparks us, what stalls us, and what helps us start again (and again). No critics invited — just curiosity, humor, and the kind of conversation that makes creating feel possible. Again.

What actually works when conditions are unstable? Bruce Lee was more than a martial artist—he was a systems thinker who engineered motion under pressure. This course explores how Lee developed adaptable methods across martial arts, film, philosophy, and culture. Students will examine principles of efficiency, timing, and emotional control, applying them to performance, decision-making, and identity. Through case studies and discussion, the class shows how disciplined adaptability shapes resilience and creative power.

Recommended reading: The Bruce Lee Code by Thomas Lee, Career Press, 2023.

 

Apples, apricots, plums, pears, cherries and even peaches! A surprising variety of fruit trees can be grown in Minnesota, and especially in the Twin Cities. Discover what to keep in mind when considering the planting of a fruit tree(s), sources of fruit trees, as well as the siting, planting and caring for your fruit trees. 

Every concert, theatrical performance, and corporate event you have attended had an invisible army making it happen. This session pulls back the curtain on live event production: the people, the technology, and the split-second decisions that turn an empty stage into an experience. We will cover how lighting, audio, video, and rigging work together and what happens when something goes wrong mid-show. No technical background needed.

 

Getting older has its ups and downs. Mindfulness can keep you balanced and resilient, come what may. This course will explore five simple mind and body practices to help you thrive in your later years. You'll learn to use gratitude, mindful activity, mindful eating, meditation and self-compassion to enhance daily life and smooth out the rough spots. A few easy practice exercises will give you some new tools you can use to live your best life.

 

In this course, Rochelle Anderson will describe how aphasia following a stroke led to her difficulty talking, reading, writing and understanding. Over the last five years, Anderson has written poetry to express herself and improve her communication skills. She will describe how her process of writing and publishing a book and making crop art for the State Fair enhances her creativity and well-being.

Recommended reading: Stormy Road: Reawakening from Stroke and Aphasia by Rochelle Anderson, Palmetto Publishing, 2026.

 

The compensation for the stiffness in our bodies is the breadth of our imaginations. Aging is not just about growing older, it's about making the most of every moment. Aging can be a rich and fertile space for a fresh sense of purpose, creativity, and opportunities to contribute. Seniors will be inspired to explore new possibilities for their lives. Even the smallest of steps can lead to happiness, fulfillment, and a sense of accomplishment.This presentation explores how to cultivate a mindset of curiosity, contribution, and lifelong learning.

Recommended reading: If You're Alive, Your Mission on Earth Isn't Finished by David McNally, WISE INK, 2024.

 

This course on sex education for older adults offers a practical, respectful overview of intimacy, relationships, and sexual health in later life. It affirms that sexuality remains important across the lifespan and supports adapting to change. Part 1 covers physical aspects of aging, including menopause, erectile dysfunction, chronic illness, medications, and mobility, with strategies for comfort and safety. Part 2 explores emotional and social factors like body image, self-esteem, and cultural attitudes, empowering participants to maintain healthy, satisfying intimate lives. 

Recommended reading: The evolving concept of older adult sexual behavior and its benefits by ML Syme, Generations Journal,  2014;38(1):35-41.

 

Do you or someone you know have a life-changing wish? Join us for this workshop to explore the place of wishes and dreams in our lives and learn more about Wish of a Lifetime from AARP. We'll spend some time reflecting on our lives in the context of wishes and dreams, and potentially naming a wish that's on our heart and mind. You'll walk away with a renewed sense of possibility and actionable information to pursue your dreams and maybe even apply for, or nominate someone for, a life-changing Wish of a Lifetime. 

This course will explore the different features of Google Slides to help make engaging and exciting presentations. In this course, each skill and feature will be clearly demonstrated, and skills we will explore include: themes, background, fonts, shapes, images, transitions, and more!

Most people don't know what they don't know—until a costly mistake, scam, or crisis forces them to learn the hard way. This seven-week course brings together six professionals who will pull back the curtain on the aging services industry, sharing practical guidance, consumer protection strategies, and hard-earned insights from their fields. Learn how to evaluate providers, verify credentials, spot red flags, avoid fraud, and make informed decisions with confidence.

Get ready for a new way of thinking about your own good intentions and what it takes to consistently turn them into life-improving action. You’ll learn why failing to make good on your good intentions isn’t exactly your fault. It’s mostly Mother Nature’s fault! Because she neglected to wire the impressive intelligence she gave us directly to our behavior, we’re good at knowing what we should do but not so good at consistently doing it. You’ll learn tricks and practical strategies for working around Mother Nature’s unfortunate oops to give all your intentions the power they need to succeed. 

The adoption of new technologies and the mass commercialization of culture has opened the door for more deceptive advertising. This course will examine how deceit and scams manifest in multiple forms of contemporary advertising, from ads that don’t look like ads, misleading verbiage, consumer tracking/targeting, ponzi schemes, and plain old snake oil peddling. What are the rhetorical strategies of deceptive ads? Are devices really listening to you? How do we regulate advertising? And most importantly, how do you spot a scam? 

Recommended reading: Doublespeak: From “Revenue Enhancement” to “Terminal Living”: How Government, Business, Advertisers, and Others Use Language to Deceive You by W. Lutz, Ig Publishing, 2015; "The Importance of Being a Complainer: You have the Power to Hold Deceptive Marketers Accountable," B. Patten, 2024, https://truthinadvertising.org/blog/the-importance-of-being-a-complainer/.

 

Are you carrying the weight of resentment, grudges, or betrayal? These emotions drain our energy and keep us tied to the past. In this 2-part online workshop, Louisa - life coach and story teller, will create a safe, supportive space for reflection and growth. Through storytelling, dialogue, and exercises, you’ll explore how resentment takes root, why it holds you back, and how to release it. This isn’t about excusing or forgetting - it’s about freeing yourself and stepping into a lighter, more empowered self.

 

There is a surge in divorce rates among adults over 50. The adjustment to being single later in life can be daunting. This course offers a practical 4-session workshop focused on addressing the emotional, financial, housing, and social adjustments. The workshops may apply to widowed people as well, but are largely focused on the aftermath of divorce. This course is also not an emotional support group, rather an opportunity for each participant to create a plan to help guide their adjustment. The exact focus of each session will depend on what the majority of the group prefers.  Expect to do some personal reflection and guided planning.  This is a hands on experience.

We'll overview and provide an understanding of how the fragmented (and often confusing) array of TV streaming options continues to evolve, then discuss implications for specific actions for best aligning your TV streaming content & equipment setup with your viewing and budget preferences. Various tools, resources, and "hacks" will also be discussed to help learners enhance their streaming experience. Learners will help shape the session agenda by completing an optional online pre-class survey to help identify key concerns they'd like to see prioritized during our discussion.

Whether you're considering part-time work, volunteer opportunities, new hobbies, or simply seeking a more meaningful retirement, understanding your interests can provide valuable direction. Based on the Strong Interest Inventory and John Holland's six interest themes (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional), this interactive workshop will help you identify your own "compass," explore activities that match your natural interests, and discover new possibilities for a pleasurable, engaging, and purposeful next chapter.

 

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most iconic landscapes on Earth, combining vast breathtaking scenery with deep geological and human history. From rim to river this course introduces how the canyon was formed, and describes human experience from ancestral Native cultures to more recent exploration, exploitation, conservation, and recreation.

In addition to information on options for a rewarding visit, this course includes a first-hand account of a recent visit to the park including an unforgettable 3 days at the South Rim combined with a 4-day backpacking experience below the rim.

 

Join a convivial group exploring four distinctive breweries, tasting samples, comparing styles and learning about local brewing history. First we’ll meet innovators who built a small operation with a huge national reputation, in a brilliantly crafted, amazingly landscaped grain bin. Next we’ll gather in a cozy, brick-walled establishment, then the country’s first brewery founded to support Latino communities, and finally, at an early start time, a pub that grew from a guy giving his brother a home brewing kit for his 21st birthday. A happy option: having a meal together afterward in each pub. Course fee: $45

October 8, 4 pm: Bang Brewing, 2320 Capp Road, St Paul

October 15, 4 pm: Town Hall Brewery, 1430 Washington Ave, Minneapolis

October 22, 4 pm: La Doña Cervecería Brewery, 241 Fremont Ave N, Minneapolis

October 29, 3:15 pm (note early start time): Wooden Hill Brewing Co., 7421 Bush Lake Rd, Edina

Gale Woods Farm, located in Minnetrista and part of the Three Rivers Park District, is a working educational farm and park where visitors can learn about agriculture, food production and land stewardship through hands-on activities, programs and events. Learn about sustainable farming, gardening, and food production. Meet at Farm: 7210 County Road 110 W Minnetrista, MN 55364. Course guide correction: This tour takes place on October 21st at 10 am.

 

Step into history in the Wabasha Street Caves – carved from sandstone to mine silica in the 1840s, then used variously for storage, mushroom growing and more until, as the Wabasha Street Speakeasy, they became a gangsters’ hangout during Prohibition. Our very entertaining Lost Souls Cave Tour will include no murderous mobsters, but as we hear about eerie occurrences, with lantern lights flickering on cave walls, we may well feel like kids telling ghost stories around a campfire. Just before Halloween, no less! A happy option: lunch together post-tour. Course fee: $17.

 

The Godfrey House is the first frame house built at St. Anthony Falls in 1849 by Art Godfrey to manage the lumber mill handling the logs at the newly built sawmill. The house initially served as the meeting space for local civic activities while the community experienced rapid growth. The house represents amazing construction to still be so substantial even after being moved to four locations up from the river banks. The Godfrey House is located at 28 University Ave. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414.

 

The Godfrey House is the first frame house built at St. Anthony Falls in 1849 by Art Godfrey to manage the lumber mill handling the logs at the newly built sawmill. The house initially served as the meeting space for local civic activities while the community experienced rapid growth. The house represents amazing construction to still be so substantial even after being moved to four locations up from the river banks. The Godfrey House is located at 28 University Ave. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414.

 

The Godfrey House is the first frame house built at St. Anthony Falls in 1849 by Art Godfrey to manage the lumber mill handling the logs at the newly built sawmill. The house initially served as the meeting space for local civic activities while the community experienced rapid growth. The house represents amazing construction to still be so substantial even after being moved to four locations up from the river banks. The Godfrey House is located at 28 University Ave. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414.

 

Calling all event-goers interested in downtown Minneapolis spaces – especially you Timberwolves, Lynx, and concert fans! Tour the Target Center and explore spaces rarely open to the public, including the arena floor, backstage area, locker room corridor, Lynx locker room, media press conference room, suite level, and Crunch's Den. Learn about the history of professional basketball in Minneapolis, how the arena was built, and how crews transform the venue between events in a matter of hours. Finally, if we all behave during the tour, we’ll enjoy an on-court “shoot-around”! Course guide correction: This tour takes place at the Target Center, not on Zoom.

 

Calling all event-goers interested in downtown Minneapolis spaces – especially you Timberwolves, Lynx, and concert fans! Tour the Target Center and explore spaces rarely open to the public, including the arena floor, backstage area, locker room corridor, Lynx locker room, media press conference room, suite level, and Crunch's Den. Learn about the history of professional basketball in Minneapolis, how the arena was built, and how crews transform the venue between events in a matter of hours. Finally, if we all behave during the tour, we’ll enjoy an on-court “shoot-around”! Course guide correction: This tour takes place at the Target Center, not on Zoom.

 

Seasons: So much life, color, and expectation are packed into that single word. It conjures images of holidays, weather extremes, life cycles, culinary flavors, holy day calendars, agricultural cycles, sports schedules, and those oscillating periods of idleness and activity – with a suitable time for every purpose under heaven. Seasons are filled with cultural symbolism, moods, and commentary. Over the next year our OLLI @ Mia courses will delve into the overarching theme, “The Expansiveness of Seasons,” starting with Fall and its many meanings and implications for our lives.

 

The leaves are changing and dropping from the branches of the trees all around us. This is the best time of year to learn how to identify trees using their leaves! Join a Garden Naturalist on a guided walk to learn how to use dichotomous keys and field guides to identify trees using their leaves, bark, and other key characteristics.  We'll meet at the Wirth Beach parking lot: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Hiking surfaces include paved and natural surface trails that feature changes in terrain and some hills. 

 

The leaves are changing and dropping from the branches of the trees all around us. This is the best time of year to learn how to identify trees using their leaves! Join a Garden Naturalist on a guided walk to learn how to use dichotomous keys and field guides to identify trees using their leaves, bark, and other key characteristics.  We'll meet at the Wirth Beach parking lot: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Hiking surfaces include paved and natural surface trails that feature changes in terrain and some hills. 

 

Fall migration is underway, and many species of warblers, raptors, and waterfowl are passing through on their journey. Come for a guided birding walk on the trails in South Theodore Wirth Regional Park. A garden naturalist from The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden will teach you how to identify both migrating and resident bird species by their behavior, plumage, and song as you explore. We'll meet in the Wirth Beach parking lot off Glenwood Avenue: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55405. Trails exhibit mild changes in terrain, distance covered may be up to 1.5 miles.

Fall migration is underway, and many species of warblers, raptors, and waterfowl are passing through on their journey. Come for a guided birding walk on the trails in South Theodore Wirth Regional Park. A garden naturalist from The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden will teach you how to identify both migrating and resident bird species by their behavior, plumage, and song as you explore. We'll meet in the Wirth Beach parking lot off Glenwood Avenue: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55405. Trails exhibit mild changes in terrain, distance covered may be up to 1.5 miles.

On Nov 4, we will visit the Raptor Center for a program in which Raptor Center staff show live birds. Afterwards, we will go into the area where the birds are kept. On Nov. 11th, we will visit the College of Biological Sciences Conservatory. The staff will show us the public display gardens and talk about the Conservatory. Then, we will visit the research collection and do a treasure hunt. There may be an option to join lunch outings after each session (own expense). 

Learn more about Minnesota/ Native American history and Dakota culture through a guided tour of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Cultural Center. Established in 2019, Hocokata Ti, located near Mystic Lake and surrounded by restored native prairie grasses, is a not-to-be- be-missed architectural gem and cultural treasure.  Meet at Hocokata Ti. We will begin with a 1-hour guided tour of the museum. After a short break to visit the gift shop and library, we will spend 45 minutes with the relics. Join an optional lunch (own expense) following the tour. Note two and a half hour tour.

This approximately 1-mile tour of Lakewood Cemetery highlights the courage, resilience and influence of women whose essential contributions shaped cultural, educational and social advancement. Featuring a diverse array of trailblazers, advocates and quiet leaders, the walking tour honors both celebrated and lesser-known women whose legacies continue to resonate today. 

 

Since 1923, State Services for the Blind (SSB) has been Minnesota's Resource for People who are Blind, Low Vision, DeafBlind or who have a Print Disability. SSB provides tools and training for employment, living independently, and accessing print. In this tour of the Saint Paul office, participants will see how print is transcribed into braille and audio for print disabilities, explore cutting-edge assistive tech, learn about the services available to seniors with low vision to promote independence and activity, and how blind, DeafBlind, and low vision individuals are finding work in diverse fields. Free parking in lot or Green Line to Raymond Ave. Stop. Meet at: 2200 University Ave W #240, St Paul, MN 55114.

 

If you love exploring the food from around the world, this one’s for you. We will try 3 world cuisines, one lunch at a time, starting with a lunch meeting at which we choose 2 more restaurants to visit. For this edition, we will choose restaurants in the general vicinity of the U of M, including restaurants in SE and NE Minneapolis, and downtown locations near the river.

If you love exploring the food from around the world, this one’s for you. We will try 3 world cuisines, one lunch at a time, starting with a lunch meeting at which we choose 2 more restaurants to visit. For this edition, we will choose restaurants in the general vicinity of the U of M, including restaurants in SE and NE Minneapolis, and downtown locations near the river.

Join us for a guided tour of the Minnesota State Capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert in 1905.  Learn about various aspects of the capitol including art, murals, paintings, and architecture. Weather permitting, walk to the Quadriga on the roof. Park at non-reserved numbered spaces on the street or in the state parking lots. Pay stations take cash or credit cards. There will be an opportunity to join a group lunch after the tour (at your own expense). 

This course will start at the Bloomington Education & Visitor Center with spectacular views of the Minnesota River and migrating birds with a marvelous bird feeding station. Attendees can select among hiking trails along the bluff or down to the river to explore. We will then continue for a Swedish lunch and conversation at the second floor restaurant of the nearby IKEA department store.

Our adventure starts with learning how humans’ age-old wish to fly led to numerous failed attempts before the Wright brothers achieved the first powered flight in 1903, and how advances in science and engineering have kept fueling the industry’s rapid evolution. The next week, at Holman Field, several speakers will tell us about aviation-related organizations based there, potentially including the Minnesota Army National Guard, the Learning Jet (education for preK-12), a flight school, airplane repair service, private jet management firm or others. Optional lunch afterward at Holman’s Table.

Have you ever wondered how the lights stay on across 15 states? Join us for an exclusive tour of the MISO Regional Control Center. Step inside the high-tech "nerve center" of the Midcontinent’s electrical grid, where expert operators manage a massive real-time energy market and coordinate the flow of electricity for 45 million people. See the giant video walls, witness the technology that balances supply and demand in seconds, and learn how MISO is leading the transition to a cleaner energy future. 

 

The UMN Libraries include many fascinating collections. Each week, we will have a class based on one of the collections, presented by its curator.

This two-part course features a lecture followed by a bus trip exploring the process of uncovering and interpreting historical information and its application at the Lower Sioux Agency in southwest Minnesota. In the first session, learn about the politics of historical memory from PhD student Ethan Besser Fredrick. Then go on an all day bus trip to the Lower Sioux Agency, where the 1862 Dakota War began. There you will visit the exhibits and learn about the recent changes in signage at the museum and battlefield. John Robertson, the Site Manager and a member of the tribe, will explain the process used to make the information given at the museum more accurate. Lunch is included in the cost of the trip. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Course fee: $75

Session 1: Monday, October 5th, Unity Unitarian Church, Parish Hall, 12:30-2:00pm. 

Session 2: Tuesday, October 13th, Bus Trip. Park for free at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Leave at 8:30, return by 6:30.