National Louis University’s Skokie Campus Offers Intellectual Pursuits for Retirees

Retirement can be a challenging and overwhelming experience as retirees look for new activities to fill their time outside of their careers, and what to do in retirement. With this in mind, National Louis University’s Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) offers a year-round robust learning community with diverse educational experiences. The LLI, offered at NLU’s Skokie campus, gives retirees intellectual pursuits and social interaction. New to the LLI, weekly Intersession offerings, facilitated by professionals Adam Rose and Carli Barnes, will be held from Wednesday, June 14 to June 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.

NLU's LLI program creates accessible and innovative learning environments with thought-provoking classes led by LLI members/coordinators. The LLI members can explore subjects of Philosophy, Religion, History and Economics. They can enjoy experiential pursuits including writing workshops, photography, musical theater, documentary and film classes. They can follow current events and discuss articles in The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal. Members also can hear local guest speakers during the two-hour sessions.

Specifically, the Intersession offerings give LLI participants an opportunity to examine award-winning books in the context of a larger discussion of current society. Following is an overview of the June Intersession offerings.

Adam Rose, teacher and scholar with more than 20 years experience leading effective, award-winning Great Books discussion courses, will facilitate discussions focused on "Could It Happen Here? Now? Dystopian Fiction For Our Time." This course will be devoted to a careful, mature consideration of the classic, It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. Participants will seek both to understand the text as a literary work originating in its own time and place, and to glean possible insights into our own time and place. In a time when many believe that contemporary events are unfolding in ways that bode ill for the future, this dystopian classic is the focus of renewed interest as possible guides to “what might happen.”

Carli Barnes, a lifelong learner who leads Great Books discussions in the Chicago area, will facilitate a discussion about “Rags To Riches,” American Style: Classics from Horatio Alger and Andrew Carnegie. Although the “rags to riches” motif is ancient and widespread, the American version has attained a unique place in world culture. This course examines two of the most well-known — but often little-understood — American embodiments of the “rags to riches” motif: the fictional characters of Horatio Alger, Jr. on the one hand, and the decidedly non-fictional Andrew Carnegie on the other. Readings include Alger’s all-time best-selling novel Ragged Dick; or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks and Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth” essays.

Click here to register for the Intersession offerings.

Historically, LLI members volunteered to coordinate classes while other members of the class would volunteer to lead the discussions. While that is still an option, LLI also has created a new study group option where members are not expected to facilitate a discussion. Click here to view a catalog of current discussions.

About National Louis University
Founded in 1886, National Louis is a nonprofit, non-denominational University offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in fields of education, management, human services, counseling, public policy, and others concerned with human and community development. From its inception, National Louis has provided educational access to adult, immigrant and minority populations – a mission it sustains today. National Louis is well-known for an exceptional history in teacher preparation, and continues to be a leader in educating future teachers and community leaders to succeed in urban environments. For more information, visit www.nl.edu.

Media Contact:
Kellie Kennedy, kelliek@theharbingergroup.com
312-933-4903