• Dancing Together: Squares and Contras

• Come build your confidence, get some exercise, and have a great time with new friends by learning traditional American dance forms! These social dances are gentle on the body and use familiar moves that are easy to pick up on, such as dosidos and allemandes. There’s nothing to memorize, no need to bring a partner, and no leads or follows. You’ll learn all of the moves step-by-step, then each dance will be “called” as we come together to dance to recorded music. If you’ve been looking for a fun way to stay active and can move easily at a comfortable walking pace, this is the class for you! And don’t worry, you won’t need frilly dresses or cowboy boots—those are for old movies and reruns of “Hee Haw”—but contras and squares are aerobic so remember to wear light weight clothing, comfortable shoes, and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. 

   

• Instructor: Carol Steiner

  Capacity Remaining: 24

• Dates: 9/11/2025 - 10/2/2025

  Times: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

• Sessions: 4

  Days: Th

• Building: First United Methodist Church

  Room: Wesley Hall

• Member Rate: $40, Non-Member Rate: $80

• Five Secrets to Living Life to the Fullest

• What’s the secret to living a fulfilling life? We live in an imperfect world and we are all imperfect creatures. So, in the midst of distractions and everyday challenges, how can we live as authentically as possible? In this course, you’ll be introduced to various individuals who, despite their flaws, figured out their own unique path to wellbeing. Ranging from inspirational to outrageous, we’ll learn through artwork and the instructor’s research how these fascinating people who, despite their flaws and struggles, managed to live full, rich lives. By learning their stories and unlocking their secrets, we’ll discover more about our own selves and how we can live an even more creative, generous, and courageous life—even in the face of difficulties. 

   

• Instructor: Jennifer Clark

  Capacity Remaining: 6

• Dates: 9/8/2025 - 9/8/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Sangren Hall

  Room: 2510

• Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20

• A History of the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital

• Four instructors will lead this in-depth, three-session course that comprehensively explores the history of the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. The first session will cover why a psychiatric hospital was considered for Michigan and why it was built in Kalamazoo. We’ll also analyze the influence of Dorthea Dix in creating the first psychiatric hospitals in America and the built environment of the hospital along with the farms and cottages. This session will examine the hospital’s history up to 1900. The second session will cover how the psychiatric hospital influenced the city of Kalamazoo, the water tower, the tuberculosis hospital, and the ultimate dismantling of the facility’s campus in 1980s. The final session will tell the stories two women who influenced treatment at the hospital—Linda Richards, Superintendent of Nursing at the hospital and the first graduate of America's first school of nursing; and Marion Spear, who led the development of occupational therapy at the hospital and the move to medication therapy.  

   

• Instructor: Lynn Houghton, Thomas Dietz, Sharon Carlson, Marge Kars, Ann Chapleau

• Dates: 9/9/2025 - 9/23/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 3

  Days: Tu

• Building: College of Health and Human Services

  Room: 1035

• Member Rate: $30, Non-Member Rate: $60

This class is full. Please use the button below to be added to the waitlist.

• Building Foundations of Caregiving

• In this course, you’ll learn a person-centered approach to caregiving, how to reduce caregiver stress, and how relationships can change over time throughout the caregiving journey. 

   

• Instructor: Shukurani Nsengiyumva

  Capacity Remaining: 49

• Dates: 9/10/2025 - 9/10/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: Online

  Room:

• Free to members, registration is required.

  You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.

• Ranked Choice Voting: Creating a New Election System for Michigan

• How do we vote and why does it matter? In this non-partisan, two-session course, we’ll examine our current election system and compare it to other systems both in theory and how they work in the places that use them. We’ll then walk through the process of how we can upgrade our current voting system to an alternative method—such as Ranked Choice Voting—and the approach implementing it in Michigan. First, we’ll discuss what makes a good voting system before reviewing common alternatives, such as Plurality, Ranked Choice Voting, Condorcet, STAR, and many others. We’ll also analyze the history and purpose of political primaries and straight ticket voting. In the second session, we’ll examine Michigan’s current election mechanisms and voting reform policies that are being considered before comprehensively exploring the ins-and-outs of Ranked Choice Voting, including its pros and cons, comparison against other alternative systems, and the process of advocating for and implementing constitutional amendments that are aimed toward improving the voting process for all. 

   

• Instructor: Alex Perrin

  Capacity Remaining: 86

• Dates: 9/12/2025 - 9/19/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: F

• Building: Online

  Room:

• Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40

• Golden Information for the Golden Years: Women’s Heart Health

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women—accounting for more deaths than all types of cancer combined. Despite this, women are often less likely to be diagnosed and treated for heart disease than men. This class will focus on learning how to keep your heart healthy and how to recognize if you need help. Although this class is geared toward women’s heart health, men are encouraged to attend. 

   

• Instructor: Susan Mastenbrook

  Capacity Remaining: 30

• Dates: 9/16/2025 - 9/16/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: Milestone Senior Services

  Room: 918 Jasper St, Kalamazoo MI 49001

• Free to Members

  You must sign-in for the add-to-cart button to appear

• Turbulent Decade: A History of the 1960s

• This course provides a comprehensive history of the 1960s, analyzing the social and political impacts of this turbulent decade first through the contextual lens of post-World War II American culture and events between 1945 and 1960 before pivoting our focus to the “Long Sixties” from 1960 to 1974. Setting the stage with the impact of the atomic bomb and the beginning of the Cold War, the 60s saw an intense reevaluation of our country’s ideologies through the birth of the Civil Rights and Antiwar movements; the rise of feminism and environmentalism; and backlash against the murders at Kent State, increased violent crime in urban areas, and overwhelming corporate commercialization. Politically, Kennedy’s New Frontier, Johnson’s Great Society, the emergence of the New Left, and Nixon’s Watergate scandal all introduced new perspectives, challenges, and problem-solving attempts. American society also experienced an incredible cultural shift through the development of a Youth Counterculture, the influence of television, the transformation of the musical landscape by Beatles and rock music, and the optimistic spirit gained from the moon landing.

   

• Instructor: Ron Kramer

  Capacity Remaining: 10

• Dates: 9/16/2025 - 10/7/2025

  Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Sessions: 4

  Days: Tu

• Building: Sangren Hall

  Room: 2510

• Member Rate: $40, Non-Member Rate: $80

• Dinergy: One Way Nature Can Help Us Solve Our Problems

• We must find ways to preserve our environment for current and future generations—and this course will explore one of the basic modes of operation used by nature to maintain a space conducive to all life—the balancing of opposing forces. Nature continuously balances the needs of plants and animals, predators and prey, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air, and innumerable other pairs. Yet, as Gregory Bateson puts it, “the major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think.” Dinergy is the application of this natural pattern to human thinking with the goal of generating harmonious interactions that will provide for all life on this planet, both human and non-human. We’ll also discuss the benefits and synergies of holism and reductionism. Reductionism is based on the notion that reality is much like the “clockwork” universe identified by Newton and has been the primary scientific approach since his time; meanwhile, holism observes that the whole is made from relationships, not individual members, and the interactions between members of the system are critical to the outcomes. To do any complete science as viewed from dinergy’s balance-centric lens, both of these viewpoints must be included in our study. 

   

• Instructor: Robin Skitt

  Capacity Remaining: 12

• Dates: 9/17/2025 - 9/24/2025

  Times: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: W

• Building: Friendship Village

  Room: Village Clubhouse Keystone

• Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40

• Civic Scribes: An Introduction to observing & reporting on local government meetings

• Discover how you can actively strengthen local democracy through informed citizenship by becoming the eyes and ears of our community! This two-session course will teach you how to report on government meetings, comprehensively equipping you with all the skills and knowledge you need to observe, document, and clearly communicate the decisions that directly impact our community with the local nonprofit news organization, NowKalamazoo. No prior journalism experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and civic spirit!  

  In the first session, you’ll learn the foundations of journalism and the essentials of covering government meetings, including identifying newsworthy decisions and discussions; taking effective notes that capture key information; navigating meeting agendas, minutes, and supporting documents; understanding the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act laws; and ultimately crafting clear, factual news briefs that inform your neighbors.  

  In the second session, you’ll put your newfound knowledge into practice with a guided field trip to an actual local government meeting. You'll observe proceedings firsthand, take notes alongside experienced reporters, and draft a practice news brief with professional feedback. This hands-on seminar provides a meaningful way to contribute to helping our community hold governments accountable while developing invaluable communication and critical thinking skills. Upon completion, you’ll have the opportunity to join our nonprofit’s volunteer reporting network, helping ensure local decisions receive the coverage they deserve and that our community has the information they need to succeed. 

   

• Instructor: Ben Lando, Reid Williams

  Capacity Remaining: 52

• Dates: 9/19/2025 - 9/23/2025

  Times: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: Tu F

• Building: Road Commission of Kalamazoo County

  Room:

• Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40

  Friday, 9/19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Heritage Community of Kalamazoo

  Tuesday, 9/23 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Road Commission of Kalamazoo County

• The Polarization of Social Media: How We Fall Victim to the Algorithm

• In today’s world, social media is a major source of news and information for many people. But have you ever wondered how the things you see are selected? This course takes a closer look at how social media platforms use “algorithms”—specific instructions designed by a computer programmer—to decide what content shows up in your feed and how these algorithms shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. With social media consumption at an all-time high, algorithms have a powerful effect on how we interact with the world and each other. We’ll explore how algorithms can create echo-chambers, limiting the variety of perspectives we encounter, and how they often prioritize more extreme or emotional content to capture our attention. You’ll also learn how algorithms impact the way we view society, and why it’s important to be aware of their influence on our understanding of reality. Along the way, we’ll consider the responsibilities of social media companies and how we can better navigate online spaces to protect the well-being of ourselves and others. 

   

• Instructor: Madison Watland

  Capacity Remaining: 19

• Dates: 9/22/2025 - 9/22/2025

  Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Online

  Room:

• Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20

• Empowered Caregiver Series: Supporting Independence

• The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to supporting a dignified experience for individuals with dementia while promoting the well-being of family caregivers. Students will learn how to best help a person living with dementia take part in daily activities, how to provide the right amount of support, and balance safety with independence while managing expectations.  

   

• Instructor: Shukurani Nsengiyumva

  Capacity Remaining: 50

• Dates: 9/24/2025 - 9/24/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: W

• Building: Online

  Room:

• Free to members, registration is required.

  You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.

• A Glimpse into Deep Space: Discovering Black Holes, Exoplanets, and a New Frontier

• Over 30 years have passed since the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope and the secrets of our Universe began to come to light. The first exoplanets were also discovered in the early 90’s, inviting us to speculate further about what we might find in other solar systems. Today, we have the tools to see beyond what Hubble showed us and truly explore the atmospheres of exoplanets, delve into the details of ancient galaxies, and even take images of blackholes! Discover how far we’ve come in just three decades and learn about the latest equipment astronomers are using, including Near-Infrared imaging and Spectroscopy, that lets us see farther into deep space than ever before.

   

• Instructor: Erin Lewis

  Capacity Remaining: 9

• Dates: 9/25/2025 - 9/25/2025

  Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Air Zoo

  Room: 6151 Portage Rd. 49002

• Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20

• Empowered Caregiver Series: Effective Communication Strategies

• The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to supporting a dignified experience for individuals with dementia while promoting the well-being of family caregivers. In this course, we’ll explore how dementia impacts communication and discover effective strategies for engaging with family, friends, and healthcare professionals.  

   

• Instructor: Shukurani Nsengiyumva

  Capacity Remaining: 29

• Dates: 9/25/2025 - 9/25/2025

  Times: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Vicksburg Senior Center

  Room: Taylor Room

• Free to members, registration is required.

  You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.

• Election Administration and Security

• Recent changes to Michigan election laws coupled with concerns regarding accuracy at the ballot box has led to confusion among voters—and in this course, you’ll walk away with a sense of clarity and better understanding about the checks and balances built into our election process. You’ll learn about the processes local election administrators use to conduct safe, secure, and accurate elections, as well as how inspectors are trained to administer a polling location and safeguard the integrity of these spaces. We’ll also examine the technology used to count votes, chain of ballot custody, the mechanics behind tallying election results, and more.

   

• Instructor: Meredith Place

  Capacity Remaining: 26

• Dates: 9/25/2025 - 9/25/2025

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Heritage Community of Kalamazoo

  Room: Memory Care Auditorium

• Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20

• Artificial Intelligence: What Is It, and Why Does It Matter?

• Artificial Intelligence has become somewhat of a buzzword in modern society, but many people are left unclear on what it really is or capable of doing. This beginner-friendly course will provide a basic overview of what AI is, what it can do, and perhaps most importantly, what it can't do. You are not required to have any background in coding, computer science, or technology, and this course will not teach you how to code or make AI. Instead, we will focus on how to see through the hype around AI and make informed decisions with Artificial Intelligence in mind. Additionally, because AI is a very hot topic among the scientific community that continues to rapidly develop, we will also discuss some speculations about what advancements we are likely to see in the near future. No external materials will be required unless they are provided at no charge by the instructor.

   

• Instructor: Winston Smith

  Capacity Remaining: 36

• Dates: 9/26/2025 - 10/3/2025

  Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Sessions: 2

  Days: F

• Building: Online

  Room:

• Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40