Goodwin Offering Free Classes for Area Seniors

EAST HARTFORD – Goodwin College understands that the love of learning does not diminish through the years. As a result, the College is launching a brand new program aimed to engage senior citizens and retirees in an academic setting.

Goodwin will launch its new Adult Continuing Education (ACE) program in October, partnering with the East Hartford South End Senior Center and drawing on the expertise of College faculty. The program will be completely free of charge to attendees 55 and older, with classes offered both on the Goodwin campus and at the Senior Center.

Seniors can attend two courses on topics that include coping with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the history of Hartford, and learning sign language. The topics reflect topics that Goodwin offers many of its students, as well as subjects of which College instructors and passionate and knowledgeable.

“We want to give back to the community and provide seniors with the opportunity to engage in lifelong learning with the faculty at Goodwin College,” said Sociology Professor Gaylynn Moore-Collins, coordinator of the ACE program.

Goodwin will offer each individual two-hour course in two different locations, beginning on Friday, October 5, when the College will host the class on Alzheimer’s and dementia on campus at 1 Riverside Drive in East Hartford at 6 p.m. The same course will be offered on Saturday, October 6, at 9 a.m. at the East Hartford South End Senior Center, 70 Canterbury St.

Hartford history will be the subject of the second class, which will take place on Friday, October 12, at 6 p.m. at Goodwin and on Saturday, October 13, at 9 a.m. at the Senior Center.

The third class on sign language will be divided into two parts. Part 1 will be offered at the College on Friday, November 9, at 6 p.m. and at the Senior Center on Saturday, November 10, at 9 a.m. Part 2 will be held at the College on Friday, November 16, at 6 p.m. and at the Center on Saturday, November 17, at 9 a.m.

The College hopes to expand the program in the future to not only include more Goodwin personnel, but also partnerships with other area senior centers and libraries. Moore-Collins said the College hopes to help seniors share in a diversity of rich courses and a passion for learning.

Residents interested in the program should contact Moore- Collins at 860-727-6908. She can also be reached by email at gmoore-collins@goodwin.edu