History & Current Affairs   

By presenting relevant concepts and data, this on-going course aims to equip each participant to be an educated consumer of news on a wide range of economic topics. Discussions will be fact-driven and nontechnical; no formal economics training is required.

By presenting relevant concepts and data, this on-going course aims to equip each participant to be an educated consumer of news on a wide range of economic topics. Discussions will be fact-driven and nontechnical; no formal economics training is required.

American World’s Fairs (1851 to 1984) were more than spectacle; they were windows into the nation’s evolving identity. In this class, we will survey several U.S. World’s Fairs and discuss the influence they had on architecture, consumer culture, transportation, entertainment, and daily life in America. Through these discussions we’ll explore how innovation, optimism, progress, and power were displayed at the Fairs through America’s material culture.

Participants are invited to give short (10–20 min) presentations on a key issue shaping American democracy—covering such aspects as governing principles, current challenges and global comparisons. Each presentation will be followed by open discussion aimed at fostering civic awareness, critical thinking, careful listening and respectful dialogue. Together we will deepen understanding of community values and engage in meaningful conversation about America’s changing role in a changing world.

Participants are invited to give short (10–20 min) presentations on a key issue shaping American democracy—covering such aspects as governing principles, current challenges and global comparisons. Each presentation will be followed by open discussion aimed at fostering civic awareness, critical thinking, careful listening and respectful dialogue. Together we will deepen understanding of community values and engage in meaningful conversation about America’s changing role in a changing world.

This is the Second presentations celebrating the 250th anniversary of the strength, courage and intellectual wit of those who laid the foundation for the American Experiment. Having explored John Adams through McCullough's interviews last fall, we now turn to George Washington, who McCullough called "Our Greatest President." In this series, we will segue between McCullough and various Washington biographies to enlighten and expand our knowledge of what we know of The Father of our Country.