We are delighted to announce that Pierluigi Serraino, PhD is this year’s recipient of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award. Please join us in honoring this extraordinary educator, architect and scholar on Wednesday, September 30, from 12:10–12:40 PM, at The Freight (2020 Addison St, Berkeley.)
[Free and open to all • Learn more]
Our 2026-27 academic year is off and running! Let's raise a glass in celebration at a Happy Hour mixer organized by OLLI's Member Engagement Committee on Wed., September 30, 3:30–5:30 PM, at Zino (2086 Allston Way, Berkeley) in the Hotel Shattuck. Come solo or bring a friend. New members and longtime members who've never attended a Happy Hour are encouraged to attend. The welcome will be warm! This is a no-host (but yes-fun) gathering. No need to RSVP. Hope to see you there!
Digital technologies are rapidly transforming how people live their lives, including their access to information. Social media and smartphones are affecting both the creation and consumption of news — trapping consumers in information "silos" that obscure alternate points of view — while deep fakes are threatening the quality of information found online. All of this raises significant risks for the functioning of our democracy. Dr. Alexa Koenig will discuss this new information environment, some of the challenges it poses for democracy — including our sense of cognitive security — and opportunities for uncovering the truth in this digital age.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Staying up to date on vaccines is especially important for older adults. Yet today, recommendations about which vaccines to get — and when — have been blunted and blurred. In this month's Vital Aging gathering, Dr. Deborah Gold will discuss the key vaccines for older adults, followed by ample time for Q&A.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
What makes AI useful — or not — for older adults? And what can we learn from their experiences to build technology that better supports all of us as we age? Join us for a presentation by Leyi (Joy) Zhou, a Berkeley PhD candidate in Social Welfare, who will share findings from her community-engaged research on what drives older adults' use of artificial intelligence.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Join us for a guided tour of Julia Morgan’s stunning Berkeley City Club. Learn about this trailblazing architect, the first woman certified by the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, as we explore the vaulted halls, arcades, courtyards and plunge pool of this 1930 architectural gem — affectionately known as the “Little Castle.”
[For members only • Learn more and register]
What if there is election meddling in November 2026 and large civil protests erupt? Can U.S. troops be used to intervene with force — or even shoot civilian demonstrators? Given the militarization of ICE agents and recent shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, Texas, and elsewhere, the threat of violence looms large today. Retired Rear Admiral Michael Baker will examine the legal boundaries governing the military’s role at home.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
One in four Alameda County residents is experiencing — or at risk of — hunger. It’s a sobering reality, but one we can help address together. Please join fellow OLLI members on Friday, October 30, from 12:30–3 PM, as we roll up our sleeves as a group to sort and pack fresh produce at the Alameda County Community Food Bank’s (ACCFB) Oakland warehouse — no heavy lifting or special skills required. It’s a simple, hands-on way to support neighbors in need and show up for our community.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Join us for a special town hall the day after the 2026 elections, when we’ll bring together scholars, specialists, and practitioners to unpack what happened and what it might mean on the road to 2028.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Join us for “A Listening Foray” — an immersive outdoor experience where we'll hear the natural world amplified through professional field-recording microphones and wireless in-ear monitors. Guided by Lish Grooves, a Bay Area musician, field recording artist, and environmental sound practitioner, we'll listen to the soundscape in real time, as well as explore distinct elements through facilitated listening — such as birdsong slowed down to reveal more detail.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Just days after the midterm elections, join Amelia Barili for an experiential hour focused on calming an overstressed nervous system. Drawing on ancient wisdom and neuroscience, we’ll practice simple embodied tools to reset stress, restore clarity, and rebuild resilience — one person, one breath, one relationship at a time. Because democracy has a nervous system, too — one shaped by how we show up for each other. Leave steadier, calmer, and ready for the long run.
[For members only • Learn more and register]