LIFELONG LEARNING HIGHLIGHTS Please consult your CareMerge calendars and weekly announcements for specific dates and times. All programming subject to change based on COVID-related recommendations to maintain health and safety of residents, staff, and visitors.
Larry Walsh’s “Cycling across America to Self-Discovery" “Your job has been eliminated.” When Larry Walsh heard those words, his world was turned upside down. After serving 7 years in the Army and working for 28 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Larry Walsh stepped away from corporate life and cycled into the heart of America to fulfill his lifelong dream of riding across the country. In a 3,120-mile ride from California to Florida, he cycled over treacherous mountains, through open plains, unforgiving deserts, and over 200 unique small towns. Walsh not only discovered a new world and new people, but he uncovered a side of himself that he thought was long forgotten—one filled with true grit and determination. Join Walsh on his trip across America and see what it feels like to experience life one pedal rotation at a time. Vincent York’s Hands-On History of Jazz Enjoy this new session as Vincent York introduces the audience to the deeper meaning and history of Jazz. Vincent plays and demonstrates how the evolution of diverse music styles contributed to the birth of jazz. It’s a hands-on, multimedia experience with audience participation, singing, and music. Vincent York was born into a family of musicians and a life of music. Vincent toured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra until he formed his own band in 1977. He has recorded or played with noteworthy jazz artists such as Marcus Belgrave, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin and Martha Reeves. As bandleader, Vincent York draws on his wealth of understanding and local professional artists to unveil the story of jazz to audiences of all ages. Detroit to Chicago: A trip down Memory Lane along Michigan Avenue The Old Chicago Road Join Jon Milan and Gail Offen as they take a visual road trip from downtown Detroit, across Michigan, to Chicago's world-famous Magnificent Mile. Along the way we'll look at Detroit's delicious Coney Island hot dog wars, take a peek at Corktown to see where the Tigers once held court, and check in on the progress of the newly-reborn Michigan Central Railroad Station. We'll learn about the colorful cultural enclaves along the way, rich in history and tradition, as we pass through Irish, Arabic, African American and Native American neighborhoods and regions. It's a nearly 300-mile pathway through roadside America. Gail Offen is an adjunct professor of advertising at Lawrence Technological University, and an award-winning creative director, writer and branding specialist. She is a co-author of several books. Jon Milan is a Detroit-based freelance author, pianist, music historian, and corporate communications manager. He has written five books, three co-authored with Gail Offen.
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