Lecture Series

Wednesdays, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Meeting Dates: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, & 28

Course Description:
One of the challenges to creating an informed opinion is that everything happens in a context. While one can perhaps learn the specific actions that take place in the Middle East, and particularly in Israel and Palestine, without understanding the history of the area, one cannot hope to understand why those actions take place. Further, the actions in Israel and Palestine very much impact life here in the United States. This course will attempt to consider the history of the area and understand the roots of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Though it is an incredibly challenging topic to consider, it is imperative to understanding one of the most divisive issues of our era.

Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD, teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a member of Civic Spirit's teacher education cohort, and the award-winning author of 10 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary.

Our FAB students’ safety is important to us; therefore, we are taking precautions to make the in-person classes a safe and welcoming environment. In this environment, students will be able to enjoy face-to-face interactions with their faculty and classmates and the option to grab a coffee or a bite to eat before or after class. For those not able to join us in person, we continue to be your virtual home for learning!

Note: Walk-ins are not permitted. You may register via phone by calling (805) 493-3290 at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. Persons will not be allowed into the learning space if they are not on the roster in advance.

Regarding in-person attendance:

• FREE, accessible parking at both campus locations (view location and parking details HERE)
• Large lecture room with ample space meeting Cal/OSHA guidelines
• Masks are recommended but are not required

Can’t get to campus for an in-person course? No problem! Attend the course virtually instead.

In-Person & Virtual Learning

Using a hybrid learning model, in-person and virtual students can attend the same class simultaneously. A special “360-camera” will follow the instructor in the classroom, and students attending virtually will be able to see and hear the instructor and view the PowerPoint over Zoom (similar to our traditional virtual courses).

Thursday, January 18, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Tour and Talk Description:
Holocaust Museum LA is a museum dedicated to educating the public about the Holocaust, a tragic chapter in history during World War II when six million Jews, along with millions of others, were systematically persecuted and murdered by the Nazis. 

This virtual tour and survivor talk will feature a look at historical artifacts, personal testimony with a survivor of the Holocaust, and multimedia presentations that detail the events of the Holocaust. Attendees will learn more about this dark chapter in history, gaining insights into the resilience of survivors, the impact on families and communities, and the broader historical context. The intention is to create a respectful and impactful environment where visitors can learn, reflect, and remember. 

Bio:
The Holocaust Museum LA is committed to educating the public about the Holocaust, commemorating the victims, and promoting awareness and understanding to prevent such atrocities in the future. The museum strives to be a place of remembrance, reflection, and education, fostering a commitment to human rights and tolerance. 

Part 1: Monday, January 22, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, January 29, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Referred to as the "School of Paris" to set them apart from the French-born young artists of this period, this two-day course will look at the group of immigrant painters and sculptors who dominated the new art scene of Montparnasse in Paris for a couple of decades before World War II. The up-and-coming thriving artistic and literary neighborhood was centered around the varied and innovative artists Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine and Jules Pascin. Through struggles and tragedy, each artist eventually found success and respect. 

Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.

Tuesday, January 23, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
In this lecture, we will explore reporting during times of war. Dating back to Thucydides, correspondents have reported from the frontlines to keep people apprised of what was happening in war zones. In modern history, reporting on war has shaped public perceptions of conflict and influenced the government’s decision-making, while photojournalism has brought the reality of war to front pages and television screens. War correspondents risk their lives to bring the stories of war to the people and this work continues in coverage of today’s conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Hamas. More recently, news organizations have become increasingly concerned about the impact such reporting has on its people, so this lecture will also touch on aspects of trauma-informed reporting.

Bio:
Kirstie Hettinga (Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University) is an associate professor of communication at California Lutheran University. She teaches media writing, editing, and content creation and serves as the faculty adviser to Cal Lutheran’s award-winning student newspaper, The Echo. Her research addresses issues of accuracy and credibility in news media, as well as how students learn in student newsrooms. Her work has been published in Newspaper Research Journal, College Media Review, Journal of Media Ethics, and Journalism Practice.

Thursday, January 25, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
As America transformed from its colonial period to a fully-fledged nation, the paintings of the Hudson River School of artists in the 19th century depicted the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding area, including the Catskill, Adirondack, and White Mountains. A common theme was the belief that nature in the form of the American landscape was a reflection of God, and the artists' work reflected the themes of a 19th-century American interest in discovery and exploration as the country expanded westward. The Hudson River School artists also influenced other artists to explore the American wilderness and paint the luminous skies of the Eastern Seaboard to the coppery colors of the Southwest.

Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.  She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York.  She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.

Part 1: Tuesday, January 30, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, February 6, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Napoleon was right when he noted “China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep for when she awakes, she will move the world.” She has indeed awakened though too many Americans linger clueless about how powerful she has become and how dangerous this can be. She is the world’s second-largest economy with nuclear arms. Churchill called Russia a “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” It is a superpower mired in the savage, botched invasion of neighboring Ukraine. It possesses more nuclear weapons than anyone else yet is obsessed with its own declining political and economic status. And America? It remains the foremost global power in history yet is riven by internal political discord and unsure of not only its power but what to do with it. China and Russia appear to be drawing closer to one another, what should be our response? Three nuclear powers: one rising, one falling, one wondering. They are like scorpions in a bottle, each with the capacity to kill the other, but itself die in the stinging. These talks explore the inter-relationships among the three, assess what is behind the rise and fall, and ask what do we have to fear and hope.

Bio:
Dr. Herbert Gooch is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at California Lutheran University. He formerly served as Director of the Masters in Public Policy and Administration program and Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies at Cal Lutheran. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley in History, he holds a M.B.A in Management and both masters and doctoral degrees in Political Science from U.C.L.A. He has written extensively and is a frequent commentator on political affairs locally and statewide. He has been at Cal Lutheran since 1987 and lives in Newbury Park with his wife. His interests include politics, film and travel.

Thursday, February 1, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Los Angeles experienced a population explosion during World War II. Airplane factories like Donald Douglas, Lockheed, and Northrop were producing 80% of the warplanes for the British and French before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Once the U.S. entered the war, they were churning out planes 24/7. The need for workers led to new opportunities for Blacks, Hispanics, and women, but racism and sexism were still prevalent. In this presentation, we’ll look at how the fear of a Japanese invasion of L.A. led to nightly blackouts, air-raid drills, rationing, and the internment of thousands of Japanese that Americans feared were enemies. We’ll also look at the Hollywood movies that fostered patriotism, and the songs that cheered up soldiers and civilians alike. We’ll conclude with a view of how the war changed L.A. for the future — sprawling suburbs, crowded freeways, and the first smog alerts.

Bio:
Sharon Boorstin is a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in lifestyle, food and travel. In 2019 she won Visit California’s Eureka Award for Best Newspaper Travel Article. In the 1970s and ‘80s, Sharon was the Restaurant Critic of the (late) Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, and in the ‘90s she edited the annual Gayot Guidebooks for Los Angeles and other cities. She also wrote for magazines including Bon Appetit, Smithsonian, and Town & Country Travel. With her husband Paul, she wrote dozens of screenplays for feature films and television including Angel of Death (ABC) starring Jane Seymour. Her memoir/cookbook, “Let Us Eat Cake: Adventures in Food and Friendship” (Harper-Collins 2002), was a selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club. Raised in Seattle, Washington, Sharon moved to Los Angeles in 1966 after earning a California Lifetime Teaching credential at U.C. Berkeley. She taught high-school History, English, and Social Studies in L.A. for 11 years.

Part 1: Monday, February 5, 1:15-3:15pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, February 12, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Oscar time is here! In 92 years, musical films have won the award for best picture ten times. Ten terrific musicals! Take a tour with us as we explore “American in Paris,” “The Great Ziegfeld,” “West Side Story,” and six more musical winners. Feel inspired and filled with unbridled joy with Oscar-winning performances.

Bio:
Film historians Sam and Candy Caponegro are passionate about movie musicals. For over thirty years, they have acted, directed, and produced professional, community, and school theater. Candy’s most notable professional acting roles are Adelaine opposite Nathan Lane in Guys and Dolls and Cheri opposite Divine in the New York production of Women Behind Bars. Sam and Candy have taught numerous courses and lectures on cruise lines, at libraries, and for many 50+ audiences. They hope to keep the classic movie musical and the golden age of Broadway alive through their lectures.

Tuesday, February 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Ventura County is often billed as the neighborhood that Hollywood forgot, with one entertainment columnist claiming you won’t find any movie stars residing between Malibu and Montecito. But the truth is something else again. With the Academy Awards (March 10th) right around the corner, we’ll look at our county’s rich history of Oscar-nominated movie stars like Irene Dunne and Loretta Young (early investors in the Ojai Valley Inn), Walter Brennan (who served as Camarillo’s Christmas Parade Grand Marshall for more than a decade), Kevin Costner (who spent his formative years in Ventura, Santa Paula, and Ojai) and “Coda” star Troy Katsur (whose actress-wife Deanne Bray taught sign language at Oak Park High School). Harry Medved, spokesperson for The Cinema Foundation and coauthor of “Hollywood Escapes,” will reveal the storied history of Ventura’s actors and filmmakers, and will review the county’s top movie star romances just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Bio:
A Southern California native, Harry Medved has served as the PR lead for Fandango, Yahoo!, Warner Bros. Online and the Screen Actors Guild. Before creating the “Lost and Found” travel column for the Pasadena Star-News, he co-authored the popular movie books The Fifty Worst Films of All Time, The Golden Turkey Awards, and Hollywood Escapes. He lives in the Conejo Valley with his wife Michele and family.

Thursday, February 22, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom 

Lecture Description:
Walter Gropius opened the doors of the legendary German Art School, The Bauhaus in 1919 with the invitation that “any person of good character, regardless of age or sex” would be admitted. In the decade that followed, Gropius and other Master Teachers were skeptical of including women across the arts, thus allowing them access only to certain classes deemed within their natures. Little did these men realize that these women had no intention of staying in the basement working on arts & crafts. Their artistic responses will not only enthrall you but shed light on the talents that we see manifested today in the art world. Join us as we look back on the forward-looking women artists of The Bauhaus.

Bio:
Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate from Trident Manor on the Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over a decade as a LACMA docent and is an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological dig in Israel.

Our FAB students’ safety is important to us; therefore, we are taking precautions to make the in-person classes a safe and welcoming environment. In this environment, students will be able to enjoy face-to-face interactions with their faculty and classmates and the option to grab a coffee or a bite to eat before or after class. For those not able to join us in person, we continue to be your virtual home for learning!

Note: Walk-ins are not permitted. You may register via phone by calling (805) 493-3290 at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. Persons will not be allowed into the learning space if they are not on the roster in advance.

Regarding in-person attendance:

• FREE, accessible parking at both campus locations (view location and parking details HERE)
• Large lecture room with ample space meeting Cal/OSHA guidelines
• Masks are recommended but are not required

Can’t get to campus for an in-person course? No problem! Attend the course virtually instead.

In-Person & Virtual Learning

Using a hybrid learning model, in-person and virtual students can attend the same class simultaneously. A special “360-camera” will follow the instructor in the classroom, and students attending virtually will be able to see and hear the instructor and view the PowerPoint over Zoom (similar to our traditional virtual courses).

Thursday, November 2, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom 

Lecture Description:
After a century of fire suppression, California wildfires are now getting bigger, hotter and more frequent. This surge of large wildfires has been particularly pronounced over the past decade, which has witnessed the majority of the largest wildfires in state history. While 2020 was a historically bad year for wildfires in California, Ventura County was most severely impacted in 2017 by the Thomas fire and in 2018 by the Woolsey fire. This lecture will examine fire history in California and the American West stretching back more than 1000 years and consider the primary drivers of the dramatic 21^st century regime shift towards large wildfires affecting 100,000-1,000,000+ acres.

Bio:
Dr. Robert Dull is the Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cal Lutheran. His research seeks to elucidate human-environment relationships over time, with emphases on the Late Prehistoric and Colonial periods in the Americas. Dr. Dull works on topics ranging from deforestation and food production to climate change and natural hazards.  He has spent most of his career working in Central America, although he also has ongoing research projects in California.  Dr. Dull grew up in Bakersfield, CA and received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2001.  Before arriving at CLU in 2019 to Chair the newly formed Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, he held full-time academic appointments at UC Berkeley, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas, Austin. 

Monday, November 6, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Cosmopolitan, gregarious, and prodigious, Sargent’s fashionable portraits were the most celebrated symbol of his brilliance. He was a master of many different painting styles—Impressionism, classical portraits, landscapes, watercolors, and murals—and his richly textured pallets reflected his lifelong reverence for Diego Velázquez and Franz Hals. Caught in the cross-fire of controversy on several occasions, he celebrated his passion for art through a breadth of subject matter ranging from portraits of two U.S. Presidents to paintings executed near the front lines during World War I.

Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.  She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York.  She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.

Wednesday, November 8, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Do you just want to sit back and laugh while exploring the world of musicals? This is the lecture for you. You’ll be chuckling while watching and discussing the most hilarious numbers from famous musicals and not so famous musicals.  What can be funnier than watching ”Putting On The Ritz” from Young Frankenstein, “You’ve Gotta Have a Gimmick” from Gypsy, or absolutely anything from The Producers? There is nothing like a great song to get you in a great mood. We promise you will leave this class with your toes tapping and a smile on your face.

Bio:
Film historians Sam and Candy Caponegro are passionate about movie musicals. For over thirty years, they have acted, directed, and produced professional, community, and school theater. Candy’s most notable professional acting roles are Adelaine opposite Nathan Lane in Guys and Dolls and Cheri opposite Divine in the New York production of Women Behind Bars. Sam and Candy have taught numerous courses and lecture on cruise lines, at libraries, and for many 50+ audiences. They hope to keep the classic movie musical and the golden age of Broadway alive through their lectures.

Part 1: Friday, November 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Friday, November 17, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
Critics widely regard Leonard Cohen to be one of the very best, if not best, of the many singer/songwriters who emerged in the 1960s following in the path of the pioneering Bob Dylan. Over a fifty-year career, Leonard Cohen created a remarkable body of work, that included poetry, novels, and songs, and made an indelible imprint on the contemporary music scene. Similar to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen’s Jewish background deeply shaped his life and work. Cohen’s poetry and lyrics reflect a deep connection with Jewish tradition and biblical sources. These lectures will examine the mixture of Jewish influences in the work of Leonard Cohen and will seek to demonstrate the value of viewing Leonard Cohen’s work through a Jewish lens. This course will be taught using audio, video, text analysis, and group discussion.

Week 1: From Poetry to Song: Leonard Cohen, the Early Years

Week 2: Leonard Cohen: Between the Mountain and the World

Bio:
Clifford Wilcox, Ph.D., is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history and Jewish Studies. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas, politics, and religion in American history. He is Director of Education and Operations at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA and has taught in the CLU FAB program since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Wednesday, November 15, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
There is nothing more political than food. In the food production process, what counts as food, how it's produced, to whom it is distributed, and what regulations apply to the process are all matters of political resources and deliberations. More immediately for us, the food we consume is also intertwined with our identities, families, bodies, and beliefs. Our understanding of food, however, is constructed - most often by media images about the food we eat, how we cook it, and where it came from. Everything from food advertisements, social media trends, Food Network content, cookbooks and magazines shape how we think about food and its consumption. This lecture will explore media content and the politics and representations of food.

Bio:
Aaron Heresco, Ph.D., is a 1st generation college student who grew up in central Pennsylvania. He went to Penn State Altoona for his undergraduate degree with plans to work in international affairs. After taking two years off after graduation, Aaron decided to pursue a post-graduate degree in communication, focusing largely on news cultures and practices. While studying news Aaron developed a passion for understanding the relationship between communication, media, and power. These interests have led Aaron to research issues ranging from campaign finance coverage, television representation of masculinity, financial literacy programs, and the economics of television production. Aaron currently lives in Camarillo with his wife Leslie and pet.

Monday, November 20, 10am-11:30am (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture and Tour Description:
This presentation examines our food system’s impacts on workers, communities, animals, and the planet and how these issues are interrelated and rooted in systemic injustice. Students learn how animals come to live at Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s first farm animal rescue organization, and about meaningful ways to create a more just, compassionate, and sustainable food system for all.

Virtual Tour: Come meet some of the rescued residents of our sanctuary! Get to know their rescue stories and unique personalities through a virtual guided visit.

Bio:
Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 to combat the abuses of factory farming, advocate for institutional reforms, and encourage a new awareness and understanding of farm animals and the benefits of plant-based living. In recent years, science has confirmed the inhumane and destructive impact of animal agriculture — a food system based on interrelated oppression and injustice.

As the founding farm animal Sanctuary in the U.S., Farm Sanctuary has rescued and provided refuge for countless survivors of the animal agriculture system. Today, at Farm Sanctuary’s Los Angeles, CA and Watkins Glen, NY Sanctuaries you will find over 600 rescued animals — each with an individual story to tell. These survivors are ambassadors, representing the billions of farm animals currently in the system. They, and others like them, have changed the hearts and minds of a generation.

Thursday, November 30, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Whimsical and innovative, the sculptures of Alexander Calder defy specific classification, but can be described as kinetic, abstract and surreal. His main output are classified as either Mobiles, that embrace chance and movement, and Stabiles, which are monumental and public. He also created a wide amount of varied and original delicate sculptures, installations, drawings and designs. Calder was the third-generation sculptor within his family and spent much of his life surrounded by art and artists, taking inspiration from a wide amount of sources. This lecture will give an overview of his artistic life and output.

Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Adjunct Professor of Art History at Moorpark College and an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.

Part 1: Wednesday, December 6, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, December 13, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Ostensibly, Christmas is celebrated annually as the birth of Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus was likely born in the spring, not the winter, considering the Christian Scriptures describe shepherds pasturing their flocks at the time. So, where, then, does Christmas originate? And, how did it come to be connected with Christianity and Jesus? Additionally, from where did so many of these Christmas traditions develop? This two-part lecture will consider the historical basis of the Christmas holiday and how it developed over time.

Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD, teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a member of Civic Spirit's teacher education cohort, and the award-winning author of 10 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary.

Thursday, December 7, 10am-11am (Pacific)
Online via Zoom 

Tour Description:
We are excited to welcome you all to The Broad albeit virtually! During the tour, we will walk through the entire museum, stopping at some of our favorite pieces in the gallery by artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others. During the tour, we will show the artwork through a camera and the tour guide will speak through the computer allowing students to engage with the tour guide through voice and chat.

Bio:
The Broad makes its collection of contemporary art from the 1950s to the present accessible to the widest possible audience by presenting exhibitions and operating a lending program to art museums and galleries worldwide.

By actively building a dynamic collection that features in-depth representations of influential contemporary artists and by advancing education and engagement through exhibitions and diverse public programming, the museum enriches, provokes, inspires, and fosters appreciation of art of our time.

Monday, December 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom 

Lecture Description:
Join us on a journey of discovery into two essential elements of aging that often escape our notice but hold immense significance: resilience and successful aging. Resilience is far more than weathering life's storms; it's the remarkable ability to adapt and flourish amidst challenges. On the same token successful aging is the synergy that contributes to longevity, an active lifestyle, paving the way for vibrant and fulfilling later years.

Throughout this enlightening lecture, we'll unravel the intricate connections between resilience, the aging process, and the transformative effects of physical activity and cognitive engagement. Together, we'll delve into the ways in which cultivating resilience empowers us to navigate life's twists and turns, while encompassing successful aging as it encourages us to actively embrace life, maintain independence, and nurture cognitive health. Join us as we explore how these intertwined elements shape our physical, mental, and social well-being, ultimately leading to healthy, happy, and thriving later years.

Bio:
Arvind Grewal is a dedicated individual with an unwavering passion for enhancing the quality of life for older adults. With a natural inclination to help others, he prides himself on being a lifelong learner. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with a specialization in Gerontology, his research centers around the aging process and its profound impact on individuals, communities, and societies. Arvind aspires to return to his alma mater to share his knowledge and teach, driven by his deep commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of older adults. With fluency in multiple languages, exceptional communication skills, and a warm and energetic demeanor, he thrives on connecting with new people and spearheading positive change in the field of gerontology.

Thursday, December 14, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom 

Lecture Description:
For over 80 years, the original stories that surround WWII have continued to be of global interest. One of the historical dimensions of that war is the work of the men and women who defended and rescued the arts by saving the cultural heritage of our world for future generations. We hear the stories, we see the movies and think perhaps, that these experiences are all in the past, Cliff Notes to history. 

The truth is that today, The Monuments Foundation is at the forefront of cultural heritage preservation and art restitution, continuing to retrieve artworks and honour the work of those who carved the path of restitution. We will look at the lives of these ‘art saviours’, current cases and the new Monuments Men & Women Foundation.

Bio:
Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate from Trident Manor on Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over a decade as a LACMA docent and is an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological dig in Israel.