Senior Learning Programs

Dr. Kenneth Schoon, Professor of Science Education, Indiana University NW

Tuesday, October 3 @ 1-2:30 pm
Location: Classroom Building 203

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept. 26
Description:
This class describes the ways in which the Roman Empire influenced both the early Christian Church and then 1,500 years later continues to influence the western world. When persecution of Roman Christians finally ended and Christians were allowed to have their own houses of worship, they adopted many Roman patterns and procedures.   Roman temples were of inappropriate designs for Christian worship, but other types of Roman governmental buildings worked just fine.  Roman art, architecture; in particular, its ways of creating interior space, the Roman calendar, even some Roman religious traditions found their way into Christian worship.   Of course, the Roman capital city became the capital city of the Church. After all, the Romans had 700 years to perfect their administrative systems and many of these policies were co-opted by the early church and our country as well.

Instructor Bio:
Kenneth J. Schoon is a Calumet Area native and professor emeritus at Indiana University Northwest.  He is the author of several books about the geology and history of the area.  He has also been also the coordinator of a Sunday morning lecture series at his church in nearby Munster, Indiana for the last ten years.

Dr. Jessica Clevering, Professor of Psychology, Trinity Christian College

Tuesdays, October 3 & October 10 @ 10-11:30 am
Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept 26

Description:
Genesis 2:18 tells us that when God made Adam he said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” The only suitable solution was another human being. Feelings of loneliness are internal prompts that let us know this biblical truth: human beings need each other. In May of 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness to be a public health crisis.  In Session I, we will learn about the nature of loneliness, its causes, and consequences.  In Session II, we will gather to discuss solutions to loneliness; specifically, the psychological research on pathways to belonging.

Instructor Bio:
Dr. Clevering graduated from Claremont Graduate University with a specialization in Social Psychology.  She has worked at Trinity for 10 years teaching a wide range of psychology courses from Christian Perspectives on Psychology to Statistical Reasoning.  Her current research focuses on predicting when people are most likely to challenge the status quo.  When not working she can be found crafting with her daughter.

Mary-Lynn Colosimo, Emeritus Professor of Psychology Trinity Christian College, Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher

Mondays, October 9 and 16 @ 2 pm – 3:30 pm
(Free Yoga class follows at 4 pm)

Location: Ozinga Chapel Lobby

Physical Level of Activity:  Varies depending on participant comfort level

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct 2

Description:
Mindful movement meditation is a practice that combines meditation and gentle physical movements. In this class, you will learn how to cultivate mindfulness and awareness by moving your body with intention and attention. The class will guide you through a series of exercises designed to increase your awareness of the mind-body connection. You will also learn how to use breath as a tool to calm your mind and deepen your practice. The class is suitable for all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced practitioners, and is a great way to integrate mindfulness into your daily life through movement and meditation. By the end of the class, you will have developed a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection and have tools to help you cultivate a more peaceful and present state of mind. Bring a towel or yoga mat, and a water bottle and stay for the yoga class afterwards.

Instructor Bio:
Mary Lynn Colosimo, Ph.D. is a Psychology Professor Emerita at Trinity Christian College.  She retired after almost 30 years as a professor in the departments of education and psychology and has been a previous instructor of SALT classes. She is now a member of the Trinity Board of Trustees and a member of the Board at Calvary Academy in South Holland, Illinois.   She has earned a B.A. and M.A. from Bradley University and a Ph.D. from The University of Chicago.   She is also a certified yoga and meditation teacher, teaching both at Trinity and in the Palos Heights community.   She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and is a member of Parkview Church, serving in the children’s ministry.

Larry McClellan, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Community Studies, GSU

Monday, October 16 & Tuesday, October 17 @ 11 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct 9

Description:
This class will explore the history of Dutch settlers involved in the Underground Railroad in Illinois who provided safe haven and support for Freedom Seekers on their journeys to freedom in Canada. Through lectures and discussions, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Freedom Seekers and the impact of the Underground Railroad and Dutch settlement in the fight for abolition and civil rights. Overall, this course offers a comprehensive and insightful look into an important period in American history in the years just before the Civil War.

Instructor Bio:
After graduate work at the University of Chicago, in 1970 Larry helped create Governors State University south of Chicago and served with the University for 30 years.  He is Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Community Studies.  In the mid-70s, he was mayor of University Park (then Park Forest South).  He spent four years as a senior consultant with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, and throughout his career, served as pastor with diverse congregations. For ten years, he wrote a monthly regional history column for The Southtown/Star newspapers.   Larry graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles, with a year at the University of Ghana in West Africa, and additional studies in Great Britain and Jerusalem.  He has served on the boards of the Illinois State Historical Society and the Will County Historical Society and has given lectures and programs across Illinois.  Currently he is President of the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society.

Cleo Lampos, Educator and Storyteller

Wednesdays, November 1 and 8 @ 1:00 -2:15 pm

Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct 27

Description:
The Dust Bowl was the name given to the drought-stricken southern plains region of the United States, which suffered severe dust storms during a drought in the 1930s. As high winds and choking dust swept the region from Texas to Nebraska, people and livestock were killed and crops failed across the entire region. The Dust Bowl intensified the crushing economic impacts of the Great Depression and drove many farming families on a desperate migration in search of work and better living conditions.

Session I centers on the photography and biography of Dorthea Lange, one of the first photo journalists of the Dust Bowl. Session II reviews the work of three Soil Whisperers: Hugh Bennett, Henry Finnel and George Washington Carver. With incredible effort from the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC), these scientists transformed the Dust Bowl and depleted soil into areas where crops again grew.  Meanwhile, a lone Christian educator, Leo Hart, finds a mission in teaching the influx of “Oakie” children in the California town where Steinbeck found his source for The Grapes of Wrath. Join us and meet godly individuals who lived out the mandate of Micah 6:8- Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with [their] God.

Instructor Bio:
Cleo Lampos is a retired public school teacher who has taught adult education classes at St. Xavier University, Trinity College, and Morton College. She facilitated presentations at Mid-Week Moments during 2021-22. An author of historical fiction, Lampos speaks at book clubs and libraries. Her articles appear in magazines. She is a quilter and cans the produce from her husband’s urban garden.

Dan Lynch, SALT Advisory Board Member and Instructor

Thursdays, September 21, September 28, October 5 @ 10 am-11 am

Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sep 15

Description:
Remaining as healthy and happy as possible and as medically informed and unafraid through the predictable health stages of later life, from vigorous old age to the final breath involves many disparate factors such as social isolation, communicating with your medical providers, nutrition and exercise, just to name a few. In Session I, we will address the phases of aging in present day America and the medical system. In Session II, we will review the phase of ‘slowing down’ and measures available to counter the occurrence of aching joints, cloudy eyes, and a weakening immune system. In Session III, we will examine adapting to and handling old age, such as a disability, and how we can continue to shape a good life despite a physical impairment. A review of relevant literature will be introduced in discussions throughout the class.

Instructor Bio:
Dan left the workforce 20 years ago to ride a bicycle across the United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Since crossing that off his bucket list, he has spent his time volunteering for seniors to learn and understand more about the “journey of growing older.” Some of his philanthropic activities include: volunteering as a program assistant at Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly (Flowers Before Bread), visiting 30 socially isolated seniors each month; and serving as a hospice volunteer in several local hospitals. Dan earned a Certificate in Gerontology from Rush University Medical School. He has presented this topic at Renaissance Academy and Saint Xavier University every couple of years, as a public service, and usually over eight sessions. Currently, Dan serves as a SALT Advisory Board Member.

Dr. Bob Rice, Emeritus Professor of History, Trinity Christian College

Wednesdays, October 4, October 11, October 18 @ 10 am – 11:30 am

Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept 27

Description:
The 20th and 21st centuries have brought about continued development of democracy across the world. However, this era has also revealed the emergence and surprising popularity of dictatorship and authoritarian political practice. Why has democracy continued to develop while dictatorship has found significant support in different countries of the world? How is it possible that democracy and authoritarianism can coexist in some countries in Europe, the Americas, and across the world? How shall we respond to these developments? These are some of the questions we will explore in this class.

Instructor Bio:
Bob has taught European history and occasionally American studies at Trinity Christian College for over 40 years. When he retired in 2013, he continued to teach occasionally in the undergraduate program as well as in the SALT program, which connects Trinity to the larger community. He has learned so much from Trinity’s vision of Christian liberal arts education and continues to benefit from the SALT program, which opens us to mutual learning and friendships. Currently, Bob serves as a SALT Advisory Board Member.

Pastor Gerrit Veenstra, Retired, Bethel Church, Lansing, IL

Thursdays, October 12, 19, and 26 @ 10 – 11:15 am

Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  Oct 5

Description:
Beginning with Creation and continuing through Revelation, we will observe the biblical picture of the ongoing conflict between good and evil as shown in the contrast between the development of the “city of man” and the initial “garden of God”. In desiring to be independent and self-reliant, humans have rejected the very reason for their existence and have made their alternative to God’s plan their goal. God has worked throughout history to restore that relationship and bring about the ultimate Shalom. In Session I, we will explore the garden lost and opposed concept, examining the uniqueness of creation, rejection of the creator, and the “alternative of the city”. In Session II, participants will contrast the gardens of Gethsemane and the Garden of Resurrection. In Session III, we will discuss the vision of a new city and restoration of the garden

Instructor Bio:
Gerrit Veenstra is a retired Christian Reformed pastor. He served in Michigan and Ohio and concluded his ministry at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois as Minister of Pastoral Care. In addition to teaching a SALT class in 2018, he has served as an adjunct professor at Trinity Christian College. He developed “The Garden Theme in Scripture” while at Bethel and has taught it in adult Bible studies at Bethel, Faith Church in Dyer, Indiana, and at Hope Christian Reformed Church in Oak Forest.

Jim Vanden Bosch, Executive Director of Terra Nova Films, Inc.

Tuesdays, October 24, 31, and November 7 @ 10 am – 11:30 am

Location: Huizenga Memorial Library, Fusion 59 Room

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  Oct 17

Description:
From love and affection, to dealing with dementia, many feature films are now taking a look at the lives of older adults. Film producers and studios finally seem to be aware of the large number of older adult viewers occasioned by the baby boomer demographics. But do these new films do any better job than previous ones in telling the stories of elderhood in all of its many shades and complexities? Do these films have an impact on how we as individuals and as a society see and understand aging and elderhood? Or are they simply a reflection of the culture within which they exist?  Using clips from several recent films, we will explore and discuss these, and similar questions related to seeing 21st century attitudes about aging through the lens of mainstream movies.

Instructor Bio:
Jim Vanden Bosch is a filmmaker and the founder and Executive Director of Terra Nova Films, a not-for-profit company specializing in producing and distributing films and videos on a wide variety of aging related issues.  Throughout the years he has produced over 40 videos, including a recent series on elder abuse and a series on geriatric healthcare for the American Journal of Nursing. Vanden Bosch is an associate editor in the arts and humanities section of The Gerontologist, an academic journal of the Gerontological Society of America.  In this position he writes reviews of mainstream feature films that deal with aging themes. He also presents frequently at conferences and workshops on aging, using a multimedia approach that incorporates relevant video stories into a thematic PowerPoint.  He holds an MA degree in Film and Television from the University of Iowa