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Lifelong Learning Institute – Michael Yonchak – You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me: A Motown Retrospective

Motown played an integral role in American music during the late 1950s into the 1960s. Join Michael Yonchak as he discusses the unique “one stop shop” business model of this independently owned family business. Learn about one of the powerhouse studio bands of the time. Experience legendary Motown artists in action through historical footage and listen to an overview of this golden era of American music with a specially curated playlist. Come enjoy the unforgettable sounds of Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and more!

Lifelong Learning Institute – Shiloh Todorov – Building Inclusive Communities and Empowering Families to Create a Successful Future

Bessie Jackson was once a home health aide making around $26,000 a year. After graduating from Families Flourish, a unique non-profit founded in Central Ohio in 2016, Bessie was able to secure a job making $75,000 a year, thereby tripling her income thanks to the program. Families Flourish is an initiative that serves 17 communities in Central Ohio and provides support and opportunities to low-wage families. This program empowers families to address their total needs over a 3-year period, reversing historic barriers by fostering greater inclusivity, equality, opportunity and access to housing, education, and family wellness. Families enrolled in the program receive monthly skill-building programming and coaching, including career training, educational opportunities, financial guidance, and personal wellness training. Families Flourish helps communities create and embrace housing that is accessible to all. In this class, Todorov will discuss this unique non-profit and how it works to help people like Bessie achieve economic stability...

Lifelong Learning Institute – William Faust – Antique Cornets: The Electric Guitar of the Victorian Age

William Faust will discuss the history of the cornet and its place in musical and cultural history. This brass instrument was so pervasive between about 1850-1900 that it held a similar status to today's electric guitar in rock and popular music. Mr. Faust will share the brief history of the instrument and several examples of antique cornets from his personal collection of over 100 examples dating as far back as the 1830s, as well as some relevant ephemera.

William Faust is Managing Partner of Ologie - a nationally known marketing agency focused on helping colleges and universities recruit students, raise money, and build their brands. He has been collecting and playing antique cornets for over 30 years and has a collection of over 100 instruments dating back to the 1830s. He lives in Columbus and Baltimore with his wife Wendy and has 3 grown children and one grandchild. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from The Ohio State University.

Lifelong Learning Institute – Paul Beck – The 2024 Election: Current and Prospective

With control of the presidency and Congress at stake in a deeply polarized electorate, and the integrity of the electoral process itself under challenge, 2024 is shaping up as one of the most important elections in American history. By the end of April, the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees should have been decided, pending ratification by their summer national conventions. Many of the parties’ candidates for all 435 House seats and the one-third of Senate seats on the ballot in 2024 also will have been chosen. The class will review the outcomes of these nomination contests and how the different rules by party and by state have governed them. Attention then will turn to the prospective general elections for both the presidency and the Congress...

Lifelong Learning Institute – Michael Yonchak – You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me: A Motown Retrospective

Motown played an integral role in American music during the late 1950s into the 1960s. Join Michael Yonchak as he discusses the unique “one stop shop” business model of this independently owned family business. Learn about one of the powerhouse studio bands of the time. Experience legendary Motown artists in action through historical footage and listen to an overview of this golden era of American music with a specially curated playlist. Come enjoy the unforgettable sounds of Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and more!

Dr. Michael Yonchak is an Associate Professor of Music at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, where he directs the wind ensemble and oversees the newly revamped commercial music area. Dr. Yonchak earned the Bachelor of Music in Education (percussion emphasis) and Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting degrees from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, and later completed the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Wind Conducting from the University of Kentucky. His dissertation monograph focused on the wind ensemble compositions of American composer Frank Zappa, which has subsequently led to the publication of journal articles and presentations on this composer, ongoing research into American popular music and culture, and development of academic courses related to the history of rock and roll and current protest music. Prior to his time in Kentucky, Dr. Yonchak taught for five and a half years in the public schools of northeast Ohio. In addition to maintaining an active performance schedule in the greater Columbus area, he is a clinician on innovative educational pedagogy that integrates popular music styles into various teaching disciplines, presenting sessions for the Ohio Music Education Association’s State Conference and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Summer Teacher Institute.

$10

(LLI Week 1) Sara Abou Rashed – Future Ancestors: Writing Memories & Memoirs

We know much about ourselves and the world we’ve inherited, so what inheritance do we plan to leave? In this class, we’ll reflect on being “future ancestors” to generations ahead and travel back in memory to our own beloved ancestors after whom we take in looks, memories, characteristics, likes, dislikes and more. From the artist of the one-woman show A Map of Myself, this session will include writing exercises, a discussion on the value of preserving memories, and creative approaches to writing a memoir.

$15

(LLI Week 2) Gail Zugger – The Clarinet’s Development

In What to Listen For in Music, Aaron Copland states that an instrument finds its way into music by being invented, perfected and mastered. We’ll investigate the clarinet’s path from discovery in 1690 to today and how it works. What are the clarinet’s timbre qualities and how do composers utilize its unique voice in their works? Who are some influential composers that have written great music for the clarinetist? The exploration will include a performance of Thomas Zugger’s “Alaskan Images for Solo Clarinet” composed in 2006 following Gail and Thomas’s honeymoon trip to Alaska. It showcases 4 stops along our journey in Anchorage and Sewell. The performance will include pictures from our trip to reflect the music played.

$15

(LLI Week 3) Sandra K-Horn – Undercover: Becoming Street Smart in Central Ohio

Sandra K-Horn’s book, Undercover: Becoming Street Smart in Central Ohio, is the chilling biography of two undercover officers' journeys from rookie cop to undercover officer. Mike Powell and Shawn Bain started their careers in the lower echelon of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. They worked their way from beat cop to undercover drug enforcement. Powell commanded a nine-county bust operation that included a motorcycle gang and a web of traffickers and led to breaking up a conspiracy of Cuban Nationals. He assisted in bringing to justice individuals contributing to the operation of the Mexican Cartel that worked a network between New York, Columbus, Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles.

K-Horn will discuss Undercover and the five years during which she interviewed Powell and Bain to amass information for her book. She will be joined by Sargent Mike Powell (ret), who will answer questions about his time in the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and his work with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

$15

(LLI Week 4) Brent Davis & Rich Baker – On & On: The History of Bluegrass Music in Columbus

For decades, Central Ohio was a popular destination for Appalachian residents searching for good paying jobs. Arriving from Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Virginias, they brought not only their families but also their love of mountain string music. After working all week in the factories on Columbus's southside, they would relax with food, drink, camaraderie, and the music they loved from back in the hills of home. Join Brent Davis and Rich Baker as they discuss how this traditional American music helped shape the culture of Columbus.

(LLI Week 5) Todd Kleismit – Celebrating Ohio at the Nation’s 250th

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Along with the National Semiquincentennial Commission established by Congress, each state has been charged with forming a commission to design a celebration that reflects its unique character and contributions to the nation over the last 250+ years. The America 250-Ohio Commission is leading Ohio's efforts to commemorate this significant milestone and is rolling out numerous programs, activities, and events now through 2026. Programs include the 4th Grade History Pass, Trails & Tales statewide driving tours, America 250-Ohio Communities, Ohio Goes to the Movies, monthly celebration themes for 2026, and many more! Come learn how you, your community, employer, neighborhood, and family can get involved.

$15

(LLI Week 6) Sheri Maria Morgan – Raqs Al Assaya: Folkloric Dance of Upper Egypt

Raqs al Assaya (“dance of the cane/stick” in Arabic), is an Egyptian folkloric dance that originated from the popular stick game, which is still played in some parts of Egypt, such as the Delta region, Western cities, and Upper Egypt, under the name of “Tahtib” folk game. Maria will walk us through the history of the dance, from ancient Egypt through its gain in popularity in Egypt and then how the dance won international renown. She will demonstrate some dance moves, present video examples the dance, and explain its unique movements, recognizable music, distinct instrumentation, and specific costuming.

(LLI Week 7) Reverend Beth Turner – Reconnect for Better Days

Have you ever felt so mad you couldn’t think straight? Or found yourself endlessly scrolling on your phone after an overwhelming day at work? Does it feel like you’re on a rinse and repeat cycle with pressure building up around you? When we experience ongoing stress, our bodies react in ways that make it feel hard to get off this merry-go-round. Join Reverend Beth Turner for a 90-minute Reconnect for Better Days presentation to learn why this happens to us and, most importantly, what we can do about it. We’ll pull back the curtain on these difficult experiences and explain the science behind what goes on in our brains and bodies when we are stressed. When we understand what’s happening to us, we can learn to spot problems as they arise and use practical tools in the moment that help us feel better and experience better days.

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