@olliatbcc
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College in western Massachusetts is a dynamic learning community with over 1,500 members that offers 200+ terrific programs a year. For the Joy of Learning! berkshireolli.org
Javier Corrales in a black suit jacket and glasses
The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents: Tyrants, Smugglers, and Hostile Takeovers: US-Venezuela Relations with Professor Javier Corrales
Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/event-6518691
Two timely free and open to the public talks (on Zoom) this week:
1/14 at 7 p.m. Jim Brooke with an update on Ukraine - berkshireolli.org/event-6433453
1/15 at 7 p.m. Tom Gerety on ICE and the Constitution: Pushing Back Against Assaults On American Freedom - berkshireolli.org/event-6515994
There is still time to sign up for winter classes! Learn, connect, and make new friends at OLLI at BCC! berkshireolli.org/winter2026
So many fall lectures coming up - berkshirecc.edu/events - but two free talks on the courts and democracy may be of particular interest here on bsky - Steve Vladeck and Tom Gerety on 10/20 (berkshireolli.org/event-6378076) and Tom again with Aziz Huq on 10/28 (berkshireolli.org/event-6378108)!
Come to the Annual Nancy Vale Memorial Lecture with the Amazing Kate Maguire - The Vision and Reality of Making Theater in the Berkshires! This Thursday, Sept 11 at 4 p.m. berkshireolli.org/event-6279330
Our Fall classes start next week and there is still time to sign up! berkshirecc.edu/Fall2025!
Lots of great lectures coming up this summer! this week - Friday - Dr. Maud Montgomery and Dr. Tom Gerety on higher education and Saturday - Jeremy Yudkin on the upcoming Tanglewood season! berkshireolli.org/events
SUMMER 2025 Movement Classes Musical Theatre Dance: A Participatory Dance Workshop with George Pinney (In-person in Lee) Wednesdays - Five sessions beginning June 4 -10:30 a.m. - Noon Fitness and Better Health Through Basic Self-Defense Training for Everyone with Andrew Weiss (In-person at BCC) Mondays - Five sessions beginning June 2 - 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Imagination Is Ageless with Sally Filkins (In-person at BCC) Tuesdays - Eight sessions beginning July 8 - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. International Folk Dancing with Elaine Sohn (In-person in Lee) Wednesdays - Six sessions beginning July 9 - 9:30 - 11:15 a.m. Practical Self Defense with Laycolaion Freeman (In-person in Pittsfield, MA) Thursdays - Four sessions beginning July 10 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. African Rooted Dance with Noel Staples Freeman (In-person in Pittsfield, MA) Thursdays - Four sessions beginning July 10 - 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Come join in some great movement classes this summer at OLLI at BCC! berkshireolli.org/summer2025
OLLI at Berkshire Community College Historical Celebration: 250 Years Since the American Revolution Summer Courses American Painting in the Revolutionary War Period with Ralph Pearson (Online) Mondays - Four sessions beginning June 2 - 3:30 - 5 p.m. Thomas Paine's Unique Life, Times, and Writing with Douglas Cooper (In-person in Great Barrington) Tuesdays - Six sessions beginning June 3 -1:30 - 3 p.m. The Legacy of Lafayette with Genet Jeanjean, Aliki Braine, Polly Lyman, Alan Hoffman, Trudy Hammer, and Phil Deely (Online) Wednesdays - Four sessions beginning June 4 - 9:30 - 11 a.m. The American Revolution in the South: Where the War Was Won with Richard Eason (Online) Mondays - Six sessions beginning July 7 - 3:30 - 5 p.m. The Pursuit of Happiness: Where Are We Now? with Michael Forbes Wilcox (Online) Tuesdays - Six sessions beginning July 8 - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. OLLI at Berkshire Community College offers non-credit programs including courses, lectures, special events and trips, shared interest groups, and more -- online and in-person! For the joy of learning! OLLI Berkshires250 programming info at berkshireolli.org/Rev250
OLLI at Berkshire Community College Historical Celebration: 250 Years Since the American Revolution - Summer Courses - Online and in-person! (berkshireolli.org/summer2025)
For the joy of learning!
OLLI Berkshires250 programming info at berkshireolli.org/Rev250
This Saturday at the Mahaiwe Theater!
Tickets: mahaiwe.org/event/ollis-...
Watch or read the interview with Chris Whipple:
www.berkshireeagle.com/uncharted-ch...
Come for the wild story, stay for the history!
Tickets: berkshireolli.org/event-6162274
Prof. Stephen R. Platt on his book:
The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II
Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom
book cover with biden, harris, and trump
2025 Mona Sherman Mem. Lecture with Chris Whipple - May 24, 5:00 p.m.
At the Mahaiwe in Gt. Barrington, MA
Free, but tickets required
Tickets for OLLI members: berkshireolli.org/event-6093100
Registration opens to the public on Wednesday, April 30 at noon. mahaiwe.org/.../ollis-mo...
Great shout out for our upcoming Berkshire Previews class, and a wonderful story about some upcoming shows in the area: www.masslive.com/westfieldnew...
If you missed the talk last night with Tom Gerety and Peter Shane on the presidency and separation of powers, it is up on the OLLI at BCC YouTube page: youtu.be/ynEclhsYXbs
Coming next week!
I am bringing my jazz diplomacy talk to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, Tuesday, March 11, 1 PM. See link for registration details.
berkshireolli.org/event-6013547
Spring Course Spotlight:
youtu.be/Gx7Mp3RUhJU
Movie Musicals - 1930s to Now with Broadway Stars Karen Curlee and Wayne Bryan!
Mondays - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Six Sessions - 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12
on Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/M105MovieMus...
courtroom image from scopes trial. men in suits standing and talking
Spring Course Spotlight!
The Scopes Monkey Trial 100 Years Later: What Happened Then and Why Should We Care Now? with Doug Mishkin
Six Sessions - 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Hybrid - Zoom and in-person in Great Barrington
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/T101ScopesMo...
Peter shane in blue suit and glasses
An Unchecked Presidency? Trump’s Attack on the Laws and the Constitution: A Dialogue Between Constitutional Lawyers Tom Gerety and Peter Shane
Monday, Mar 10 at 7 p.m. ET, via Zoom
Free & open to all - www.berkshireolli.org/event-6090045
Prof. Joel Wolfe in a brown sweater, wearing glasses
Need a break from the news? Join us for:
The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:
Football: The Real American Pastime
with Professor Joel Wolfe, UMass Amherst
Monday, March 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET Online via Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/event-6043447
open house spring 2025
Meet our spring instructors and join us for a Spring Open House on March 4 at 10:30 a.m. at BCC!
Register here: berkshireolli.org/event-6029820
If you missed Jim Brooke's update on Ukraine - it is up on our YouTube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVn2...
If you missed the lecture with Dr. Tom Gerety last night on the Trump admin executive orders, it is now up on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Ox...
James Brooke headshot, black jacket, white shirt
Free and Open to the Public on Zoom - Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0 with James Brooke, former New York Times foreign correspondent and former Ukraine reporter.
Tuesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom - Free & open to all
Register here! berkshireolli.org/event-6007382
Dr. Tom Gerety headshot
OLLI at Berkshire Community College has a new free and open to the public lecture on the newly signed Executive Orders - with Dr. Tom Gerety, Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. ET. Register today! berkshireolli.org/event-6041858