Is technology a friend or a foe? Technology is the application of knowledge for practical human purposes. From the sharp stone that first created an arrow, to the genetic modifications that create self-fertilizing crops, technology has enriched and/or destroyed human life. How can we learn to use technology as a tool, not a tyrant? How can we practice high-tech; high-touch? How can we stay human in the world of AI? Is AI so much smarter than humans? Together, we will dissect and discover the heart of technology.

Facilitator: Carl Hays

"Playboy magazine" is a genuine Chicago story. Playboy originated, grew, evolved and devolved in Chicago. Hear from a person who went to the Playboy mansion, had a Playboy bunny decal on his car, and saw the skyscraper Playboy sign often. He also saw in person comedians Lenny Bruce and Sammy Davis Jr., who were fostered by Playboy.

Co-facilitator: Evelyn Porter

This course will be by a Zoom presentation from a member of the speaking team of Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Institute. The Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Institute™ is committed to sharing the real-life accounts of people who experienced 9/11 first-hand. From 9/11 survivors to first responders, family members of the fallen and witnesses, their stories retell history in relevant, emotive ways that will remain ingrained in the memories of future generations for decades to come. To honor the lives lost on 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Institute™ provides Americans the opportunity to engage with witnesses to our nation’s history to learn about the day through their personal stories.

Guest Presenter: Bernie Ryan, Tunnel to Towers Institute

Co-organizer: Beth Johnson

Experience the intersection of architecture and nature at the Edith Farnsworth House! Situated on the banks of the Fox River, Mies van der Rohe’s Edith Farnsworth House is a renowned example of modern architecture and design. Built in 1945 as a weekend retreat for Dr. Edith Farnsworth, the House and grounds offer guests an opportunity to experience history, architecture, and art in a serene setting.

Transportation to the site is on your own. Outing will take place rain or shine. Participants will walk a half mile woodland path along the Fox River (golf cart shuttle available. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for weather. Activity Level - On Your Feet

Co-facilitator: Karen Christensen

Now holding a sacred place in American consciousness, the Viet Nam Memorial was harshly criticized when its design was first proposed by a very young Maya Lin. Reviled as "a scar of shame," the memorial was seen by its critics as too conventional. How could those prominent writers, including Tom Wolfe and Pat Buchanan, have so deeply misunderstood the purpose and power of the design of this great and profound work of art? Participants will share personal experience of the Wall, evaluate its current place in our cultural heritage, examine the history of its making and of its designer and examine the underlying principles of how public art, and the Memorial itself, "speaks" to us.

Facilitator: Carl Hays

Did lauded Kennedy wealth, glamour and power hide a veneer of Kennedy men physically and psychologically abusing women of all ages and leave a trail of ruin? From sexual assault to suicide, the Kennedy's history of violence and exploitation laid bare violence, sexism and rampant depravity. Some of the victems were Jacqueline Onassis, Marilyn Monroe and Mary Jo Kopechne.

Optional book: Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan 

Co-Facilitator: Ann Butcher

This is a multigenerational experience! Participants may bring up to three guests (1st grade through 49 years) to a multigenerational experience! Course members will share the history of LEGO, interactive group building, and individual builds. LEGO, a cultural phenomenon with a name in Danish that means: "play well" has become the toy that transcends age. Let's get the generations together with LEGO!