Are you retired and looking to learn something, or just get out of the house and meet new friends? Renaissance Academy, a non-profit organization that meets at Saint Xavier University, is looking for you. The group, which started more than 30 years ago as a more formal affiliate of the university, is made up of about 200 people aged 55 and up who facilitate and take classes over three terms during the traditional academic year. Members can also attend fall and spring forums and an annual Mass. This year’s fall forum, on Oct. 24, will feature Jim Gibbons speaking on “The Truth About Presidents.” “There are a lot of teachers in the classes, a lot of people who are retired and don’t know what to do with themselves, a lot of people who love to learn, a lot of people who are readers,” said Carol Conway, a retired high school English teacher who often offers a class on “the novels you weren’t ready for in high school.” Classes are offered by members, like Conway, who share their expertise. “I had a great experience teaching these books when I had the students at 14 to 18 [years old],” Conway said. “But with adults, there’s such a difference in the depth of the discussions.” Renaissance Academy historian Pat Schultz, who worked as a registered nurse in clinical research, offered a class on artificial intelligence, which was quite popular, she said. “They really ate that up,” she said. “Because of that, I’m very comfortable with computers and technology,” Schultz said. “I think they make things easier, although I know there are seniors who don’t agree with me.” Schultz said she joined a few years ago after a friend passed away and she was looking for something to fill empty hours. The draw of Renaissance Academy is both intellectual and social, she said. Members generally sign up for two classes per term, and most classes meet in person on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons at Saint Xavier University, although some meet on Zoom on Wednesdays, Conway said. Conway, Schultz and other facilitators also take classes, or work with other facilitators for joint classes. Conway recalled working with a facilitator who had an expertise in art to put together a joint class on the art and literature of the romantic period. “I learned a lot about art that year,” she said. Schultz said other popular classes have covered topics like genealogy, bird watching and travel. Membership at Renaissance Academy is capped at 300 members, and in the past, there was a waiting list, Conway said. Schultz said it’s important for members to remember that the academy is run completely by volunteers, and often what they are learning is how to do what needs to be done. “So, as the historian, I take pictures and things like that, but now I’m trying to introduce more video,” she said. “I’m getting better at it. We’re dependent on what people bring to the table, and that’s what makes it fun for me.” Registration for the 2024-2025 Renaissance Academy costs $180 and will take place online Sept. 9-13. For details, visit renaissancechgo.org.
Faith in God is key to longevity, 107-year-old says On the sunny afternoon of June 4, Francisca “Paquita” Morales took visitors to see the boxed gardens where she grows beans, cilantro, peppers and other vegetables at the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation’s Plaza Taino in Humboldt Park. Dressed in a satiny pink flowered dress with freshly painted pink finger and toe nails, she then led the visitors to a courtyard where she likes to spend time during the day praying.
Diversity among seniors grows with population Once upon a time, not so very long ago, agencies providing social services to senior citizens had a pretty good idea of who they were serving: older adults in their 70s and 80s, who needed help with basic activities like shopping, cooking and transportation. Most were members of fairly homogeneous communities, and spoke and understood English.