History & Politics   

Great Decisions 2026, II
HIS-04 (in-person)    
Session II: Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13
Fridays 12:15 - 1:30 pm
*This course is free to attend and does not require OLLI membership.
*Participants can buy their own Great Decisions 2025 Briefing Book from the Foreign Policy Association website for $35. https://fpa.org/bookstore/
Global and Domestic challenges affect all our lives. Get info you need to figure out what's happening and discuss it with others. This program was developed by the Foreign Policy Association. Read the briefing book at home, watch expert video analysis in class, then participate in group discussion.

Topics for 2026 Session II:
Ukraine and the Future of European Security
Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
U.S. Engagement of Africa
The Future of Human Rights and International Law 
Facilitator: Paolo Greer

The Italian Tale of Felix Pedro
HIS-08 (in-person)
Session II Add-On: Nov. 16
Monday 2:00 - 3:15 pm (one meeting)
Much of what we know about Felix Pedro is more legend than truth. Born Felice Pedroni, he was raised near Fanano, Fairbanks’ “Sister City,” in the community of Trignano, Italy. Paolo Greer has taken many trips to Italy to learn about Felix Pedro directly from researchers, his descendants, and famiglia. The trail pointed to Felix’s cohorts and closest friends, the Costa Brothers, of whom had prospected with him over the years and had the placers next to Pedro’s Discovery Claim. Join us as we investigate the Italian tale of Felix Pedro!

Instructor Paolo Greer has lived in Alaska for more than fifty years. He also explored and prospected for gold for decades, mostly in the high Amazon jungle.

Finding Democracy
HIS-09 (in-person)
HIS-09-Z (distance-delivered)
Session II Add-On: Nov. 20
Friday 10:30 - 11:45 am (one meeting)
*The course is based on the instructor’s book, Finding Democracy Through the Lens of a Young German Woman, 1944-1950.
Follow the exciting journey of a young German woman as she survives WWII and chronicles the postwar U.S. occupation of a small Bavarian town during a pivotal time in modern history. This true story offers insights into the influence the Americans had on her understanding of democracy after experiencing Nazi fascism, inviting reflection on the concept of freedom, the power of personal choice, and the fragile building of democratic ideals. This course examines the postwar challenges faced by the U.S. military as they sought to denazify Germany, rebuild a self-governing country along democratic lines, and create an ally in response to the emerging threat of Communism. Key challenges included a hunger crisis, the integration of dislocated civilians into society, and countering the real fear that another demagogue would arise again to exploit underlying societal attitudes. The lessons and warnings from eighty years ago continue to hold relevance today.

Instructor Margaret F. Merritt, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and outdoorswoman. After decades of writing and publishing in scientific literature, she has focused her research and writing on historical biographies to share true stories that entertain, inform, and inspire.

The book, "Finding Democracy Through the Lens of a Young German Woman, 1944-1950" by Margaret F. Merritt, Ph.D. is the 2026 Bronze Medal Winner of the Living Now Evergreen Award for World Peace.  The Living Now Evergreen Award recognizes books published since 2000 for their contributions to positive global change. The World Peace category aims to identify world-changing books that encourage a better understanding of people and broader global issues, and to bring them further recognition and exposure.

 

Finding Democracy
HIS-09 (in-person)
HIS-09-Z (distance-delivered)
Session II Add-On: Nov. 20
Friday 10:30 - 11:45 am (one meeting)
*The course is based on the instructor’s book, Finding Democracy Through the Lens of a Young German Woman, 1944-1950.
Follow the exciting journey of a young German woman as she survives WWII and chronicles the postwar U.S. occupation of a small Bavarian town during a pivotal time in modern history. This true story offers insights into the influence the Americans had on her understanding of democracy after experiencing Nazi fascism, inviting reflection on the concept of freedom, the power of personal choice, and the fragile building of democratic ideals. This course examines the postwar challenges faced by the U.S. military as they sought to denazify Germany, rebuild a self-governing country along democratic lines, and create an ally in response to the emerging threat of Communism. Key challenges included a hunger crisis, the integration of dislocated civilians into society, and countering the real fear that another demagogue would arise again to exploit underlying societal attitudes. The lessons and warnings from eighty years ago continue to hold relevance today.

Instructor Margaret F. Merritt, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and outdoorswoman. After decades of writing and publishing in scientific literature, she has focused her research and writing on historical biographies to share true stories that entertain, inform, and inspire.

The book, "Finding Democracy Through the Lens of a Young German Woman, 1944-1950" by Margaret F. Merritt, Ph.D. is the 2026 Bronze Medal Winner of the Living Now Evergreen Award for World Peace.  The Living Now Evergreen Award recognizes books published since 2000 for their contributions to positive global change. The World Peace category aims to identify world-changing books that encourage a better understanding of people and broader global issues, and to bring them further recognition and exposure