Voices & Perspectives   

Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen is the place to satisfy your cravings for something different. The menu for this event offers your choice of three main dishes, which we will gather after the Registration Deadline: corn meal crusted whiting fish, okra vegetarian stew, or Nashville hot chicken strips. Top off your meal with either a sweet peach cobbler or butter cake. Come join this epicurean experience and learn about the origins of the restaurant and its recipes.

Learn what autism is—and what it’s not—by exploring how it’s diagnosed, why rates have changed, and what current research says about causes and supports. Parents of now-adult children with autism will share real stories from their journeys, including challenges, surprises, and moments of humor and insight. This session offers a clear, practical, and human look at autism, helping separate common misunderstandings from lived experience.

Learn what autism is—and what it’s not—by exploring how it’s diagnosed, why rates have changed, and what current research says about causes and supports. Parents of now-adult children with autism will share real stories from their journeys, including challenges, surprises, and moments of humor and insight. This session offers a clear, practical, and human look at autism, helping separate common misunderstandings from lived experience.

This ancient wisdom uncovers how your unique constitution can transform your health. Identify your dosha – Vata, Pitta, Kapha – the foundational energies that govern your physical, mental, and emotional harmony. Learn how to recognize imbalances and apply corresponding practices to reset them. Discover how understanding your dosha influences your daily rhythm, how to approach the changing seasons, and what to modify during different phases of life.

This ancient wisdom uncovers how your unique constitution can transform your health. Identify your dosha – Vata, Pitta, Kapha – the foundational energies that govern your physical, mental, and emotional harmony. Learn how to recognize imbalances and apply corresponding practices to reset them. Discover how understanding your dosha influences your daily rhythm, how to approach the changing seasons, and what to modify during different phases of life.

Six women step into the roles of former Nazis and helped launch America’s space program, bringing to life the story of the team that became the backbone of NAS in the most unexpected place: North Alabama. A startling new play about the intersection of scientific exploration and moral responsibility, “The Rocket Men” asks what it means “to be an American”. Registrants are encouraged to attend the Angels Theatre Company’s production of “The Rocket Men” at the Johnny Carson Theatre. Performances run from March 12-22, 2026. Check the Lied Center website at https://www.liedcenter.org/events-page for showtimes and availability. OLLI members can enter OLLI2026 in the Promo Code field and receive a ticket at the discounted rate of $23. The cost of a ticket for the performance is excluded from the course price.

Six women step into the roles of former Nazis and helped launch America’s space program, bringing to life the story of the team that became the backbone of NAS in the most unexpected place: North Alabama. A startling new play about the intersection of scientific exploration and moral responsibility, “The Rocket Men” asks what it means “to be an American”. Registrants are encouraged to attend the Angels Theatre Company’s production of “The Rocket Men” at the Johnny Carson Theatre. Performances run from March 12-22, 2026. Check the Lied Center website at https://www.liedcenter.org/events-page for showtimes and availability. OLLI members can enter OLLI2026 in the Promo Code field and receive a ticket at the discounted rate of $23. The cost of a ticket for the performance is excluded from the course price.

Utilizing Russell Shorto’s novels entitled “The Island at the Center of the World” and “Taking Manhattan,” explore the dramatic beginnings of New Amsterdam, revealing a story “more than a handful of beads.” Analyze how the confluence of diversity, capitalism, and pluralism fostered America’s first modern society. Concurrently, examine the painful legacy of slavery and the displacement of Native Americans that fundamentally shaped the city and continues to define the nation.

Utilizing Russell Shorto’s novels entitled “The Island at the Center of the World” and “Taking Manhattan,” explore the dramatic beginnings of New Amsterdam, revealing a story “more than a handful of beads.” Analyze how the confluence of diversity, capitalism, and pluralism fostered America’s first modern society. Concurrently, examine the painful legacy of slavery and the displacement of Native Americans that fundamentally shaped the city and continues to define the nation.

Learn about the Museum and the life of artist and Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak. Then, tour the exhibition of artworks by Samuel Bak, Dinh Q. Lê, Mladen Miljanovic, Serge Alain Nitegeka, and Maja Ruznic. These artists are survivors of 20th century genocides and use their art as a means of building collective memory of the violence they witnessed. The tour includes opportunities for written or drawn reflections and group conversations.

Let’s add some Olé! to your Cinco De Mayo party! In this hands-on course, create easy, flavorful Mexican entrées, sides and perhaps a dessert. Bring your enthusiasm for a fun time in the kitchen!

Explore more than a century of Japanese history in Nebraska. Discover why Issei immigrants left Japan, how they moved across the United States, what brought them to communities throughout Nebraska, and how their descendants built lasting lives here. During the second session, view the 2025 Nebraska Public Media documentary “Rescuing Japanese Hall,” offering a deeper look at the experiences of Japanese people in the High Plains and across the state.

Explore more than a century of Japanese history in Nebraska. Discover why Issei immigrants left Japan, how they moved across the United States, what brought them to communities throughout Nebraska, and how their descendants built lasting lives here. During the second session, view the 2025 Nebraska Public Media documentary “Rescuing Japanese Hall,” offering a deeper look at the experiences of Japanese people in the High Plains and across the state.

Although Kansas lies outside the South, it holds a rich civil rights history. Explore two pivotal stories: the landmark Supreme Court case “Brown v. Board of Education,” centered on a young Black girl seeking to attend her neighborhood school in Topeka—now a national historic site—and the founding of Nicodemus by Black homesteaders. A descendant shares this history. Join OLLI members on a three-day trip to these significant sites.

Whether you intend to register for the trip or not, all OLLI members are welcome to attend this course.

Although Kansas lies outside the South, it holds a rich civil rights history. Explore two pivotal stories: the landmark Supreme Court case “Brown v. Board of Education,” centered on a young Black girl seeking to attend her neighborhood school in Topeka—now a national historic site—and the founding of Nicodemus by Black homesteaders. A descendant shares this history. Join OLLI members on a three-day trip to these significant sites.

Whether you intend to register for the trip or not, all OLLI members are welcome to attend this course.

“The Bell Affair” is an award-winning film that tells the powerful story of Daniel and Mary Bell, an enslaved couple who sued for their freedom and led one of the largest escape attempts in U.S. history. Using an innovative live-action animation style, the film highlights the often-overlooked history of how enslaved people used the courts to challenge their bondage. The filmmakers will share the unique challenges of bringing this story to life—working with actors spread across the country and filming without ever gathering the full cast in one location due to COVID.

Climb aboard for a fun and fascinating bus tour to two standout historic sites in southeastern Nebraska. Our day begins at Homestead National Historical Park near Beatrice, where a ranger-led introduction and short film set the stage for exploring the Heritage Center, a pioneer cabin, and the surrounding grounds. After lunch, we’ll head to nearby Wymore to visit the one-of-a-kind Great Plains Welsh Centre, home to the only U.S. cultural resources dedicated to Welsh immigrants on the Great Plains.

Take a trip to scenic Mahoney State Park to visit a Native American site that has been preserved in place through the efforts of archeologists at the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Nebraska Game and Park Commission. See and learn about the site in question and how these three agencies work together to follow state and federal cultural resources laws and preserve sites when necessary.

The following package of courses were previously recorded OLLI courses. Learn at your own pace, on your own time and at your convenience. Over 40 hours of programming is available for a single cost of $30. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the package of courses.

All programming originates from OLLI at UNL.

Braver Angels: Healing Our Democracy – Barbara Dewey (1 session)

The mission of Braver Angels, a national organization, is to heal the dramatic political divide afflicting our nation – not by trying to convince either side that it is wrong but by helping people learn to converse and even disagree in a respectful and civil manner. Learn how a group of concerned volunteers is working to form a Nebraska alliance of Braver Angels and how you can get involved.

Identity Theft: A Consumer Guide – Ryan Sothan (1 session)

Identity theft can affect anyone; learn how to fight back with knowledge and tools. Explore how to monitor credit, report suspicious activity, and use fraud alerts or credit freezes. Learn over a dozen real-world strategies to protect personal information, reduce risk, and respond effectively if compromised. Whether you're securing your finances, your family, or your peace of mind, get equipped with the confidence to stay one step ahead.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases: Free Speech and Press – John Bender (4 sessions)

The First Amendment may seem clear and absolute, but in fact, it is neither. What freedom of speech and the press mean has been the subject of several Supreme Court opinions. This class will examine eight major precedents in four areas: prior restraints, libel, dissent and symbolic expression These cases have shaped our contemporary understanding of freedom of expression.

Tech Basics for Everyday Life – Ryan Sothan (3 sessions)

Build your confidence with smartphones, tablets, and the internet. Learn essential skills to stay safe online, including how to block unwanted calls, shop and bank securely, and protect your credit. Explore common scams affecting Nebraskans and gain hands-on experience with practical tools. Whether reconnecting with loved ones or managing finances, gain the knowledge needed to thrive in today’s connected world.

Global & Regional Water Issues: Challenges and Solutions – Multiple Instructors (2 sessions)

OLLI Symposium – Sept 27, 2025 - Water is one of the most critical resources for sustaining life, agriculture, and economic development. Challenges such as scarcity, pollution, climate change, and equitable distribution continue to threaten water security worldwide and right here in Nebraska. National and local experts examine policies, conservation strategies, and scientific advancements aimed at securing water resources for future generations.

Contact and Conflict – Jeff Barnes (1 session)

More than three centuries of Nebraska’s history during the Plains Indian Wars are marked throughout the state by historical monuments. Explore these instances of “contact and conflict” between Native peoples and European Americans in Nebraska and how they are commemorated, from trading, treaties, war and reconciliation.

A Life Well-Lived: Your Legacy Plan – Kevin Orth and John Love (4 sessions)

This course offers a guided, introspective journey through your past, present, and future. Explore your life story, clarify personal wishes, and create a legacy of love and guidance. Your decisions will bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones, relieving them of difficult choices during emotional times and allowing them to focus on honoring your life and the memories you’ve shared.

Community in a Time of Crisis – Day Hefner (1 session)

While the phrase “unprecedented times” is the refrain we often hear to describe these days, the deep polarization and the challenge of forming a collective identity are by no means new to the church. Explore the struggles of the early church reflected in the Book of Acts and the letters of Paul as they wrestled with how to pull together Gentile and Judean, slave and free, women, men, and so on into a new community, forging a new communal identity in response to the ground-shaking new things God was doing.

Esports at UNL: Engaging Students in 2025 – Instructor: Ryan Tan (1 session)

Esports (short for “electronic sports”) is a rapidly growing sports industry with a multi-billion-dollar market value. Over 500 million people across the world watch or compete in e-sports. This number is projected to grow to 640 million. The varsity e-sports team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln competes with other Division 1 universities across the United States. Learn about this exciting new, popular sport at UNL.

Entrepreneurial Lawyering at Nebraska Law - Instructor: Brett Stohs (1 session)

At the Nebraska College of Law, nine clinical programs offer third-year law students the opportunity to represent clients before they graduate and become lawyers. Supervised by licensed attorney professors, students provide valuable legal services to clients without means to hire a private attorney. Brett Stohs started the Weibling Entrepreneurship Clinic in 2013 and has served over 500 startups, small businesses, and nonprofits. He shares his pedagogy and passion, providing a sampling of valuable experiential programs.

Child and Youth Advocacy in Out-of-Home Care - Dawn Rockey & Monika Gross (1 session)

Learn about CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused or neglected, truant and ungovernable children and youth in the juvenile court system and about the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO) for Nebraska. FCRO volunteers oversee the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in out-of-home care. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children in the court room and become a stable adult giving the child a fighting chance to gain a voice, achieve safety and stability and develop a sense of self-worth.

Contemporary Otoe-Missouria Lives Resilience – Christina Goodson (4 sessions)

This course focuses on contemporary Otoe-Missouria history post-removal to Indian Territory (1881-present), the survivance of Otoe-Missouria people and ways of life, and language revitalization and reclamation among the Otoe-Missouria and other Nebraska tribes. The course covers major U.S. Indian Policy such as the Dawes Act, Allotments, Termination, Indian Claims Commission, and Relocation.

Know Your Rights in Long-Term Care – Tami Barrett (1 session)

At some point, we or our loved ones may need long-term care. This course offers guidance from the Nebraska Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which advocates for the rights of residents in assisted living and skilled care facilities. Learn about state and federal laws that protect those rights, explore real-life scenarios, and gain tools to ensure quality care. Also learn how to connect with local resources and explore volunteer opportunities through the ombudsman program.

‘Votes for Women' was a three-generation battle nationally and in Nebraska where our foremothers' efforts included three statewide suffrage votes and Susan B. Anthony touring the state. Explore the women who led and created strategies nationally. Meet the Nebraska Suffs who spent 65 years fighting the antis with ever-changing tactics creating, in the end, a unanimous vote of our state Legislature to ratify the 19th amendment.

‘Votes for Women' was a three-generation battle nationally and in Nebraska where our foremothers' efforts included three statewide suffrage votes and Susan B. Anthony touring the state. Explore the women who led and created strategies nationally. Meet the Nebraska Suffs who spent 65 years fighting the antis with ever-changing tactics creating, in the end, a unanimous vote of our state Legislature to ratify the 19th amendment.

Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, is the world’s most widely practiced exercise form. Unlike most other exercises, Tai Chi is a life-long learning experience. Build fundamental skills comprising a ‘solo exercise’ that is the foundation for daily self-practice. Experienced participants can refine familiar movements and learn new ones. All levels of ability and Tai Chi experience are welcome. Wear comfortable clothing and flat shoes.

Journey to northeast Nebraska to discover the lives of two individuals whose voices shaped history and culture. At the John G. Neihardt State Historical Site in Bancroft, explore the legacy of Nebraska’s poet laureate and his search for meaning through story. After a boxed lunch at the Neihardt Center, travel to Walthill and visit the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center to learn how compassion, courage, and service transformed health care and community life. Between Bancroft and Walthill, we’ll stop at the Bancroft Cemetery to view the graves of Dr. Susan and her family.

This course, part memoir, part travelogue, part history, gives an overview of Vietnam from its first settlers more than 4,000 years ago through conquests, colonialization, the Vietnam War, and the current period. Examine the War’s deep impact on both Vietnam and the U.S. The instructor lived in Saigon as a teenager from 1963-65 and returned recently, providing him with a unique perspective.

This course, part memoir, part travelogue, part history, gives an overview of Vietnam from its first settlers more than 4,000 years ago through conquests, colonialization, the Vietnam War, and the current period. Examine the War’s deep impact on both Vietnam and the U.S. The instructor lived in Saigon as a teenager from 1963-65 and returned recently, providing him with a unique perspective.

Trace the roots of antisemitism from antiquity to the present day. Learn about the long and dark history of antisemitism, including the Holocaust, and its modern implications.

Trace the roots of antisemitism from antiquity to the present day. Learn about the long and dark history of antisemitism, including the Holocaust, and its modern implications.