Arlington Community Education Fall Special Events

Arlington Community Education (ACE) will host six evening speakers at Arlington High School this fall. All of the one night classes are $10; prices vary for series courses. Additional fall highlights include another installment of the popular “We Need To Talk…” series, moderated by Arlington’s own Steve Almond, and a look at Climate Change with scientist Benjamin Brown-Steiner. Register for any of these evening events at ArlingtonCommunityEd.org.

“Each term ACE assembles a diverse roster of distinguished speakers who share their thoughts and educate the local community about their area of expertise,” said ACE director Jen Rothenberg. “We care deeply about this aspect of our programming because it can be an opportunity to build an informed, connected public. We invite residents from Arlington and beyond to join us for these inspiring sessions.”

Arlington’s Great Residential Boom (1900s-1930s)
On Thursday, October 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., local historian Dee Morris will discuss the dramatic changes that occurred in Arlington in the early 1900s. Learn how the vision of a modern home in an attractive neighborhood brought new residents flocking to the bucolic town of Arlington, transforming commercial farms into subdivided housing lots.

Looking Back at the Vietnam War: Why Now?
Revisit the Vietnam War and challenge your basic assumptions about this complicated conflict with Paul Shannon, starting Wednesday, October 16. Using selections from the Ken Burns PBS series, “The Vietnam War,” along with guest speakers and historical documents, we will open up fresh perspectives to help us understand this pivotal event in our nations’ history as never before. This six-week course is held from 7 to 9 p.m. and costs $99.

Travel to the Real Cuba
Cuban/U.S. couple Laura Quincy Jones and Yasser Torriente-Rodriguez will teach you how to travel to Cuba legally given evolving requirements and share tips on how to have a low-stress, authentic and inspiring cultural experience, on Tuesday, October 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. They will share highlights from the islands’ trove of arts and culture and answer all of your questions about traveling to this intriguing locale.

Writing & Treasure Hunting for the Spiritually Inclined
Sandra Miller’s book, Trove: A Woman’s Search for Truth & Buried Treasure, a story of a woman whose life is upended when she begins an armchair treasure hunt, is being released today, September 19. Join us for a writing workshop with the treasure hunter/writer on Wednesday, October 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. Using techniques from her seven-year process of writing her memoir, Sandra will guide you in writing and mediation exercises meant to inspire your own path to discovery.

Eat Local Year-round
It’s possible to extend the season of local eating beyond the summer months. On Tuesday, November 19 at 7 p.m., learn options available in the Boston area including extending your garden harvest, where to buy local foods, and preserving the summer bounty through freezing, canning and drying. Presenter Babette Wills is the owner of Big Foot Food Forest LLC and starting a fruit and nut orchard in Western Massachusetts.

Verbin’ the Night Away
Focus on the English language with popular local author, translator and teacher Irena Stanic Rasin on Tuesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. The English verb system with its many tenses, aspects, moods, and voices can be pesky. Refresh your knowledge and bring the verve back to your verbs. If you’re feeling tense, moody, irregular, simple, perfect, or progressive, you will find your place in this dynamic and fun evening.

Curious Minds
This term’s Curious Minds series features two courses on climate change, presented by scientist Benjamin Brown-Steiner and co-sponsored by Mothers Out Front and Sustainable Arlington.

Climate Change 101: Science, Impact, and Solutions
At this four-class series beginning on Tuesday, October 1, become informed and armed with a deeper understanding of climate change and how you can get involved. Discover what scientists know and how they learn about the Earth’s climate, and explore strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the small scale (drive less) to the very large scale (geoengineering). This class will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. and the cost is $65.

From Natural Emissions to Fossil Fuels: A Sector-by-Sector Look at Climate Change
Beginning Wednesday, November 6, take a deep dive into the individual sectors that influence climate-relevant emissions, and acquire tools to quantify your personal footprint. Explore both natural and human-made sources of emissions and discover the impact your decisions have on the globe and your community. This four-week class will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. and costs $65. You can also take both classes with Benjamin Brown-Steiner for $115.

We Need To Talk…An Interview Series with Steve Almond
Growing Up with Porn
Join us for a frank and sensitive discussion with writers and thinkers who ponder the effects of a culture rife with images and messaging appropriated from pornography, and ramifications of adolescents’ easy access to porn online. Moderated by Arlington author Steve Almond and held at Kickstand Cafe on Thursday, November 14 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Visit ArlingtonCommunityEd.org or call 781-316-3568 to register. Arlington Community Education is a program of the Arlington Public Schools that is completely supported by tuition received from our courses. ACE provides affordable education and enrichment for residents of Arlington and surrounding communities.