Spring Memoir Writing
Tuesdays
April 4, 18, May 2, 16, 30
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $50
In-person Class Size: 8 students
What’s your story? Your life experience is the story that only you can tell. Examples of successful memoirs are discussed as well as techniques for organizing your thoughts and putting them on paper. Instructor: Jennifer Dotson
Spring Poetry Writing
Tuesdays
April 11, 25, May 9, 23, June 6
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $50
In-person class Size: 8 students
Designed for both beginning and experienced poets. In-class writing exercises will challenge your inner muse as we experiment with various poetic forms (rhymed and unrhymed) and sparks for inspiration. Instructor: Jennifer Dotson
NEW! Screenwriting and Playwriting Workshop
Wednesdays
January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 8 students
Registration closed.
Learn to write for screen and stage! Class is appropriate for all levels of experience. Each session will integrate creativity sparking exercises and games to help writers develop a particular screenwriting or playwriting tool or skill. Students will work with one or more writing prompts to generate a sample scene for the next session and will have the opportunity to share a scene with the group to generate conversation. Instructor: Mary Lamont
Winter Memoir Writing
Tuesdays
January 24, February 7, 21, March 7, 21
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $50
In-person Class Size: 8 students
Registration closed.
What’s your story? Your life experience is the story that only you can tell. Examples of successful memoirs are discussed as well as techniques for organizing your thoughts and putting them on paper. Instructor: Jennifer Dotson
Winter Poetry Writing
Tuesdays
January 31, February 14, 28, March 14, 28
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $50
In-person Class Size: 8 students
Registration closed.
Designed for both beginning and experienced poets. In-class writing exercises will challenge your inner muse as we experiment with various poetic forms (rhymed and unrhymed) and sparks for inspiration. Instructor: Jennifer Dotson
Poetry Writing in Spanish
Tuesdays
January 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $50
In-person Class Size: 6 students
Registration closed.
Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish; Texts: Twentieth Century Latin American Poetry, edited by Stephen Tapscott, University of Texas Press, Austin (copies can be found on Amazon as well as some at Highland Park Public Library); Spanish | English Dictionary
This class is designed to write poetry in Spanish and explore and engage with literary resources. Through in-class activities and analysis of poems by Spanish and Latin American poets, participants will have an opportunity to delve into those aspects that entail writing poetry, from the moment a poem is born, to its revision as a finished text. Class will be conducted in Spanish. Instructor: Olivia Maciel Edelman
Library U is a continuing adult education program made possible by the generous support of the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund. Advanced registration and online payment via ePay are required. No refunds. Registration will close when the class is filled.
If you have questions, or to suggest a class, please contact the Administration office by calling 847-432-0216 ext. 120.
Beginning Spanish
Mondays
April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 8 students
This class is designed for beginning students. Students will develop the basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Learn the Spanish alphabet, basic vocabulary, greetings, personal pronouns, and identify simple sentence structure. Instructor: Cecilia Melicchio
Beginning Italian
Wednesdays
January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 8 students
Registration closed.
Required Text: Italian in 10 Minutes a Day: Language Course for Beginning and Advanced Study, by Kristine K. Kershul (Copies can be found at Amazon.)
This class is designed for beginning students. Students will be exposed to Italian culture, conversational skills, basic grammar, and pronunciation. Learn the Italian alphabet, vocabulary, greetings, and simple sentence structure. Instructor: Silvia Rota
Poetry Writing in Spanish
Tuesdays
January 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $50
In-person Class Size: 6 students
Registration closed.
Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish; Texts: Twentieth Century Latin American Poetry, edited by Stephen Tapscott, University of Texas Press, Austin (copies can be found on Amazon as well as some at Highland Park Public Library); Spanish | English Dictionary
This class is designed to write poetry in Spanish and explore and engage with literary resources. Through in-class activities and analysis of poems by Spanish and Latin American poets, participants will have an opportunity to delve into those aspects that entail writing poetry, from the moment a poem is born, to its revision as a finished text. Class will be conducted in Spanish. Instructor: Olivia Maciel Edelman
Library U is a continuing adult education program made possible by the generous support of the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund. Advanced registration and online payment via ePay are required. No refunds. Registration will close when the class is filled.
If you have questions, or to suggest a class, please contact the Administration office by calling 847-432-0216 ext. 120.
Learn to Play Canasta
Mondays
April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 9 students
Requirements: Each player should bring two decks of cards (with jokers) and pen and paper for notetaking.
Canasta is a fun, social, and challenging card game. It is a partnership game that is played with two decks of cards. Instructor: Trudy Cooper
Thursdays
April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 9 students
Registration closed.
Thursdays
April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 9 students
Registration closed.
Library U is a continuing adult education program made possible by the generous support of the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund. Advanced registration and online payment via ePay are required. No refunds. Registration will close when the class is filled.
If you have questions, or to suggest a class, please contact the Administration office by calling 847-432-0216 ext. 120.
Mindful Meditation — Loving Kindness, Self-compassion, and Gratitude
Mondays
April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8
7 – 8 p.m.
Cost: $60
In-person Class Size: 8 students
In this six-session class, participants will learn, practice, observe, and share experiences. Through learning new meditations, connecting with yourself more deeply, keeping daily meditation alive, and recording a Self-knowledge Awareness Journal, you will be able to independently meditate. Instructor: Vicki Hensley-Sheahen
Library U is a continuing adult education program made possible by the generous support of the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund. Advanced registration and online payment via ePay are required. No refunds. Registration will close when the class is filled.
If you have questions, or to suggest a class, please contact the Administration office by calling 847-432-0216 ext. 120.
Trudy Cooper
Learn to Play Mah Jongg & Learn to Play Canasta
Trudy Cooper is a former teacher. She has taught canasta for more than 10 years in both public and private settings. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and holds degrees in education and psychology.
Silvia Rota
Beginning Italian
Silvia moved to the United States from Italy with her family in 2003. She received a Master's degree in law at Loyola University and practiced law in Chicago. Sylvia now dedicates herself to volunteering for local nonprofit organizations and the PTO. She loves to share her native Italian language with others who want to learn and practice it.
Cecilia Melicchio
Beginning Spanish
Cecilia Melicchio graduated from Buenos Aires University, Argentina, where she received a BA in Educational Sciences. She also has a BA in Elementary and Middle Education and an MA in Education & New Technologies. In her country, she worked several years in a variety of education-related roles such as Elementary and Middle School Teacher, Deputy Principal, Online Tutor and Pedagogical Designer. She relocated from Argentina to Highland Park four years ago. Cecilia enjoys walking to Rosewood Beach Park, traveling with her family, teaching, learning and meeting new people. Cecilia is also an English language learner and has many anecdotes about this process.
Jennifer Dotson
Memoir Writing and Poetry Writing
Jennifer Dotson has a BA in English Literature/Theater Arts from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an MFA in Drama from the University of Virginia. Founder of Highland Park Poetry, Jennifer is the author of two poetry collections: Clever Gretel (Chicago Poetry Press, 2013) and Late Night Talk Show Fantasy & Other Poems (Kelsay Books, 2020). She has been facilitating poetry, creative writing and memoir workshops since 2007.
Highland Park Poetry
Mary LaMont
Screenwriting and Playwriting Workshop
Mary LaMont taught for 30 years at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, where she also moderated a Filmmaker’s Club and Playwright’s Group, guiding students through the process of writing screenplays or stage plays. She is the author of a book called STORY WORK/STORY PLAY to be published by Cascade Books next spring. She has also written a number of screenplays, of which seven have made it to the quarterfinals or semifinals of leading screenwriting contests.
Olivia Maciel Edelman
Poetry Writing in Spanish
Olivia Maciel Edelman is a well-accomplished published poet and translator. She received her Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Chicago and has taught Spanish and Latin American literature at universities and colleges in the Chicago area. She was recognized with the Poet’s House Award (New York), and the José Martí Award (Houston). Olivia was born in Mexico City and resides in Chicago. She enjoys taking walks by the lake, reading, listening to music, or simply drinking a cup of cappuccino with friends.
Vicki Hensley-Sheahen
Mindful Meditation — Loving Kindness, Self-compassion, and Gratitude
Vicki Hensley-Sheahen is a Certified Life Coach and Certified Career Coach. Additionally, she also holds an MBA, and has completed Master and Doctoral Coursework in the Counseling and Education fields to better inform her practice. She has studied and taken coursework with several of the great meditators through Sounds True. Previously, Vicki has taught undergraduate and graduate coursework in business and the social sciences. She began teaching classes in Mindfulness and Compassionate Meditation seven years ago. In addition to her group work, Vicki has worked with clients individually. Mindfulness Meditation is the foundation of her Meditation Coaching and is based upon Neuroscience and the Wisdom Traditions.
