Session B Courses   

The course will examine the crisis in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, tracing the growth of jihadi strength from the defeat of Islamist forces in Algeria in the 2000s and the impact of the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime in Libya in 2011 on the Tuareg regions of the Sahel. It will trace the development of jihadist sentiment in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the growth of anti-French sentiment, the decline of Francafrique, and the turn to the Wagner Group and other Russian forces. It will also discuss the impact of Boko Haram on southeastern Niger, northern Cameroon and southwestern Chad.

“...The casual reader, or even a close student of history, would be forgiven for thinking that for most of its existence, only men worked at the Central Intelligence Agency. Not only that: very manly heterosexual men...” Liza Mundy, The Sisterhood This class will focus on women’s services in the CIA as spies at the end of WWII,during the Cold War, and as terrorist groups formed and acted after the breakup of the Soviet Union. What talents and skills did women have, and how did they use them? Are women more tactically geared to expose male vulnerability? What tensions were there among intelligence agencies and within the agency itself during these times? Come learn what roles women have played in the operation of the CIA and how important their service has been. There are interesting tales to tell.

This advanced discussion group is designed for individuals who have completed the initial course, A Time to Listen, A Time to Speak. Conversations will engage with more complex and rigorous themes.

Drawing is a way to discover an entire new world. Before modern techniques about learning to draw were developed, many of us thought we had no talent. Now we can learn to "see" like never before and give up saying things like, "I can't even draw a straight line." (After all, maybe that's what rulers are for!)

Required Materials:

Bring a "can-do" attitude, the willingness to practice, and an eagerness to do something you didn't think you could do! 

Paper: Look for a simple Sketch Book with paper that is 60-90 lb. and smooth to the touch, found in the art section of craft stores like Michael's or the Art Box in Ivy Square (near Foods of all Nations.)

Pencils: Bring any that you like to make marks with or even a fine-tip pen. Pencils come in many options, from very light to very dark. You can achieve a variety of effects depending on how hard you press on the pencil. There is no need to buy a set of pencils, unless you just want to.

Erasers: I will be bringing each of you a "kneaded" eraser, great for erasing mistakes. They are grey, wrapped in plastic, less than 2" square, and can be held in your hand to warm them up and become malleable for a spot you might want to erase. These erasers don't damage the surface of the paper as much as other kinds.

There are many things to read (from the first major one by Betty Edwards )

 Betty Edwards.   Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, 1999.

Dodson, Bert. Keys to Drawing, 1990.

Garcia, Claire Watson. Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner, 2003.

But I just found THE BEST ONE YET at Barns and Noble the other day: Sketching for the Absolute Beginner by Peter Cronin (2023)   (We will incorporate some of his techniques in our class!)

Much of 20th century literary criticism insisted that the speaker of a poem is always a “persona” and must never be confused with the poet. A codicil to this dogma held that information about the poet’s life from any source – memoirs, biographies, letters including even those of the poet – should never be admitted to a discussion of the meaning of any poem. This course offers a contrarian view. We will examine the strongly autobiographical currents in Shakespeare’s sonnets and the most famous poems of Keats, Emily Dickinson, and Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Before the term “influencer” applied to social media stars, Howard Gardner coined the term “Influencer” to describe a person who has accomplished positive and significant change by affecting the “thoughts, feelings, or behaviors of others.” To do this, Gardner says, the Influencers possess extraordinary skill as communicators who employ the concept of “Story” as their principal vehicle of influence. The most successful twentieth century Influencer, of course, is Gandhi who in turn inspired many others who have also peacefully fought against and prevailed over tyranny and injustice. This class will examine three of these Influencers–Cesar Chavez, Vaclav Havel, and Alexi Navalny–to show how they also used Story to achieve profound societal change.

Have you ever wondered why some folks walk in circles and seem to love it? Do you know the difference between a labyrinth and a maze? Have you ever wanted to build a labyrinth in your yard or on a beach? Are you interested in exploring moving meditation? Would you like some inspiration? Are you in a process of discernment? Would you like to think more metaphorically? Come, explore with us! We’ll learn about the varieties and history of what is constructed using sacred geometry and why it works! We’ll practice on various labyrinths in each session.

Explore original research on topics such as the development from Rockfish Gap to Waynesboro, the role of surveyors in Augusta County, and Albemarle’s intriguing mysteries— including the lost town of New York, missing Civil War gold, and Swiss artist Frank Buchser’s visit. Learn about Monticello during the Civil War, the Levy family’s ownership, and the lives of free and enslaved people. The series concludes with the ten largest emancipations in Albemarle. This course offers a rare opportunity to uncover stories that shaped our region between 1790 and 1900.

Tai Chi for Health is a gentle, easy to learn form of Tai Chi. The course will emphasize slow, continuous movement to help with balance and maintenance of strength. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and flat shoes.

This course takes participants back to early 19th century Massachusetts to introduce two fatherless girls, Elizabeth and Maria Louisa Hathorne, who had a profound impact on their brother, Nathaniel. Excerpts from personal letters illustrate their opposing personalities and their changing relationship with their brother as childhood expectations were forced to cede to a new order in adulthood. Class participants will learn of the most painful event in Hawthorne’s life. Finally, participants will discover in some of Hawthorne’s writings, how he, intentionally or not, infused certain personality traits of his sisters into those of his fictional characters.

A discussion on the second year of the Trump administration. Where are we on the democracy-autocracy continuum? Come to the class ready to listen and get your two cents in.

Using film, you tube videos, books and the instructors personal experience, this course will attempt to give the student a realistic picture of what combat veterans experienced in Vietnam. Presentations will be occasionally disturbing and graphic in nature.

 

 

Join Walkman Dan to reimagine walking. Each class offers a short talk and a set of simple satisfying skills to turn your everyday walks into memorable events. We’ll explore a new theme every week: the world of walking, walking with MOTOS, walking and props, thinking on your feet, and walking into the future. Whether you’re a casual stroller or a seasoned walker, you’ll quickly discover there’s much more to walking than walking.