CLL: Community Classes

SPRING 2025 COMMUNITY CLASSES
All Community classes are open to both CLL members and non-members!

These classes do not require a CLL membership to attend; however, they require registration and may have an additional fee when noted in the listings below.

March 2025

March Lunch Meet-Up

Friday, March 28
12:00 p.m. (in-person)
Cost: Participants pay for their own meal

Meet us at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (60 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611). Joe's Stone Crab is an American surf 'n' turf restaurant serving upmarket fare & cocktails in a lavish space.

APRIL 2025

Mindfulness Meditation
Every Monday and every Friday
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Cost: Free

Sign-up through CLL; the Zoom link will be sent from the facilitator, Regan Burke.

Bridge Group
Every other Monday
1:00–4:00 p.m. (In-person)
Cost: Free

This group is currently full. Contact Linda Daly if you are interested in being put on the substitute list.

Improv
Tuesdays, April 8-May 13
1:00-2:30 p.m. (In-person)
Cost: $50 for CLL Members, $65 for non-members

Are you looking for a way to shake up the brain cells a bit? Well, good news! We are offering an improv class that is designed to get you moving and engaging your neural pathways as you learn to let go of your self-consciousness, communicate in new ways, and create interesting characters with your classmates. No prior experience needed.

Ron Tolisano is a Chicago resident who has been involved in the improv community for the past ten years. He has a BA from Western Ill. Univ. and an MSW from Loyola University, Chicago. He has taken classes at Second City and Annoyance Theatre. He currently teaches improvisation at the Chicago Cultural Center and at the Harold Washington Library Center- Chicago Public Library.

Monthly Book Group (on Zoom)
Second Tuesday of the month
2:30–3:30 p.m.
Led by Alan Bath
Cost: Free

All are welcome to join us for lively and thought-provoking discussion each month.

April 8
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

May 13
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton

June 10
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo

Beginning T'ai Chi
Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 8-May 8
2:00-2:45 p.m., (In Person, 5 weeks)
Cost: $85 CLL Members; $100 Nonmembers (10 class sessions)

T'ai Chi is an effective exercise for anyone seeking to enhance balance, strength, and coordination. It consists of a fluid series of postures combined with deep breathing exercises. In this class, beginning students will learn the history and fundamentals of T’ai Chi Chuan and will be prepared to join the intermediate class upon completion of the beginner series.

Hau Kum Kneip studied with Chinese T’ai Chi masters in Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, and Hawaii beginning in 1978. She has taught T’ai Chi Chuan at the CLL since 1995, increasing the balance, strength, and focus of her students.

Men’s “Great Ideas” Discussion Group
Every other Wednesday
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (In person)
Cost: Free

A discussion group that provides a safe and supportive environment for men to discuss and work through challenges of current topics that are facing the world at large. Before each meeting we will read an article from Foreign Affairs magazine and then discuss as a group.

Spring Meeting Dates:
April 9 and 23
May 7 and 21
June 4 and 18

Midweek Meditation
Wednesdays, April 9–June 25
11:00–11:30 a.m. (In-Person)
Cost: Free

Join CLL Director Annette Mileski on Wednesdays for 30 minutes of mindful restoration, meditation, and gentle movement. All are welcome.

Zumba Gold
Wednesdays, April 9-April 30
2:00 (in-person)

Zumba Gold takes the popular Latin-dance inspired workout of Zumba and makes it accessible. Build cardiovascular health by challenging the heart and working the muscles of the hips, legs and arms with dance moves. This class is approachable by all populations, regardless of fitness level. Experience with dance is not required and moves can be broken down. The intention of the class is to move around and have a lot of fun... even if you don't perform each move perfectly!

Melanie Jones has taught fitness classes for over a decade to people across the lifespan. She was born and raised in Brownstone Brooklyn, New York and fortunate to learn early on how the arts are great learning tools and keep cultures alive. She moved to Chicago two years ago where she works as an Academic Advisor. Prior to that she ran a community Arts and Enrichment ministry at Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester, New York, and taught dance-based fitness classes around her schedule. Melanie has a MEd from the University of Vermont and is a NASM CPT and AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. She is licensed across several fitness formats. She cannot wait to move with you!

Film Series
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month
2:00–4:00 pm (in-person)
Cost: Free

Join us to enjoy a current film! Register to receive a list of this month’s movie selections.

Dates for Spring:
April 9 and 23
May 14 and 28
June 11 and 25

Matters of Health
Thursdays, April 10–June 26
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Hybrid)
Cost: Free

Matters of Health is a weekly series which provides participants with information and resources about five areas of health. Local experts facilitate lively discussions about physical, mental, social, financial, and spiritual health, as all these areas contribute to healthy aging.

Participants register for the whole series and will receive a weekly email reminder about the topic and speaker for that session. This program is free and open to all, and is offered in hybrid format, meaning you can attend in person or virtually.

Supreme Court Decisions

Thursdays, April 10-May 15
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., (In person, 6 sessions)
Cost: $45 for CLL Members; $60 for non-members

The current Supreme Court has been the subject of either heated criticism or praise by politicians, the press, editorial writers, and in millions of conversations at breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks, and dinners. Whether they applaud or criticize the Court, almost everyone is convinced that the “conservative” majority makes decisions motivated by political or religious agendas.

This course will not discuss whether these decisions are socially right or wrong, moral or immoral, conservative or liberal, politically good or bad, or motivated by a political or religious doctrine. Rather, it will focus on understanding the logic and reasoning articulated by the Court in reaching its decisions, and whether this logic and reasoning is consistent with the role given to the Court by the Constitution.

Henry Krasnow became interested in the recent rulings of the current Supreme Court by his frustration over how the media, politicians, and opinion writers described the Court’s rulings to emphasize controversy while ignoring the logic articulated by the Court in explaining those rulings. In addition to his 55 yr. career as a Chicago business lawyer, Henry was an adjunct law professor, had a book published, and authored over 20 magazine articles on a wide range of legal subjects. He holds a B.A. (Economics) from the University of Michigan, a C.P.A. from the University of Illinois, and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Registration Link

Native Pop Newberry Tour
April 16
2:00–3:00 p.m. (In person)
Cost: Free

Meet us at the Newberry Library (60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610) to take a guided tour of their latest exhibit. Indigenous people are central to the story of popular culture in the Western Hemisphere, and popular culture is important to many Indigenous people and experiences. This exhibition, drawn from the Newberry’s growing collections for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, shares four centuries of Indigenous creators, athletes, activists, and fans engaged with pop.

Foreign Affairs Perspectives
Every other Tuesday
1:00–2:00 p.m. (On Zoom)
Cost: Free

This is a member-led small group discussion based on articles from the magazine Foreign Affairs. Group members are required to subscribe to the magazine. For each discussion, one group member selects an article from the magazine, develops questions about the article, and moderates the discussion. Each member is expected to moderate one or two discussions during each term.

This group meets every other Tuesday on the following dates:
April 8 and 22
May 6 and 20
June 3 and 17

Art Days (Make & Take)

Third Thursday of the month
1:30–3:00 p.m. (In Person)
Cost: $5 will be collected during class for materials.

April 17
May 15
June 19

Avid creative crafter, paper lover, and CLL director, Annette Mileski facilitates this monthly group in different hands-on artsy endeavors. All crafting experience is welcome so come join the fun while chatting and stretching your creative brain!

Hooray for Hooks!
Knitting and Needle Arts
Fridays, 2:00–3:00 p.m. (in person)
Cost: Free

Interested in learning how to knit or crochet? Or do you already know how, but would love to sit and stitch with a group? Have we got a space for you! Heather Groh will be facilitating this group every other week and all skill levels are welcome. She will be able to help you get started with some simple patterns if you are new to the craft and will provide support if you are feeling a bit stuck in your stitching.

This group meets every other week in the 4th-floor lounge of the Gratz Center:
April 11 and 25
May 9 and 23
June 13 and 27

MAY 2025

Zing-Along Singing Workshop

Mondays, May 5–June 2
3:00–3:45 p.m. (in-person)
Cost: $40 for CLL Members; $60 for non-members

Zing-Along Singing Workshop Sing and sway your cares away with Zing-Along! In this singing workshop, we will sing along with familiar show tunes, folk songs and oldies, adding gentle movement for those who are able. We will also harmonize with each other through a tradition called “circle singing”. CLL Zing instructor and professional singer Pam Peterson will guide you to breathe deeply, free your voice and have fun. All voices are welcome!

Pam Peterson, founder of Zing with Pam Fitness, is a dynamic teacher who believes that exercise should be fun and healing. An ACE-Certified fitness professional and personal trainer for 40 years, Pam has led countless students to greater strength, balance, flexibility, stamina and energy. Pam is also an award-winning singer, writer, and comic actress known for her YouTube hit “Memory” with more than 7 million views.

Frida Kahlo

with Susan Musich
Wednesday, May 7
1:30-2:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Cost: Free for CLL Members, $10 for Non-members

Join Susan as we explore the Art Institute of Chicago’s new exhibit “Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds.” Kahlo traveled to France in January 1939. France, however, did not agree with Kahlo. She quickly found it eroding her sense of artistic freedom and her health—until she met Reynolds. When Kahlo was rushed to the hospital, Mary Reynolds invited her to recover at her home, a hub of the city’s visual and literary avant-gardes who regularly communed there.

Artificial Intelligence and Art

Wednesdays, May 14–June 4
1:30–2:30 p.m. (Zoom, 4 weeks)
Cost: $40 for CLL Members, $60 for Nonmembers

Join Hugh Leeman for an ALL NEW 4-part class on AI and Art! For centuries, civilizations have turned to art to reflect their deepest beliefs, power dynamics, and cultural bedrocks. As we traverse the modern era, artificial intelligence is reshaping this ancient landscape, introducing robots capable of producing art and challenging our understanding of creativity. We will explore the creative application of AI tools and their integration into our lives as we trace developments of robots and AI to understand critical milestones and technological advancements, as well as the societal and ethical implications for human creativity and its potential to redefine cultural paradigms in the 21st century.

Hugh Leeman is an artist and lecturer teaching art history in English and Spanish. He lectures regularly at Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, and in Spanish at Colorado State University. His lectures focus on the manifestation of social power structures and the spiritual realm in pre-modern art and the future of images' ability to re-engineer social constructs. Leeman's social practice has been exhibited at the Museum of Mexico City. His first social art project focused on a five-year collaborative project with the inner city's homeless, using technology to create micro self-empowerment business platforms for homeless individuals. More recently, Leeman cofounded aetatribes.org.

Explorations with Jane Hunt

Wednesdays, May 21–June 4
10:30–11:30 p.m. (hybrid)
Cost: Free for CLL Members, $25 for Non-members

May 21 – Becoming Better
How do we improve our self-control? How do we resist temptation? How do we stop procrastinating? How do we improve our exercise plan, drink less, work more efficiently and intelligently, and manage our time? This class will introduce us to becoming better.

May 28 – Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe is the only writer consistently still used by most middle schools. Americans know Poe because we have read him. And he still fascinates us; why?

June 4 – Suffs, the Musical
This class hopes to persuade you that the history of woman’s suffrage is important and fun. And you might want to buy a ticket to the show next fall.

Jane Hunt is a retired College of DuPage English and humanities instructor and has been teaching at the CLL since 1990. She is a graduate of DePauw University and Indiana University, and she enjoys formulating questions on diverse topics and then looking for answers with her classes.

Literary Salon
Thursday, May 29
1:00–2:30 p.m. (in-person)
Cost: Free for CLL Members and Non-Members

The Word Nerds formed as a summer writing group in 2020. All were participants in the CLL Memoir and Creative Non-Fiction classes. Having written about genealogy, memoir through poetry and writing for family, the Word Nerds will present their writing and share their experiences as members of a small writing group.

Glass Mosaics Class

Thursday, May 29
2:00–4:00 p.m. (In-Person)
$40 for CLL Members, $60 for Nonmembers

Learn how to make mosaics with stained glass! You will learn the basics of mosaic making with practicing artist Vivian Visser, then create a piece that you can take home! All materials will be provided.

Vivian received her BFA from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. She has focused on natural art for more than 25 years. Vivian has developed and taught classes in acrylic painting, painting on silk, clay, drawing and mosaics to people at every stage of life, from children to families and adults.

JUNE 2025

CSO Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday, June 18
1:30–3:00 (in-person)
Cost: Free for CLL Members and non-members

This rehearsal with Conductor Ricardo Muti will be held at the Chicago Symphony Center. Tickets will be available to be picked up from the CLL Office and we will meet at the CSO (220 S. Michigan Avenue) the day of the concert.

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