Join us on Friday, Oct. 7, 10:30-11:30 AM (PT) for a talk by Berkeley professor Catherine Ceniza Choy who will discuss her new book, Asian American Histories of the United States, published by Beacon Press in their ReVisioning History series. Choy will explore the nearly 200-year history of Asian migration, labor, and community formation in the US. Despite significant Asian American breakthroughs in American politics, arts, and popular culture in the 21st century, a profound lack of understanding of Asian American history permeates American culture. This online event is free and open to all. 

RSVP to attend

Midterm elections usually don’t get the same attention as the four-year counterparts, but current midterms are understood to be particularly important. OLLI members are invited to join us, Berkeley professor and facilitator Darren Zook, and Cal undergraduates on Friday, October 7, 10:30-noon, to discuss the issues, candidates, and potential outcomes of the midterm elections in the context of an intergenerational dialogue. This gathering is another in our Words Over Time series which brings together voices and perspectives across the age spectrum to engage with one another in profound and meaningful ways. This online event is for OLLI @Berkeley members only. The link to RSVP will be shared in member communications and posted in Member Dashboards.  

There are seven statewide propositions on California's November ballot. With climate change, abortion rights, education and two competing measures on sports betting in the mix, there is a lot to know before you cast your vote. Join us on Thursday, Oct. 13, 1–2 PM (PT) for a presentation by representatives of the non-partisan League of Women Voters (Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville) who will lay out the pros and cons of the state propositions, as well as the one Alameda County-wide measure. This online event is for OLLI @Berkeley members only. The link to RSVP will be shared in member communications and posted in Member Dashboards.  

Although national and international disease surveillance and containment systems are in place, they failed to prevent the world-wide spread of COVID-19. Unless they are improved, well-funded, and well-maintained, they will fail again. Join us on Friday, Oct. 14, 10:30–11:30 AM (PT) for a fascinating presentation by medical journalist and former NPR host Robert Enteen who will identify factors predictive of future pandemics and outline ways to improve national and global defenses. This online event is free and open to all. 

RSVP to attend

Join the OLLI at UC Berkeley for a blockbuster term of new courses, speaker events, intergenerational dialogues, Town Halls, and more. Grab your curiosity and dive deep into politics, history, science, literature, writing, film, music, theater — an online and in-person lineup of relevant and insightful courses tailor-made for learners with decades of lived experiences. You must be an OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn more about membership, including our OLLI for All fee assistance program.

Please join us on Monday, Oct. 17, from 2–3 PM (PT) for an illuminating discussion with Dr. Daniel Kammen who will walk us through the current state of climate science and the field of 'solutions science' with an eye on: what President Biden can and can't do given the recent SCOTUS rulings and the upcoming mid-term election; and how social, racial, and gender justice have reshaped the climate and political landscape. Kammen is the Senior Advisor for Energy Innovation at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). He is also the James and Katherine Lau Distinguished Professor of Sustainability at Berkeley. He served as Science Envoy in the Biden Administration. His laboratory works on decarbonization. This online event is free and open to all. 

RSVP to attend

Conventional wisdom says that the midterms are a referendum on the sitting president and his party. Will that be the case this time? Is it possible that the coming election will be more of a reckoning instead? Join us for a Town Hall discussion on Elections 2022 facilitated by Berkeley professor Darren Zook on Friday, October 21, 10:30-11:30 AM (PT). Conventional wisdom says that the midterms are a referendum on the sitting president and his party. Will that be the case this time? Is it possible that the coming election will be more of a reckoning instead? Join us for a Town Hall discussion on Elections 2022 facilitated by UC Berkeley professor Darren Zook on Friday, October 21, 10:30-11:30 AM (PT). Dr. Zook will be joined by Arlie R. Hochschild, professor emerita of Sociology at UC Berkeley, and David Hollinger, Preston Hotchkis professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, who will provide invaluable perspective on who's voting, what's on the ballot, and what may happen next. This online event is free and open to all. 

RSVP to attend

When a country is sick, the population shows the symptoms. Join us on Wednesday, October 26, 10:30-11:30 AM as author Isidra Mencos examines the intersection between politics and private lives at a pivotal time in the history of Spain. Mencos grew up under the Franco dictatorship. She was 17 when Franco died in 1975. The transition to democracy took some years, but the cultural and sexual revolution happened fast. It was a time of hope, but also of political and social conflict. With democracy under threat around the world, Mencos reflects on the impact that authoritarianism has in every aspect of a person’s life, and the decades-long shadow it casts. Her debut memoir Promenade of Desire — A Barcelona Memoir comes out in October 2022. (She Writes Press). This talk is free and open to all. It will be held in person at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Lafayette, CA. Proof of vaccination and photo ID required. Masks strongly encouraged. 

RSVP to attend

Led by Sara Orem, Ph.D., the Vital Aging Group and Salon are monthly gatherings that bring members together in community to discuss and reflect on issues of particular significance to older adults. Each month features a different topic. November's theme is "Spirituality" with guest speaker Lauren Cetlin, a chaplain and former OLLI member. The Group will meet online on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 3:30–4:30 PM (PT) and the in-person Salon on Tuesday, Nov. 8, also 3:30-4:30 PM (PT), at the OLLI office in Berkeley. These events are for OLLI @Berkeley members only. The links to RSVP are posted in Member Dashboards and shared in member emails.

The ballots have been counted, the decisions rendered. Join us for an in-person Town Hall on Wednesday, November 16, 10:30-noon (PT), recapping the results of the November elections and what we can glean from them as we head into the heated races and issues ahead. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Berkeley professor Darren Zook. This event is for OLLI @Berkeley members + their guests. It will be held in person at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Lafayette, CA. Proof of vaccination and photo ID required. Masks strongly encouraged. 

RSVP to attend