Legacy Letters
This is both a writing class and a memoir class with a specific focus — to remember the people who are and have been important to you, and the memories you have of those people and yourself that you want to share. The finished product, a letter or collection of writings, photographs and artwork, should be one you want to share with loved ones toward the end of your life, or around any milestone that is important to you.
A legacy letter (also called an Ethical Will) began as a Jewish practice over 3000 years ago. The initial practice was an oral tradition passing along information about lineage and family history. More recently Stanford geriatrician and palliative care doctor VJ Periyakoil, MD started a written tradition with her patients and their family members to express forgiveness, thanks, and love.
Faculty Bio
In addition to having published three non-fiction books, Sara Orem has published articles in the Minneapolis StarTribune, The St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Paul Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle and The Greater Good Magazine (the publication of the Greater Good Science Center at UCBerkeley). She has created her own Legacy Letter for her three daughters and her beloved grandson.
This is an In-Person Workshop
- Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 300, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
- Limited to 24 members
- Please note: No writing experience or expertise is required — only enthusiasm for your own legacy. You will write in the class and share your writing only if you wish. The instructor will provide weekly feedback on work you create (in the class) if desired.
- Fee assistance is available if cost is a barrier. Learn more.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Thursday, Sept. 21 and ends on Thursday, Oct. 26
- Classes meet for six weeks, two hours per session (10–noon)
- All course materials will be available to view and enjoy through Dec. 31
Member Praise for Sara Orem and "Legacy Letters"
"Sara is a marvelous instructor! So happy I took this class!"
"Life is too short not to address the need for reflection on our relationships, both with the past, and with whom we leave behind. Sara gave me the tools to capture the important things in my life and to express them to the important people in my life. A treasured gift indeed. Thank you, Sara!"
"My most important takeaway is the peace I shall confer on myself by writing this letter, combined with telling stories and capturing moments and historical recollections and knowing that my family will read these carefully and pass it on to their next generations. Stated differently, I found this course to bring many emotions to the surface in my 83-year old body. Tears flowed liberally. Life is so short."