Join us as we explore the rich, enduring spirit of Oakland’s Chinatown on a guided 2.5-hour walking tour. For 175 years, Chinatown has been a hub for immigrants and communities across the Asian diaspora, shaped by stories of perseverance and the search for belonging that began during California’s Gold Rush. We’ll visit sites central to the neighborhood’s often untold history, meet local leaders, and savor the flavors that make Chinatown so beloved.
[Members only • Learn more and register]
Step aboard the USS Potomac — once the floating White House of Franklin D. Roosevelt — on a fascinating guided dockside tour that brings its remarkable story to life. Originally built in 1934 as the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Electra and transformed just two years later into a presidential yacht, the Potomac served FDR until his death in April 1945. Discover how this historic vessel journeyed through decades of change before finding its home in Jack London Square.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Join us for summer courses — online and in person — that dive deep into the long, fraught history of military interventions in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, lessons from the WWII Japanese American internment, LGBTQ+ placemaking in the Bay Area, the aging brain, the cinema of Paul Thomas Anderson, California foodways, sleep and more. Plus sign up for a trio of Summer Shorts — one-time special events open to OLLI @Berkeley members and the public.
Join us for a guided tour of the places where the pivotal events of the 1960s unfolded. The Free Speech Movement was one of that decade's first major protests — and a spark for student activism across the U.S. and around the world. What led to it, and why here? Led by guide Rodney Paul, we'll explore key locations on and near Telegraph Ave, and the Berkeley institutions that played quiet but important roles in shaping this remarkable legacy.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
With the wealth gap widening globally and the ultra-wealthy seeking political allies to dismantle regulatory safeguards, Alan Karras, Lenny Goldberg and Steven K. Vogel explore the causes of rising inequality, evaluate remedies such as wealth taxation, healthcare reform, and antitrust regulation, and consider what civic education might help reverse these trends.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
Might Mah Jongg be your next learning adventure? Come and find out! Veteran OLLI instructor Linda Carucci has played American Mah Jongg for ten years, teaching countless beginners the game's strategies and delights — and forging lasting friendships along the way. She joins Sara Orem in person for the final Vital Aging gathering of the academic year to offer an engaging introduction to the National Mah Jongg League's version of this ancient Chinese game of skill, luck and strategy.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
In the Civil Rights Movement, music was vital to fueling the activism and lifting the spirits of African-Americans fighting for racial justice and social change. In this class, rock and soul music author and historian Richie Unterberger highlights the role music played in reflecting and inspiring the movement. Filmed and recorded performances by the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, and Marvin Gaye will be featured in this journey through Civil Rights soul (and some jazz and gospel) of the 1960s and 1970s.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
Award-winning reporter and author John Markoff explores how libertarianism took root in Silicon Valley — despite deep ties to U.S. government funding. In conversation with Peter Richardson, he traces key moments from Apple’s 1984 ad to today’s Big Tech battles over regulation, alongside shifting public perceptions of the industry.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
Let's roll up our sleeves to support the incredible restoration work of Save The Bay. Together, we'll work at the MLK Regional Shoreline Nursery — watering, weeding and tending seedlings that will soon revitalize our local shoreline. We may do a little shoreline tidying up, too. No experience necessary! Just the desire to have fun and make a difference.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Step aboard the USS Potomac — once the floating White House of Franklin D. Roosevelt — on a fascinating guided dockside tour that brings its remarkable story to life. Originally built in 1934 as the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Electra and transformed just two years later into a presidential yacht, the Potomac served FDR until his death in April 1945. Discover how this historic vessel journeyed through decades of change before finding its home in Jack London Square.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Join us on July 14 for a guided tour of the San Francisco Embarcadero's outdoor gallery of giant, joyful public artworks, led by OLLI member and SFMOMA docent Laurie Sanchez. Along the way, you'll discover the stories behind these shimmering, awe-inspiring forms — works that celebrate movement, resilience and imagination.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Join us as we explore the rich, enduring spirit of Oakland’s Chinatown on a guided 2.5-hour walking tour. For 175 years, Chinatown has been a hub for immigrants and communities across the Asian diaspora, shaped by stories of perseverance and the search for belonging that began during California’s Gold Rush. We’ll visit sites central to the neighborhood’s often untold history, meet local leaders, and savor the flavors that make Chinatown so beloved.
[Members only • Learn more and register]