Brooklyn Lifelong Learning Classes, Courses, and More

Tuesdays

Contemporary Book Reading Group

Where: In person.

When: 10:30 –11:45 a.m.

September 15: What We Know by Ian McEwan
October 6: Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald
November 3: This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin
December 1: Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

Mystery Book Reading Group

Where: In person.

When: 10:30–11:45 a.m.

September 22: Revelation by C. J. Sansom

October 13: The Day of the Owl by Leonardo Sciascia

November 10: The Burning Grounds by Abir Mukheriee

December 8: Dead Lions (the second book in the Slough House series) by Mick Herron

Classic Book Reading Group

Where: In person

When: September 29, October 20, November 17, December 15, 10:30–11:45 a.m.

We will discuss Bleak House by Charles Dickens. It is the complex story of a notorious lawsuit in which love and inheritance are set against the classic urban background of 19th-century London, where fog on the river, seeping into the very bones of the characters, symbolizes the corruption of the legal system and the society which supports it.

The French Revolution in Local and Global Contexts

Where: In person

When: September 22, 12:45–2 p.m.

The class will explore local and global contexts for understanding the French Revolution. It will use recent scholarship to make sense of a transformative event in world history. It will provide perspectives from political, socio-economic, cultural, and intellectual history, both in very local terms and in the context of colonial competition.

What if the United States Constitution Did Not Pass?

Where: In person

When: September 29,   12:45–2 p.m.

In September 1787 the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia completed its debates and deliberations and sent the document to the Congress of the Confederation which passed it on to the 13 states for ratification. How close did the U.S. Constitution come to being rejected by the states, and what might have been the result had it failed? After we review the major players, timeline and key issues, we will watch an informative and entertaining video that offers some potential answers.

“Are You There My Soul?”: On the Period between Normal Life and Resurrected Life

Where: In person

When: October 6, 12:45–2 p.m.

This course canvasses several philosophical views about what happens to the soul once it leaves the body but before resurrection occurs. Does the soul persist and sit around in a “waiting room”? Does it exist in some attenuated, truncated manner, or does it cease to be altogether during that in-between period?

The Crusades: What Was Their Impact?

Where: In person

When: October 20, 12:45–2 p.m.

The Crusades were launched by Pope Urban II in 1095. Their purpose was to reclaim the Holy Land and territory held by the Muslims. This class will focus on actions that took place in the context of that time vis-à-vis current attitudes.

Immunity, Inflammation and Nutrition

Where: In person

When: October 20, 2:15–3:30 p.m.

We will begin with a brief overview of the immune system and then focus on inflammation, including some conditions that produce chronic inflammation. We will consider the role of inflammation in risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, primarily. We will discuss effects of some nutrients on pathological inflammation.

Shakespeare: Discovering Hamlet

Where: In person

When: October 27, 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Written in 1600. Hamlet remains the most celebrated tragedy in the English language. Although it contains crowd pleasing scenes of ghosts and mayhem, its fame is more attributed to the mystery of its main character. Hamlet presents a different face to each of us: hard and soft, cruel and gentle, brutal and angelic. People have devoted their entire lives in an effort to understand him. This presentation will provide an overview of both him and the play. To aid our understanding, a documentary film featuring a number of actors, including Olivier, Branagh, and Plummer, will be shown.

Caregiving Support: What You Need to Know

Where: In person

When: October 27, 12:45–2 p.m.

Learn about caregiving needs and available resources in New York City for those who are looking after, checking in with or providing direct care to a family member, friend or neighbor.

Henry Ward Beecher: The Most Famous Man in America

Where: In person

When: November 3, 12:45–2 p.m.

Discover the riveting life of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, the most famous preacher in mid-19th-century America, whose pyrotechnic sermons at Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church transformed American Christianity. Fiercely anti-slavery, Beecher staged mock auctions to buy enslaved women’s freedom, shipped rifles to Bleeding Kansas, championed women’s suffrage, and drew admirers from Abraham. Lincoln to Emerson, Whitman, and Twain. Join us to explore how this towering, controversial figure stood at the center of every great storm of his age culminating in one of the most sensational trials of the century.

Cults, The Occult, and Secret Societies, Pt. 2

Where: In person

When: November 10 and 17, 12:45–2 p.m.

We continue our exploration of cults, the occult and secret societies that we began in the spring, with a discussion of specific societies, including some of the ancient ones and non-Western ones. Social philosophy was an important factor since many, like the Bavarian Illuminati, were very much involved in social change, especially political, so there was a kind of subversiveness about them. We’ll also look at some of the artifacts of secret societies, such as numerology producing odd spellings, relating letters to numbers, getting “lucky” numbers, etc.

WEDNESDAYS

Reading The New York Times Science Times

Where: Online (Zoom)

When: September 10–December 10 (except September 24 and October 1), 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Great things are happening in the world of science today. Read and bring the Tuesday New York Times Science Section to class for our informative discussions about the latest breakthroughs.

Current Events Discussion Group

Where: Online (Zoom)

When: September 10–December 10 (except September 24 and October 1), 12:30–2 p.m.

This group features discussions of local, national, and international news. Come tell us what you think.

Gentle Hatha Yoga

Pre-registration is required.

Where: In person

When: September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, noon–1:30 p.m.

Sensitive instruction for students who can work on a yoga mat. Each class presents breathing practices, postures, relaxation and meditation. Improved flexibility, balance, strength, and a calmer nervous system are the benefits with consistent practice. Postures will be done on a yoga mat in lying, seated, and standing positions, modified as needed for individuals.

Class size is limited. Pre-register with the BLL office. Students must bring one or two yoga mats (depending upon how much cushioning the student needs for comfort and protecting knees and spine.) They may also opt to bring additional equipment: yoga blocks; a yoga belt or strap, e.g. a belt from a bathrobe (NO stretch bands); a beach towel or large towel for added cushioning.

International Folk Dancing

Where: In person

When: October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2 –3:30 p.m.

Folk dancing is not only great exercise and lots of fun, it also involves the memory and increases cognitive agility. We will hear lots of wonderful music, learn interesting rhythms, and master unusual dance patterns. Join us on our trip around the world to Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Ukraine, Croatia, Israel, and even a stop in South Africa and the USA, too. Dances will be in a circle or a line, so you don’t need a partner.

Tales of Running a Community Theater

Where: In person

When: November 18, 12:45 – 2 p.m.

Find out what goes into running a community theater from season selection to opening night. What goes into hiring staff, fundraising, recruiting volunteers, and working with the community. Have any celebrities come through our door? What crises have been averted (or not)? Find out in this fun, informative presentation.

THURSDAYS

European Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Where: In person

When: September 10, 24 and October 8, 12:45–2 p.m.

In three sessions held every other week, we will both analyze the key aspects and styles of the art and talk about the stories associated with many of the great European Paintings in the Met. We will begin in the Renaissance and travel through 600 years from 1300 to 1900 covering the Baroque, Neo-Classicism, and Romanticism until we reach impressionism and Post-Impressionism which we’ll look at in some detail. We will also briefly cover how these styles of art influenced the coming Modern Art.

Brooklyn History

Where: In person

When: September 17, 24, October 1, walking tour on October 8, 10:30–11:45 p.m.

We will cover some highlights of our borough’s past and conclude with a walking tour of a Brooklyn neighborhood. We’ll cover these topics, beginning with three classroom sessions and concluding with a walking tour.

The Battle of Brooklyn: With an Emphasis on the Village of Flatbush, Prior to During and After the Revolutionary War

The Consolidation of the 5 Boroughs in 1898

Emily Warren Roebling: The Brooklyn Bridge Couldn’t Have Been Built Without Her

A Historical Walking Tour in Victorian Flatbush: Beverly Square West

Note: You must sign up for this walking tour with the BLL office even if you have attended the other class sessions. The times for this tour differ from the regular class period.

What is an End-of-Life Doula?: An Interactive Presentation

Where: In person

When: September 17, 12:45–2 p.m.

What is an end-of-life doula (aka death doula) and what do they do (and not do)? Why do they exist? Discover the holistic, personalized and practical support a doula provides to the dying and their families (bio or chosen). Learn how the role complements, enhances and synthesizes with existing medical care structures. Explore through personal contemplation and real case studies how EOL Douglas come alongside and accompany to the very end.

Capital Punishment in the Movies

Where: In person

When: October 1, 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 12:45–2 p.m.

This course will discuss five films: The Thin Blue Line; Dead Man Walking; Monster’s Ball; Clemency, and Just Mercy. We will examine how each delivers a message, not only through plot and dialogue, buy also visually as well as through subtext and sound such as the musical score. Students will need to watch each film, which is available inexpensively through streaming or other platforms, during the week between classes.

Crocheting and Knitting Group

Where: In person

When: October 1 to December 10 (no class November 26), 2:15–3:30 p.m.

Join us for a crocheting and knitting group for beginning and experienced levels. If you are working on your own project, bring it. If you are just starting out, we are here to help. We are also planning on a group project to donate items such as scarves and hats to a local charity. Come and have fun learning and sharing skills while helping BLL give back to the community.

Fact or Fiction? Black Women in the American Revolution

Where: In person

When: November 19, 12:30–2 p.m.

In this session, we will explore the contributions of African American women to the American Revolution and their vital work to free the colonies of British rule. History has nearly erased them, but thanks to the work of contemporary scholars, their stories are being resurrected to display how they directly or indirectly contributed to what would become the United States of America.

Reclaim Your Brain: 5 Ways to Prevent Dementia

Where: In person

When: December 10, 12:45–2 p.m.

Designed for adults seeking practical wellness strategies, this class will bring common health concerns to the forefront for a candid discussion about new ways to think about health.

Give clarity on the symptoms, risk factors, and causes of common health concerns

Identify new ways to prevent and manage these concerns with practical daily tips for wellness

Empower attendees to take action and partner better with their healthcare providers

FRIDAYS

Remembering September 11, 2001

Where: Online (Zoom)

When: September 11, 10:30 a.m.–noon

On this, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, BLL members will gather to share their recollections of that day. We will talk about where we were and how we experienced those terrible events. We will also look back and reflect on those times, how they changed life and society and what we take away from it 25 years later.

Celebrating Black Life, Culture, Resilience, and Joy

Where: Online (Zoom)

When: September 18–December 11 (except November 27), 10:30 a.m.–noon

Part 4: The Plantation System

Part 5: The Rise of the Abolitionist Movement

Part 6: The Emancipation of Enslaved Africans

These classes are a continuation of our African American History series. This semester, we will focus on the plantation system, the rise of the abolitionist movement, and the emancipation of enslaved africans, examining how each period shaped the lives, struggles, and achievements of Black Americans.

Mah Jongg Club and Class / Scrabble Play

Where: In person

When: September 18–December 4 (except November 27), 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Mah Jongg is a game of skill, strategy and luck that was developed in China (though American Mah Jongg is very different from the Asian versions.) Whether you are already a player or you would like to learn, your opportunity has arrived! We welcome all beginner and experienced players. We have two groups: an experienced group that will play and an introductory group for learners.

We are also starting a Scrabble playing group. We’ll provide the set and a suitable table but instructions shouldn’t be necessary.

Pre-registration is required. Please contact the office in advance with your name and contact information and whether you wish to join the experienced Mah Jongg group, the beginner Mah Jongg group or the Scrabble group.