Stop by our table at the always-fun — and always-packed — Solano Stroll on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 10 AM–5 PM. We'll be in front of 1746 Solano Ave., so come say hi! We'll have fall brochures, good cheer, great info, hopefully-not-melting candy, and some snazzy pens at the ready.
Join us for dozens of courses that dive deep into history, politics, music, literature, film, law, and more. All taught by Berkeley faculty and other top scholars. Not an OLLI member? Let’s fix that! Learn about the many benefits of membership — access to 100+ courses per year, speaker events, field trips, town halls, socials, and more — plus a special offer for new members and our fee assistance program.
Fire has shaped the East Bay's hills for thousands of years. Decades of suppression, flammable non-native trees, and a warming, drying climate have combined to raise wildfire risk in this landscape where wildland and neighborhoods meet. Join Berkeley biologist Alan Shabel for a look at fire's historical and ongoing role in local ecosystems.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Join us for a look at one of today’s most pressing economic challenges: rising costs. Professor Martha Olney offers an accessible overview of what drives inflation, how its effects vary across households and sectors, and why effective remedies are often limited. She’ll also explore the difficult policy tradeoffs facing the Federal Reserve as it works to balance inflation and unemployment — shedding light on the choices that shape the broader economy and our everyday lives.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Join us for a guided tour of San Francisco's Salesforce Transit Center and its stunning 5.4-acre rooftop park with botanical gardens galore — hundreds of trees and thousands of plants arranged into themed ecosystems from Mediterranean Europe to Western Australia. Also on the itinerary? A redwood grove, a gondola, a soaring Grand Hall, and a 1,200-foot "Bus Fountain," one of the longest water features in the world.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
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]
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]
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]