As the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) begins another year we encourage all members of the community who are 50 or older to consider membership in this hidden gem. ALL is a part of the community education department at Lincoln Land Community College. Membership is $60 a year. Thanks to the creativity and hard work of the many volunteer leaders, we offer programs and experiences that can enrich your life. With our many and varied monthly programs and special interest groups, plus special events, 2024-2025 looks to be another great year with opportunities to explore, engage and enjoy.  

Our standard monthly programs give members the opportunity to explore our community. For example, our current Springfield mayor, Misty Buscher, spoke at one of the monthly Chatauqua programs and ended with an interesting Q&A session, allowing us to learn about the plans and focus of the current administration. A recent History Hunters program explored the history of the Orphan Trains presented by Bill Furry, writer, historian and director of the Illinois State Historical Society.

Many program opportunities are available to explore a specific interest, such as our Book Lovers group or our writer’s group, Scribes. There is a group for the very popular and challenging game of Mah Jongg or the classic card games of either Pinochle or Hand and Foot.  There are also special interest groups for golfers, bikers, pickleball players, etc. These are open to all, non-competitive and allow us to remain active both physically and mentally in a casual, social environment.

A special emphasis was placed on the arts last year. We now have an ongoing effort to enhance our regular programming with special art events. We will be offering members the opportunity to attend several introductory workshops on such things as botanical card making, photography, crafting with vinyl, etc. Later in the year, we will once again sponsor an art show highlighting a wide selection of member art.

Thanks to a grant from the Trimble Foundation, we will offer two special programs which will highlight the beauty, uniqueness and equality of all people through the arts, thus expanding our awareness of the great diversity in our world. On Aug. 8, we will offer a presentation by Catalina Maria Johnson on “Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry.” On Oct. 2, we will offer a performance by Dorothy Paige Turner and Joel Ross that will feature the “Great American Songbook.” Through song and narrative, the artists will explore the roots of jazz among enslaved Africans and provide a demonstration of the evolution of ragtime and stride piano. Each program will include a Q&A session. Both events are free and open to the public.

We invite you to join the Academy of Lifelong Learning to see what it is all about. There is a place for everyone. Call 217-786-2432 or visit www.llcc.edu/ALL to find out more about the multitude of program offerings. Plan to attend our annual Fall Kickoff event on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, from 1-3 p.m. at the Student Union in Menard Hall to learn about all the planned programming and special events for the upcoming year. The wide range of programs allows members the opportunity to explore our community, ourselves and new ideas. Members also can engage their brains, in the community and with other members. Through it all, we can enjoy ourselves by connecting with others, laughing and having fun.

“Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff. There are so many things I won’t live long enough to find out about, but I’m still curious about them.” – Betty White