May 4, 2022 鈥擣rom June 13 to July 22, lifelong students age 50 and up can explore everything from the geopolitics of Finland to the magic of Sri Lanka to Hamilton, the musical, to name only a few of the offerings in (海角社区CI)鈥檚 Summer Taste of OLLI.
Each summer, OLLI鈥攖he 鈥攐ffers lifelong learners the opportunity to drop into any or all of at least two dozen different classes over a six-week period for just $15 a class.
OLLI Program Coordinator Michael Trainor explained that Summer Taste of OLLI is designed to give current and new OLLI students the chance to sample all that OLLI has to offer without the commitment of the regular six-week classes.
鈥淭his is also a time where we encourage people to try OLLI in hopes they will join us for the Fall session coming a few months later,鈥� Trainor said.
Several 海角社区CI faculty members will be teaching classes along with faculty from California Lutheran University (CLU) and a variety of experts from the community. Some topics will delve into current events while others allow students to virtually join the first 1920 road trip to our national parks, explore a moment in history, or delve more deeply into religion, genetics or music.
OLLI students will be able to get a thorough look at the mosaic of history and current world events pressing on Finland from Finnish native and Professor of Education and Political Science Tiina Itkonen, Ph.D.
鈥淓xamining Geopolitics from the Lens of Finland鈥� will give historical and political context to current events in Finland, which is on the world stage at the moment as it shares an 810-mile border with Russia and its own safety is in question.
鈥淎lthough Finland is part of the European Union (EU), it has always remained independent, putting it in the unique position of being able to broker major peace deals,鈥� Itkonen said. 鈥淏ut once Putin attacked Ukraine, the masks have come down and the ugly face of war is visible.鈥�
A March poll indicated that up to 62% of Finnish citizens are now in favor of joining NATO, with only 16% opposing the move. This is a significant change from a 2017 poll that showed just 21% in favor.
Other global issues that will be part of Taste of OLLI will involve demystifying viruses鈥攊ncluding COVID-19鈥攖he rise of cryptocurrency and, beyond the globe, a look at astronomy, cosmology and space exploration in the news.
Subjects of national interest will also be included, such as 鈥淓lectoral College: Threat to Democracy?鈥� by popular OLLI lecturer Herb Gooch, who is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science at CLU. And subjects specific to state will be offered, such as 鈥淎sian American Communities in California鈥� by UCLA Asian American Studies Lecturer Lily Anne Tamai, Ph.D., who previously served as Curator of History at the Japanese American National Museum.
Lighter topics include 鈥淗amilton, the Musical,鈥� about the marriage of history and musicals as well as a closer look at American painter Thomas Cole, to name just a few courses.
This Taste of OLLI marks the first time OLLI classes have been in person since the pandemic began, although some classes will still be offered virtually, or will be half virtual and half in person, called 鈥渉yflex鈥�.
In person classes will be held at one of three locations: the John Spoor Broome Library on the 海角社区CI campus; Studio Channel Islands in downtown Camarillo; or the California Museum of Arts in Thousand Oaks (CMATO).
Registration begins May 31. To register, click on: .
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