Bearing Witness: Diary Responses to the Holocaust

With Simon Schocken Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 106 Aug. 28; Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 Cost: $45

Explore the moving diaries of Anne Frank and Etty Hillesum, two Jewish women who recorded their lives during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. Their writing offers powerful examples of resilience, introspection, resistance, and witness in the face of annihilation.

Simon Schocken leads an exploration of Frank's and Hillesum's diaries as vital forms of resistance and witnessing, examining their literary, psychological, and spiritual legacies.

Zora (Neale Hurston) and Langston (Hughes): Friendship, Folklore, and Feud

With Vanessa Rouillon Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 107 Aug. 28; Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 Cost: $45

Explore the vibrant intellectual and personal relationship between Harlem Renaissance writers Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Once close friends and collaborators, they traveled the South collecting Black folklore before their partnership fractured. The course examines their friendship, creative work, collaboration, and lasting literary influence.

Dr. Vanessa Rouillon is an English professor at Bridgewater College specializing in Black literature and rhetorics. A scholar and documentary filmmaker, she is writing a biography of Albert R. Lee and leads the college's annual King's Teach-In and Frederick Douglass celebrations.

Asian Culinary Experience & Demonstration

With Zane Xu & Daniel Duran Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | PENDING LOCATION Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 Cost: $40

Join a chef-led demonstration of sushi and Asian appetizers to learn techniques and explore flavors. Participation is optional, making it a relaxed and informative outing. Observe, ask questions, and gain insight into your favorite Asian dishes.

Zane Xu is a Chinese chef and lead demonstrator. He cooked at Oriental Café in Harrisonburg from 2013 to 2015 before becoming Head Chef at Han Dynasty in New York's East Village. In 2026, he returned to Virginia to lead Silk Road in Waynesboro.

Dance Like Jane Austen

With Tom Mack Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | PENDING LOCATION Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25; Oct. 2, 9 Cost: $50

Do you love watching the dances in Jane Austen movies? We can teach you how to join in the fun! If you can walk to the beat of the music and remember your lefts and rights, you can do this. We will learn dances of the 1700's and the 1800's done in circles, lines, and squares. No experience or partner needed. It's a little physical, a little mental, and a lot of fun. Yes, you will be dancing in this class.

Tom Mack, a retired elementary teacher, became a Civil War reenactor with his wife, Lesley. Their involvement inspired them to start the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers, a volunteer nonprofit that supports land preservation by teaching and performing early American dance.

The Aging Brain: Science, Myth, and Lifelong Vitality

With PJ Rooney Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 Sept. 4, 11 Cost: $30

This research-based course explores cognitive aging, addressing questions about memory loss, the effectiveness of puzzles in preventing dementia, and the possibility of building new brain cells later in life. Participants will learn about "inflammaging," neuroplasticity, and gain practical, science-backed strategies for maintaining mental resilience.

PJ Rooney is a Mediator for the Virginia court system and adjunct faculty member specializing in the intersection of neuroscience and the microbiome in human performance. A former Brookings, FEI, and West Point faculty member, she previously held senior leadership roles in the Defense Intelligence Community and holds advanced degrees from UVA, Vanderbilt, UNC–Chapel Hill, and the Joint Military Intelligence College.

Podcast Club: Listening and Conversation

With Bridget Manley Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6 Cost: $50

Podcasts are one of the most popular ways to share stories, ideas, and information. In this relaxed, discussion-based class, participants will listen to selected episodes, share recommendations, explore genres, and discuss what makes podcasts engaging. No technical skills or formal analysis are required.

Bridget Manley is a publisher with The Harrisonburg Citizen and has freelanced for WMRA and Virginia Public Media. She spent much of her career as a radio reporter and produced her own podcast, Birds in a Tree.

Rest As a Radical Act: Transforming Your Sleep with Kundalini Yoga

With Jennifer Perry Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 117 Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6 Cost: $45

Sleep occupies a third of our lives, yet many of us struggle with it. In this class, we'll explore Kundalini Yoga techniques specific to supporting and transforming our sleep. Sessions end with yogic rest and homemade tea. Chairs and variations offered for accessibility. Please bring a mat and blanket(s).

Jennifer Perry (Dass Priya Kaur) is a certified teacher of Kundalini Yoga (KRI), Conscious Pregnancy Yoga, and Radiant Child Yoga. She is a Usui Reiki Level III Master and founder of smallSEEDS, a local studio devoted to offerings of Kundalini Yoga, Reiki, and community connection.

Spirit of Fire: The Life, Vision, and Legacy of Teilhard De Chardin

With Dave Pruett Friday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | IH 107 Oct. 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20; Dec. 4 Cost: $50

For those who wish to bridge the science-religion chasm, there is no greater guide than the French paleontologist-priest Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955). Among the terms coined by Teilhard are cosmogenesis, complexification, noosphere, and Omega Point. In this course we will examine Teilhard's extraordinary life and explore his profound ideas.

Dave Pruett, Professor Emeritus of applied mathematics at JMU and former NASA researcher, is the author of Hiking the AT in the Virginias and Reason and Wonder. His work engages Teilhard de Chardin's integrative thought, and this marks his thirteenth LLI course since retiring in 2013.

Trees: Survival, Stress, and Stewardship

With Sue Dickson Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 106 Oct. 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13 Cost: $40

Explore how trees defend against pests and environmental stress. Learn science-based planting and pruning practices, discover climate-resilient native species, build structural pruning skills, and examine real-world tree care during an urban field walk.

Sue Dickson is a certified arborist and horticulture educator who has taught at NVCC, Blue Ridge Community College, and JMU. She now consults, speaks on horticulture, and helps homeowners improve their pruning and gardening skills.

The Homemade Table: Elegant Peruvian Bites for the Holidays

With Vanessa Rouillon Friday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 Dec. 4, 11 Cost: $30

Celebrate Peru's diverse flavors while preparing elegant savory and sweet appetizers for year-end gatherings. Participants will work with Peruvian ingredients and learn approachable techniques for creating festive homemade bites suitable for holiday entertaining.

Vanessa Rouillon is an Assistant Professor of English at Bridgewater College and a scholar of Black rhetorics. She returns to LLI to lead a festive exploration of Peru's diverse flavors.