with Youth Programs Director Jonathan Hall & Program Director Z Valentine
Saturday, September 7, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
This informational session is designed to inspire and equip you to teach your next Carnegie Center course! Whether you’ve never taught before, or you are a seasoned Carnegie instructor this session will have all the relevant info to get you started and enhance your classroom experience. In addition, the Programming staff will be announcing big changes (class coordinator, increased pay, etc.) that will affect this upcoming season, so be sure not to miss out. Lots of exciting good news. We look forward to seeing you there.
Family Fun & Learning Nights are FREE events featuring themed activities and crafts, entertainment, and dinner. Every child receives a book. Dinner and giveaways are limited. Recommended for families with children ages 3-12. Family Fun & Learning Nights are made possible by the generous support of Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY, William Stamps Farish Fund, Junior League of Lexington, LFUCG Social Services, and Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation
Black & Lit Book Club
ONLINE: Mondays, September 9 & November 11, 6:00–7:00 PM
Black & Lit Book Club features new books by Black Kentucky writers. This book club is open to KBWC members and anyone who wishes to attend. When possible, we will meet with the featured author. The first 25 registrants will receive a free copy of the book.
Drag Queen Storytime
Saturdays, Sept. 14 & Nov. 16, 11:15 AM–12:00 PM
The Carnegie Center will be hosting special story times this year! Uma Jewels will be reading her favorite children’s books, which we will be giving away to each kid who attends. These story times are designed for ages 3-11, but feel free to bring the whole family. Everyone is welcome! No registration required. Readings to take place in the Arnow Reading Room.
The Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative’s Burn The Mic Series is a vibrant platform amplifying the voices and creativity of writers and spoken word artists in the heart of Kentucky. This dynamic series provides a welcoming space for poets, storytellers, and wordsmiths to share their narratives, fostering a sense of community and celebration. The KBWC invites writers of all ages and levels of experience to share their work. Sign-ups start at 6:30 PM. Sponsored by LexArts, Kentucky Arts Council, and the Chethik Family Fund to Advance Black Writers.
Join a staff member for a tour of the historic building and an overview of Carnegie classes and upcoming events for children and adults. Come to learn what’s beyond our red doors for you! RSVP is optional. To ask questions or RSVP, please email Development Associate Lucy Jayes at Lucy@CarnegieCenterLex.org.
Ghost Hunt with the Marley Knockers
Paranormal
& Ghost Stories with Elizabeth Kilcoyne
Ghost Hunt: Friday, October 11, 8:00–11:00 PM • GA $50
Special Class Price when combined with Ghost Stories Class $25 (see page 5) https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S3l00000LkV9dEAF
Carnegie Classics: Murder on the Orient Express
Saturday, November 9, 7:00–11:00 PM
Passengers (18+) are invited to join us on November 9, 7:00-11:00 PM for a luxurious trip through Europe that goes off the rails when a fellow passenger is mysteriously murdered. Will you catch the killer before they strike again, or find yourself at the end of the line? Attendees can expect an open bar, dinner provided by Minton’s, and an evening of creative surprises. Costumes are encouraged. Learn more and buy tickets: https://carnegiecenterlex.org/murder-on-the-orient-express/
WRITING GROUPS
Screenwriting Group with Mitch Smith
Biweekly Tuesdays, September 10–December 17, 6:30–8:00 PM • $180
ONLINE: Led by Mitch Smith, an award-winning screenwriter and film producer, this group is a wonderful way to meet other screenwriters and film professionals from around the state, and get your work in front of a supportive, knowledgeable team of writers. The group is open to screenwriters of all levels, as well as anyone with an interest in screenwriting, or filmmaking! Mitch Smith has won or placed in screenwriting competitions through Fade In, Writer’s Digest, Stage 32, and Screencraft.org (among others); produced the feature film Ghost in the Family (available on Amazon Video); and written and produced a comedy television pilot that is now being taken around the industry. Mitch has years of screenwriting experience through his time working as both a screenwriter and a script reader/reviewer for companies like SimplyScripts and Write to Reel.
Wednesdays, September 11–November 6 (no class October 2), 11:00 AM–1:00 PM • $240 Designed for writers of any/all levels of experience, this class will combine in-class writing exercises with peer feedback and deep reading to explore the nuts-and-bolts elements of the fiction writing craft. Sarah Combs is the author of the novels Breakfast Served Anytime and The Light Fantastic, both published by Candlewick Press. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0So0000000r8ymEAA
Seniors Writing Group with Sarah Combs
Fridays, September 13–December 13 (no class Oct. 4 or Nov. 29), 10:30 AM–12:00 PM • FREE Class takes place at the Lexington Senior Center, 195 Life Lane, Lexington, KY 40502
If you’re interested in writing and have reached that golden age, this is the group for you! Participants can expect crossgenre writing prompts; feedback for family stories, memoir, poetry, and fiction; tips for reading and publishing your work; and lively conversation and fellowship. Open to Fayette County residents age 60 and up. Sarah Combs is the author of the novels Breakfast Served Anytime and The Light Fantastic, both published by Candlewick Press. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0So0000001rA5wEAE
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing Group with Christopher Rowe
Wednesdays, September 18– November 13 (no class October 23), 6:00–7:30 PM • $180
ONLINE: This class will combine lectures, readings, and critical discussions of student work. While focusing on the short form, novel extracts will also be considered. Each week, students will read a provided contemporary speculative fiction piece for discussion. There will be brief guided writing sessions during class time. A round robin critique session of student work will conclude each class, and instruction and guidance on where and how to submit stories for publication will be provided. Christopher Rowe is an experienced teacher of science fiction and fantasy. He has been a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards, as well as others. His stories have been published, reprinted, and translated around the world. He is the author of two recent critically acclaimed novellas published by Tor and his collection, Telling the Map, is widely regarded as one of the best of recent years. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0So0000004PYS0EAO
Nonfiction Writing Group with Neleigh Olson
Wednesdays, October 30–December 18 (no class November 27), 5:30–7:00 PM • $157.50 ONLINE: This seven-week series is recommended for writers with works of nonfiction in progress or ideas for true stories they want to tell. We will spend most of our time discussing and offering feedback on class members’ creative nonfiction pieces, while also studying contemporary published nonfiction and gleaning what we can borrow from it. Neleigh Olson holds an MFA from the University of Kentucky’s Creative Writing program and an MA from Liverpool Hope University in The Beatles, Popular Music and Society. Excerpts from her research-informed memoir about the horse-human relationship (based on her decade-plus experience in the Thoroughbred industry) have won her a Kentucky Writer’s Fellowship and have also been published in The Traveler’s Pen and On Horses, an international academic journal about horses in sport. She is also a contributor to The Beatles Bibliography: A New Guide to the Literature, a comprehensive bibliography of Beatles literature. [ALL LEVELS]
Thursdays, September 12–October 31, 5:45–7:15 PM • $180
Out of all the genres, horror is the only one that is also an emotion—you can feel horror. It is a genre that creeps out, grosses out, and psyches out, but true lovers will keep coming back for more. Whether you’re writing in the vein of Edgar Allan Poe, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Nat Cassidy, Mona Awad, or Cassandra Khaw, this course will help you improve your craft. With weekly meetings, including readings and swapping work, this class will equip you with a horror toolbelt and connect you with fellow writers. Darian Bianco is a writer and teacher out of Richmond, Kentucky, teaching Creative Writing at Eastern Kentucky University, Reach Your Apex, and the Carnegie Center. [ALL LEVELS]
Mondays, September 16–November 25 (no class November 11), 12:00–2:00 PM • $300
ONLINE: This workshop class is designed to motivate and inspire writers of kids’ books by exploring plot and craft techniques through discussion, peer-feedback, and writing exercises. Come with a work-in-progress–or at least an idea for one. Enrolled students also receive an invitation to join Marcia in additional kids’ book writing opportunities for free. Marcia Thornton Jones is the author/co-author of more than 138 traditionally published books for kids including the best-selling series, The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. [ALL LEVELS]
Class: Fridays, September 20–October 4, 5:30–7:00 PM • $67.50
Ghost Hunt: Friday, October 11, 8:00–11:00 PM • GA $50; Special Class Price $25
Ghosts reflect to us both the uncanny and the all too familiar. Their terrifying power can be used to hurt or to heal in narrative. Join horror author Elizabeth Kilcoyne in exploring the spirit realm through writing, and visit it with MK Paranormal. Elizabeth Kilcoyne is a YA Horror author from Lexington. Her novel, Wake the Bones, was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. [ALL LEVELS]
Tuesdays, October 15–December 17, 5:30–7:00 PM• $225
HYBRID: With a combination of instruction and take-home assignments, this no-nonsense weekly class will give writers what they need to get started and go write their novel. Learn prewriting strategies, what you need to know about scene writing, character development, effective dialogue, plotting and more. Amanda Corbin is a local writer and mother with a background in journalism who holds creative writing degrees from Morehead State and the University of Kentucky. [ALL LEVELS]
Writing Book Discussion Group with Marcia Thornton Jones
Thursdays, November 7–December 19 (no class November 28), 12:00–1:30 PM • $135 ONLINE: Learn writing techniques, hone your craft, and get words on the page for your work-in- progress by joining this lively discussion group focusing on a writing craft book. Classes include discussion of book content, prompts for implementing the book’s techniques, and peer sharing/feedback. Participants will need to buy a copy of their book. This session’s book is: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Marcia Thornton Jones is the author/co-author of more than 138 traditionally published books for kids including the best-selling series, The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. [ALL LEVELS]
Writing Op-Eds and Guest Essays with Darlene Ricker
Tuesdays, September 10–October 1, 5:30–7:00 PM • $90
Learn how to write and submit Op-Eds and guest essays for publication. We will cover all stages of the process, focusing on what editors look for and what makes them reject freelance submissions. We will study published Op-Eds and learn ways a new writer can establish himself in the field. The goal is to produce a ready-to-submit opinion piece by the end of the course. A special session will feature a local guest speaker whose Op-Eds have appeared in top publications and a highly respected editor at a major daily newspaper who makes decisions on Op-Ed submissions. A Q&A session will follow their presentations. This is an intense participatory course for writers of all levels. Darlene Ricker is a former staff writer and editor at the Boston Globe and the Los Angeles Times. She edited and made publishing decisions on freelance OpEd submissions. Recommended reading: That’s What You Think—A Practical Guide to Writing Compelling Op-Eds by Scott Colby (not required). [ALL LEVELS]
Lines About Bloodlines: Writing About Your Ancestry with Sean Patrick Hill
Thursdays, November 7 & 14, 5:00–7:00 PM • $60
ONLINE: In this class, we’ll explore how to research for information about your ancestors, using many online resources, as well as more practical, boots-on-the-ground research. We’ll look at some examples of published writing, and work towards developing a voice that can tell your ancestors’ stories. Sean Patrick Hill is a poet, nonfiction writer, and teacher with an MFA from the Warren Wilson College Program for Writers, and is currently at work on a book about his own ancestry. [ALL LEVELS]
What Comes Next: Poetry Revision and Expansion with Sean Corbin
Wednesdays, September 18–November 6, 6:00–7:30 PM • $180
ONLINE: This class will be a mix of weekly workshop and poetry generation exercises, with the goal of learning techniques for revision and expanding on poetic ideas for larger poetry projects. This is a class dedicated to critique and communication, so come to class ready to entertain and offer suggestions. Each student will have one poem workshopped per week, and receive weekly revision/generation exercises. Sean L Corbin is the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator for the Carnegie Center and has taught variations on this class for several years. [ALL LEVELS]
Nuts and Bolts: A Poetry Workshop with Quinn Lewis
Tuesdays, September 24–October 29, 5:30–7:00 PM • $135
A poetry workshop for all levels with emphasis placed on the foundational craft elements of poetry—image, metaphor, line, speaker, tone. Come write and discuss poems in a welcoming, low-pressure environment, while learning about and/ or reacquainting yourself with poetic craft. Quinn Lewis is a writer, educator, and editor, whose work has been featured in nationally recognized literary magazines including The Southern Review, Ecotone, and The Cincinnati Review. Her work has received support from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference, and the Elizabeth George Foundation. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPr0000012TzpMAE
Turning the Line with Katie Riley
Saturday, October 26, 10:30–12:30 PM • $35
Mary Oliver describes reading a poem as “someone stepping into a row boat with a stranger at the oars; the first few draws on the long oars through the deep water will tell a lot--is one safe, or is one apt to be soon drowned?” This class will explore line length and line breaks (the turn of the line) and how to carry our reader safely to the end of the poem. Katie Riley has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and runs a poetry workshop and a poetry Facebook group of over 200 members. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPr000000wr0jMAA
Sound & Sense: Sonic Properties in Poetry with Marianne Worthington
Tuesday, November 12, 6:00–8:00 PM • $35
ONLINE: Enliven your poetry by understanding and practicing sound devices unique to poems, such as consonance, assonance, harmonic structure, rhythm, and rhyme. We’ll look at model poems and draft new work with an option to share what you’ve written during class. Marianne Worthington is co-founder and poetry editor of Still: The Journal and the author of the award-winning poetry collection, The Girl Singer. [ALL LEVELS]
Tuesdays, September 10–September 24, 5:30–7:00 PM • $67.50
Do you have an interest in writing or do you talk about writing a book? Don’t let fear or not knowing where to begin stop you. This class will assist you with learning to let go of your fear and embrace the writer within. The class will utilize creative writing exercises and writing techniques. As a result of this class, participants should feel more confident about writing. Eugenia Johnson-Smith—author, coach, inspirational and motivational speaker, and CEO of Positive Power LLC Training and Development— empowers her clients to be a positive influence in the home, the community, and the world. She is a member of the Carnegie Center Board and serves as an ambassador for both the Carnegie Center and the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative. [BEGINNER]
Mondays, September 16–December 9 (no class September 30 or October 21), 5:30–7:00 PM • FREE
Join us at the community table in the beautiful, light-filled reference room where we’ll be inspired to write from rotating prompts. We’ll do a few short-timed writing sessions designed to get your pen moving and to shut down the inner critic. After each timed session, writers will read their new work aloud to nonjudgmental listeners who respond by recalling words or images that resonated. Melissa Bell-Pitts’s work has been selected as finalists in the Next Great Writers Contest and the Kentucky Women Writers Conference’s Betty Gabehart Prize. [ALL LEVELS]
Summoning Ghosts: Writing with Archives, Artifacts, and Research with Neleigh Olson
Thursdays, September 19–October 24, 5:30–7:00 PM • $135
This class invites writers of fiction and nonfiction to lift the curtain between the past and the page to ask, “who’s there?” We’ll discuss different techniques for using archival documents, photos, records, songs, buildings, ephemera, and even memory as a way to discover new pathways for your writing. This class will combine the best bits of the research process and the writing process—the thrill of discovering a great bit of research and the wonder and joy of bringing it to life on the page. We will have practical lessons, in-class writing activities, short and fun class readings and take-home assignments. This class would be great for fiction writers looking to add more realism and life to their stories by implementing research techniques and also for nonfiction writers or even family historians. Neleigh Olson is a graduate of UK’s MFA program in Creative Writing and of Liverpool Hope’s “The Beatles, Popular Music, and Society” MA program, where she used punk research techniques to write rock and roll histories. [ALL LEVELS]
Digging Deeper: Using Subtext to Add Depth to Your Stories with Laurie Calkhoven
Saturday, September 21, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM • $35
ONLINE: Subtext, the true meaning simmering underneath the surface, adds depth and layers of meaning to our scenes. Often what’s missing in the text is the most important part—the motives, thoughts, emotions, and human truths that resonate with multiple meanings. Using examples from multiple popular works of fiction, we’ll look at the many ways to use subtext in theme, setting, characterization, dialogue, and symbols to add meaning beneath the words. Laurie Calkhoven, an Author Accelerator certified Book Coach, is the author of more than 50 books for young readers, ranging from beginner readers through young adult. Many of her novels have appeared on state reading lists. [INTERMEDIATE]
Fridays, September 20–December 13 (no class on November 29), 12:00–1:30 PM • FREE ONLINE: This writing experience offers attendees the opportunity to engage in a creative and communicative loop without judgment. We write from a variety of prompts designed to release the inner censor and simply get words on a page. After each timed session, writers read aloud their new work to participating attendees. This zen-like practice originated from Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. Leslie Dodd is a painter, poet, songwriter, and aspiring folk opera writer, who has attended Free Writing Practice for many years. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPr000000iLFFMA2
Inner Lives: Using Meditation to Dig Deep into Scene and Character with Laurie Calkhoven
Tuesdays, September 24–October 29, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM • $135
ONLINE: Whether you’re brainstorming new ideas, getting to know your characters, trying to conjure a scene, or revising, these meditations will help you build a richer, deeper connection to your characters and your stories. No meditation experience necessary! Each class will include two meditations followed by free writing time and an opportunity to share what you’ve discovered. Laurie Calkhoven, an Author Accelerator certified Book Coach, is the author of more than 50 books for young readers, ranging from beginner readers through young adult. Many of her novels have appeared on state reading lists. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPr000000zth7MAA
Writing Toward a Sense of Place with Tony Crunk
Mondays, October 7–December 16 (no class on November 11), 7:00–8:30 PM • $225 ONLINE: A distinctive trait of much memorable writing is its (and its author’s) “sense of place.” But any “place” is much more than just its geographical location—it is also defined by history and culture, ecology andeconomics, sociology and ethnography, all of which have may have intensely personal, as well as familial and communal dimensions. Through a series of directed exercises and workshop discussion of drafted works, we will explore and develop in our writing the many-faceted “sense” that is “place.” The workshop is multi-genre– writers working in any genre and all genres are warmly invited, as are writers of any and all levels. Tony Crunk’s first collection of poetry, Living in the Resurrection, was a selection in the Yale Series of Younger Poets; he has published numerous subsequent works, and has taught at the Universities of Virginia, Montana, and Alabama/Birmingham, as well as in a number of community education programs across the country.
ONLINE: A character comes to life on the page through well-crafted sensory detail. In this prompt-driven workshop, we will explore how writing about sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell add dimension to your fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This workshop is open to writers of all levels, in all genres. Jessica Handler is the author of the novel The Magnetic Girl, winner of the 2020 Southern Book Prize, the memoir Invisible Sisters, the craft guide Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Loss, and the forthcoming novel The World To See. www.jessicahandler.com [ALL LEVELS]
ONLINE: Spirit Writing found me at a time in my life where I was looking for ritual in my creative life. While doing some academic research on Lucille Clifton, I came across information regarding her practice of “spirit writing.” It is called by other names: automatic writing, or somatic writing, but the important distinction was Clifton’s use of this type of writing in such a way that the spiritual and creative practices became one. I wanted to be able to use this in my own practice as being able to cultivate a writing practice that honored both my spirituality and creativity. In this workshop, people will learn about the process of Spirit Writing, how to engage with it, and how it can be used in the creative process. No prior experience required. Samar Jade is a creative and ensoulment doula. Their writing centers on the exploration of their identity as a Black, queer, gender expansive and disabled human. Similarly, as an ensoulment doula they use psychic mediumship, cartomancy, astrology and somatic body work to help others hold the complexity of all that it means to be human in this world. Their first poetry chapbook, Blue Violet, is currently in progress, and slated to be complete in 2025. [ALL LEVELS]
The Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative presents: for Black girls–and their allies–who have considered not writing / when they are enuf: Finding Your Magic with Kristen Gentry
Saturday, October 12, 12:00–1:30 PM • FREE
ADULTS, AGES 15 & UP: Your stories (or poems) need you–the only you that you can be, exactly as you are right now. After “somebody almost walked off wid all [her] stuff,” Juanita from Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem for colored girls… snatches that stuff back, reclaiming her “arm with the hot iron scar,” “calloused feet,” “quick language.” She declares, “I gotta have me in my pocket to get round like a good woman should.” And I’m telling you, you gotta have you–flaws and all–in your pocket to get round like a good writer should. In this workshop for ages 15 and up, we’ll explore various parts of the self and uncover some of the stuff that makes you unique and will make your writing distinct. Kristen Gentry is the author of Mama Said, longlisted for the 2024 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection. She received her M.F.A. from Indiana University. Her award-winning fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and appeared in Electric Literature, Crab Orchard Review, and other journals. She is a VONA and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference alumna, former Director of Creative Writing at SUNY Geneseo, and a member of the inaugural Poets & Writers publicity incubator for debut writers. She lives and writes in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPr00000172xNMAQ
PUBLISHING
Self-Publishing 101 with Liz Carey & Bill Carman
Saturday, September 14, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM • $45
This class will cover how to determine whether or not self-publishing is the right route for you, what the best route to take is when self-publishing your book, what the steps are in self-publishing your book and how to work through the process of laying out and designing the book. Liz Carey is a freelance writer and author who has self-published two books, and is working on publishing several more. A freelance writer, Carey provides content for local and national publications, as well as ghostwrites biographies for clients and mentors students at the Carnegie Center. Bill Carman has taught this course and others for the Carnegie Center. He also teaches fly fishing seminars and Community Education classes as an adjunct instructor at the University of Kentucky. He has published dozens of stories since his first publication in 1976. His latest book, Fishing with Daniel Boone: Fly Fishing the Streams of an American Hero was released this past spring. [ALL LEVELS]
Marketing Your Self-Published Book with Liz Carey & Bill Carman
Saturday, November 16, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM • $45
Once you have self-published your book, you’ll need to sell it. This class will tell you how to place your book in book stores, determine your audience and hone your brand to help you sell your book. This hands-on session will help you develop an elevator pitch, learn how to deal with designers, identify different marketing material you may need, and start the process of putting together a marketing plan for your book. Liz Carey is a freelance writer and author who has self-published two books, and is working on publishing several more. A freelance writer, Carey provides content for local and national publications, as well as ghostwrites biographies for clients and mentors students at the Carnegie Center. Bill Carman has taught many courses for the Carnegie Center. He also teaches fly fishing seminars and Community Education classes as an adjunct instructor at the University of Kentucky. He has published dozens of stories since his first publication in 1976. His latest book, Fishing with Daniel Boone: Fly Fishing the Streams of an American Hero was released this past spring. [INTERMEDIATE]
Thursdays, September 26–November 14, 12:00–1:00 PM • FREE
An informal discussion group focusing on literature by and about women. Be prepared to buy the selected works or borrow them from the library. Contact the Carnegie Center for the updated book list. Jan Isenhour, former Executive Director of the Carnegie Center, has facilitated the Brown Bag group since it began in 1995. She has an M.A. in literature and has taught at the college level. [ALL LEVELS] https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/ events/a0So0000000reexEAA
ONLINE: Join us for a monthly discussion group of contemporary Latin American, Latinx and Hispanic fiction conducted in Spanish. The group welcomes members who are comfortable reading adult Spanish- language books and talking about them. Books will be selected based on group member interests. For information about current selections, contact Tatianna at tverswyvel@gmail.com. The first 10 registrants for each book (two months of discussion) will receive a copy of that book selection. Tatianna Verswyvel is a native Spanish speaker with a B.A. in International Affairs from Transylvania University. She works as an editorial assistant at the University Press of Kentucky. https://carnegiecenterlex.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S3l00000J9JZREA3
LANGUAGE LEARNING
French Level 3 with Erica House
Mondays, September 16–November 11, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM • $202.50
We will review and build from previous levels and apply our knowledge through creative mediums. We will gain more access to vocabulary, verbs, and grammar. A basic knowledge of the passé composé and imparfait is required.
Required Text: The Complete French Vocabulary Course by Dylane Moreau. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Mondays, September 16–November 11, 12:00–1:30 PM • $202.50
An adequate understanding of written and spoken French is required. This course is challenging and accessible.
Required Text: Grammaire Progressive du Français (Niveau Perfectionnement) by Maïa Grégoire et Alina Kostucki. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Mondays, September 16–November 11, 5:30–7:00 PM • $202.50
We will continue to add verbs, vocabulary, and expressions to our repertoire. We will practice pronunciation and reading comprehension by reading aloud.
Required Text: The Complete French Grammar Course by Dylane Moreau. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Tuesdays, September 17–November 12, 5:30–7:00 PM • $202.50
We now have gained enough tools from the previous levels to delve more deeply into reading, listening, and discussing comprehension through conversation. We will revisit certain grammar sections and apply them to the season’s lessons.
Required Text: Grammaire Progressive Du Français (Intermédiare) by Maïa Grégoire et Odile Thiévenaz. Erica will be using the 4th edition. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Wednesdays, September 18–November 20 (no class October 9), 5:30–7:00 PM • $202.50
This very introductory-level class is designed for the ultra-beginner. We will introduce salutations, pronouns, vocabulary, some prepositions, and some verb conjugations. We will work on pronunciation, personal interests, and question-asking. Expect role-playing and repetition. By the end of the season, you will be able to present yourself to the class!
Required Text: Easy French Step-by-Step by Myrna Bell Rochester, Ph.D. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Bring your lunch, your café, or just yourself for 2 hours of informal French dialogue. This class is all in French and you are welcome to participate or simply listen. All levels welcome. No preparation required. Just show up (with a pen and paper optional). In-person only. À bientôt!
Tuesdays, October 29–November 26, 5:30–7:00 PM • $112.50
Continue learning how to speak conversational Italian and appreciate Italian culture. In this course, you’ll build on the fundamentals of the language through exercises, poems, songs, and practice. Andrea Branchini has lived and worked in five countries and has a philosophy degree from the University of Bologna.
Tuesdays, September 24–October 22, 5:30–7:00 PM • $112.50
Learn to speak conversational Italian and appreciate Italian culture. In this course, you’ll learn the fundamentals of the language through exercises, poems, songs, and practice. Andrea Branchini has lived and worked in five countries and has a philosophy degree from the University of Bologna.
Wednesdays, September 11–October 30, 5:30–7:00 PM • $180
This is a beginner level class for anyone wanting to refresh or learn Spanish grammar, vocabulary, everyday phrases and cultural differences. Our goal will be to complete some chapters together in class but also encourage at home practice as well with the textbook materials. Selena Lopez is a 2023 graduate from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Spanish. She has studied abroad in Spain and works at an elementary school where the majority of the population comes from Spanish-speaking households.
Required Text: Easy Step by Step Master High-Frequency Grammar for Spanish Proficiency – Fast! by Barbara Bregstei
Mondays, October 21–December 9, 5:30–7:00 PM • $180
ONLINE: Join us to start learning a new language through grammatical concepts, situational and functional vocabulary, expressions, phrases, and pronunciation. In each class, students will speak, listen, write, and read. At the end of the course, students will be able to communicate in simple sentences using the basic acquired vocabulary and grammatical concepts. Carmen Butera holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and from Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal in Lima, Peru. Ms. Butera’s expertise includes teaching Spanish to adult students in a variety of settings and for general communication purposes.
Required Text: Spanish Now! Level 1, 8th ed. (Publisher: Barron) by Ruth J. Silverstein. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Wednesdays, September 11–December 18 (no class November 27), 11:00 AM–12:00 PM • FREE To register for this class, please call the Lexington Senior Center at 859-278-6072.
ONLINE: Keep your brain sharp this year! In this fun class, we will do word games, number games, logic puzzles, and all kinds of challenges to keep your brain moving. Join us any time! Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from UMass Amherst, and she teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects. [ALL LEVELS]
2-YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: Join us for story time, free books, and hands-on activities designed to encourage early excitement for reading. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time setting. A free book is included for the first 15 registered families in attendance! Funded by PNC Foundation. Please register for each session you wish to attend. With experience in both performing and teaching, Glenna Holloway brings with her a love for children and books! Her goal is to teach practical skills while instilling a joy for learning.
3–5-YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: Join us for story time, free books, and hands-on activities designed to encourage early excitement for reading. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time setting. A free book is included for the first 15 registered families in attendance! Funded by PNC Foundation. Please register for each session you wish to attend. With experience in both performing and teaching, Glenna Holloway brings with her a love for children and books! Her goal is to teach practical skills while instilling a joy for learning.
Outstanding Writers League (OWL) with Carole Johnston
Wednesdays, October 2–November 13, 5:30–6:30 PM • FREE
GRADES 4–6: Outstanding Writers’ League is an essential, beginning creative writing class for all kids who like to write, or might like to write. Hone your writing skills in a creative, hands-on environment! Together, we’ll explore how fun writing can be as we play writing games and write stories, poems, and more. We will focus on using “neon” words and images in fiction and poetry. Sponsored by the MacAdam Early Childhood & Literacy Fund at Blue Grass Community Foundation. Carole Johnston is a poet and memoirist, author of five books of poetry. Having taught creative writing/literary arts at SCAPA for eighteen years, she specializes in motivating kids to write.
Tuesdays, October 8 – October 29, 10:15-11:00 AM • FREE
BIRTH TO 3-YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: Join us for a story and playtime that uses seasonally themed books and activities to promote the development of early language skills. We will also provide strategies and share ideas to enable parents to foster a love of reading, writing, speaking, and all things literacy. A free book is included for the first 10 registered families in attendance! Funded by the PNC Foundation. Diane Mason is a speech language pathologist who loves to read stories! She always aspires to create a fun, casual, interactive learning environment to spark a little one’s creativity, curiosity, and stimulate their imagination, all the while building important language, communication, social, and cognitive skills. She also strives to make Storytime a special time to encourage each parent and child to connect and feel a sense of community, support, and friendship.
Tuesdays, October 8–October 29, 4:30–5:30 PM • FREE GRADES 1–5: Give your child the advantage of learning French at an early age. Learning a foreign language enhances memory, improves problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and can be lots of FUN! We will learn French through songs, games, stories, and more. À bientôt! Erica House has lived in various regions of France and has been teaching French to children and adults for more than 20 years.
Wednesdays, October 9–December 4 (no class November 27), 4:15–5:15 PM • FREE GRADES 1–5: ¡Hola! Join us for this fun, hands-on workshop for kids. You›ll learn the basics of the Spanish language through fun games, crafts, songs, activities, and more. ¡Te esperamos! Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects.
Wednesdays, October 9–December 4 (no class November 27), 5:15–6:15 PM • FREE GRADES 4 & UP AND THEIR GROWN-UPS: Can you spell marionette? Pepperoni? Ukulele? We’ll learn lots of fun words, play crosswords and other games, and learn about word roots in French, Hawaiian, and other languages as we prepare for your school’s spelling bee or the Fayette County spelling bee. Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects.
Thursdays, October 10–December 12 (no class Oct. 31 or Nov. 28), 4:15–5:15 PM • FREE GRADES 2–5: Keep your brain sharp this fall! In this fun class, we will do word games, number games, logic puzzles, and all kinds of challenges to keep your brain moving. Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects.
Thursdays, October 10–December 12 (no class Oct. 31 or Nov. 28), 5:15–6:15 PM • FREE GRADES 4–5: Work and play together! This class uses games and cooperative activities to introduce and reinforce math skills, such as addition, subtraction, logic, multiplication, division, fractions, and more. Some homework help will be available. Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects.
Youth Poet Laureate*: From Page to Stage with Beaux Hardin
Thursdays, October 3–October 24, 6:00–7:15 PM • FREE GRADES 9–12: This course is designed to encourage students to improve their skills in both writing and performing poetry. Students will discuss what makes award-winning poetry and will be given opportunities to improve their work and public speaking voice. Beaux Hardin is an Undergraduate Poet and Research Scholar and Gaines fellow at the University of Kentucky. They are studying English Creative Writing and French. In 2024, they’ve recently won the UKY Farquhar Award for Poetry, 1st Place in the UKY Oswald Research and Creativity Competition for Poetry, the Sigma Tau Delta LGBTQ 2nd Place for Poetry, and the UKY Summer Undergraduate Research Award to study poetry. They want to help make education more accessible for marginalized communities.
*The Youth Poet Laureate program for Lexington, KY is a partnership with Urban Word founders of the National Youth Poet Laureate Program. This course is open to all teens.
Math Appreciation through Dungeons & Dragons with Elaphe Crabbe
Thursdays, DATES TBD, 5:15-7:15 PM • FREE GRADES 6–9: Join us for an adventure in learning! This class uses the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons to show kids how fun critical thinking, teamwork, and math can be. Through cooperative storytelling, kids learn to work together to solve problems with the tools provided. Math topics covered range from addition and multiplication to algebra and probability, depending on the individual student’s needs. Both new and returning students are welcome! Elaphe Crabb holds multiple degrees in math and engineering from the University of Kentucky. He works with private students in multiple subjects and education levels.
