For retirees who want to brush up on their history or creative writing, the Community Colleges of Spokane is offering two ACT 2 classes through its extended learning program at the Cheney Care Center.
The first class is “The Lincoln Legend: 150th Anniversary of His Death,” which will be taught every Monday, from 9–11 a.m. from Sept. 21 to Oct. 26. Dick Donley, a retired Eastern Washington University professor, will guide students through the life of President Abraham Lincoln, from his days as a prairie lawyer to his later years.
“I’ll touch upon things like Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, which extends the hand to citizens who rebelled during the Civil War, and the Gettysburg Address.” Donley said. “It articulates what we’d like to be as a nation.”
Donley, who retired from Eastern 15 years ago, taught history at Spokane Falls Community College.
“I enjoy teaching in front of my peers,” Donley said in reference to the course about President Lincoln. “There are no reading assignments. This is for an older group who wants to listen. Hopefully it triggers an extended discussion.”
The second class is a writers’ workshop with Lisa Conger, every Thursday from Sept. 24 to Oct. 19, from 1:30–3:30 p.m. In the class, students will use their insights and imagination to generate stories, skits and or poetry, as well as sharpen their writing skills.
Conger has taught creative writing and poetry since 2000. She is a published poet and has art on display in several local galleries. She is also a member of the National Poetry Therapy Association.
Some folks may recognize Conger as she previously held the workshop in Medical Lake before it moved to the care center. For the workshop, Conger gives her students a writing prompt for the following week. Her main guideline for the prompt is to write, “what needs to be written.”
“Most of them are sharing their life stories while there are some who write fiction and poetry,” Conger said “I enjoy this class because people who sign up are lifelong learners. Sometimes we do a little bit of laughing and sometimes we do a little bit of crying.”
The cost of the history class is $42 while the creative writing class is $58. To register, students print and fill out an application from CCS website http://sccel.spokane.edu/ACT-2.aspx. They can fax their application (509) 279-6030 or mail it to Non-Credit Registration, 2917 W. Ft. George Wright Drive - MS 3027, Spokane, WA 99224.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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