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- The Power of Storytelling in Grief and Healing In-person
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14701
Dates: 9/2/2025 - 9/24/2025
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Days: Tu W
Sessions: 3
Building: Alumni House
Room:
Instructor: Kathy Koenig
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Grief takes many forms—loss of a loved one, illness, estrangement, life transitions, or significant life changes. This course offers a warm, supportive space to explore how storytelling can process loss, honor experiences, and bring comfort. You’ll discover how writing fosters healing and connection through guided exercises and thoughtful prompts. Whether for personal reflection or sharing with others, this course encourages self-expression in a natural, restorative way—no writing experience is needed, just an open heart.
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- Memorable Moments from the Golden Age of Radio In-person
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14721
Dates: 9/3/2025 - 9/24/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Carl Johnson
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
This course will examine several particularly memorable shows from the Golden Age of Radio (1937–1960). Each show will be placed in context, played in full, then discussed. The shows will include: “The War of the Worlds” from the Mercury Theater on the Air; “The Garden of Eden” from The Chase and Sanborn Hour with Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Mae West, and Don Ameche; “Who’s on First” from the Abbott and Costello Show; and “Your Money or Your Life” from The Jack Benny Show. Other shows may be added, time permitting.
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- Memorable Moments from the Golden Age of Radio Zoom
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14722
Dates: 9/3/2025 - 9/24/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Carl Johnson
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
This course will examine several particularly memorable shows from the Golden Age of Radio (1937–1960). Each show will be placed in context, played in full, then discussed. The shows will include: “The War of the Worlds” from the Mercury Theater on the Air; “The Garden of Eden” from The Chase and Sanborn Hour with Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Mae West, and Don Ameche; “Who’s on First” from the Abbott and Costello Show; and “Your Money or Your Life” from The Jack Benny Show. Other shows may be added, time permitting.
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- Economic Roundtable - Fall 2025 In-person
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14741
Dates: 9/3/2025 - 12/10/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Thomas Root
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Ever since its earliest offering during the 2008 financial crisis, the Economic Roundtable has strived to better understand the tumultuous economic environment of the last 17 years. The Fall 2025 class continues its mission with a focus on considering the potential for a future recession, the current state of the labor market, and the impact of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to stop inflation. Please join us in discussing what are often conflicting economic signals and political rhetoric in a quest to better understand the current economic environment.
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- Economic Roundtable - Fall 2025 Zoom
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14742
Dates: 9/3/2025 - 12/10/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Thomas Root
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Ever since its earliest offering during the 2008 financial crisis, the Economic Roundtable has strived to better understand the tumultuous economic environment of the last 17 years. The Fall 2025 class continues its mission with a focus on considering the potential for a future recession, the current state of the labor market, and the impact of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to stop inflation. Please join us in discussing what are often conflicting economic signals and political rhetoric in a quest to better understand the current economic environment.
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- From Mean Streets to (The Wolf of) Wall Street: The Sacred and Profane in Martin Scorsese’s Films
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14781
Dates: 9/5/2025 - 9/26/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 4
Building: Harkin Institute
Room:
Instructor: Jody Swilky
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Sharon Stone, and many other stars of cinema have been fortunate to work with Martin Scorsese, the 20th century oscar-winning director who more than any filmmaker of his generation has offered a continuous, passionate investigation of the tensions between the desire for power and the pursuit of the spiritual. How does each film explore the realms and consequences of pursuing corruption, seeking higher spirituality, and the tension between the two aspirations?
We will work with films that span Scorsese’s career, including Mean Streets, Silence, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon. We will discuss each film’s pertinence to the historical context in which it was produced, and examine Scorsese’s artistic development in narrative and form.
Questions and concerns will be addressed in lectures and discussions. ViewIng the films prior to the classes is not required, but watching them will help you understand the larger context of the clips we analyze.
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- Updates in Cancer Risks, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment, with Discussions of Iowa Trends In-person
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REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
The first class will review current approaches to diagnosis and treatments, especially newer targeted and gene therapies. The second class will discuss risk factors and prevention, support services, and include cancer survivors who will share their experiences with Dr. Deming’s Survivorship Clinic in Des Moines. The third class will review the cancer trends in Iowa, highlight the 2025 Cancer in Iowa Report from the Iowa Cancer Registry, and discuss state wide initiatives.
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- Updates in Cancer Risks, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment, with Discussions of Iowa Trends Zoom
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REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
The first class will review current approaches to diagnosis and treatments, especially newer targeted and gene therapies. The second class will discuss risk factors and prevention, support services, and include cancer survivors who will share their experiences with Dr. Deming’s Survivorship Clinic in Des Moines. The third class will review the cancer trends in Iowa, highlight the 2025 Cancer in Iowa Report from the Iowa Cancer Registry, and discuss state wide initiatives.
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- Chair Yoga - Fall 2025
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU14811
Dates: 9/8/2025 - 9/29/2025
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Ines Rojas
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Chair yoga is a gentle practice in which yoga poses are done with the help of a chair or seated. For standing poses, the chair helps with balance. Chair yoga is great for beginners and for people with physical disabilities or who have a hard time getting up and down from the floor. The practice increases flexibility, strength, and awareness. Additionally, we will be using breathing techniques and meditation to promote relaxation and mental clarity.
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- Centennial of Drake Stadium
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REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Drake Stadium celebrates its centennial this year, marking a century as the heart of Drake University’s athletic and community life. Since opening its gates, this iconic venue has hosted 100 seasons of Bulldog football, served as a gathering place for campus and community events, and earned international recognition as the home of the Drake Relays.
The first part of this course examines the rich history of Drake Stadium will be a presentation at the Harkin Institute at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., exploring its origins, architectural significance, and evolution over the past century. Students will investigate the notable events, legendary athletes, coaches, and community figures who have shaped the stadium’s legacy and contributed to Drake University’s sporting heritage. Participants will explore how this remarkable venue has influenced Drake University while also leaving its mark on Iowa’s sporting landscape and gaining recognition on the national and international stage.
***In the second part of this course is Monday, October 6, 12–1 p.m., (times differs from catalog) where participants will have the opportunity to tour Drake Stadium itself, exploring the behind-the-scenes spaces that have witnessed a century of athletic history. This session is a walking tour.
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- Simplifying Physics – The Principle of Least Action
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14831
Dates: 9/8/2025 - 9/29/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Sam Wormley
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
The principle of least action states that physical systems evolve along paths that minimize (or extremize) the action, a quantity integrating energy over time, providing a unifying framework for classical, quantum, and relativistic physics. Specific topics to be covered: the principle of least action underpins classical, quantum, and relativistic physics. We demonstrate this principle in our everyday lives.
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- Tai Chi for Beginners - Fall 2025
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU14851
Dates: 9/9/2025 - 12/9/2025
Times: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Days: Tu F
Sessions: 26
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Daniel Alexander
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Tuesdays (12-1 p.m.):
September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25, December 2, 9
Fridays (12-1 p.m.):
September 12, 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, December 5
**Materials needed for the class will be provided free of charge at the first class. This class meets twice per week.
This course introduces the practice of Tai Chi with a gentle, non-taxing routine that includes elements of Qigong, Yang style Tai Chi, and movement training. While it is a beginner’s course, people who have experience with Tai Chi are also welcome. The course is taught with the spirit that any movement is good movement. There are many claims about the positive benefits of Tai Chi, and it is our hope that with regular practice, you will notice a difference in overall flexibility, fitness, and ability to relax. If any parts of our routine are not comfortable, you do not need to do them. If you have any health concerns about taking the class, we recommend that you consult your physician.
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- Great Readings Disussion Group - Fall 2025
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU14861
Dates: 9/9/2025 - 12/2/2025
Times: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 7
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Bruce Martin
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m.: September 9, 23, October 7, 21, November 4, 18, December 2
Bruce Martin will lead discussions of literary texts from various time periods and cultures. Authors to be read during the Fall 2025 semester will include Adam Phillips, Franz Kafka & Nathaniel Hawthorne. Readings will be sent individually to participants throughout the semester. Anyone having questions or concerns, or wanting additional information should contact Bruce Martin: brucekmartin85@gmail.com or 515-612-3508.
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- The World in Review - Fall 2025 In-person
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14881
Dates: 9/10/2025 - 12/3/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Ellen Pirro
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Join Ellen for a monthly update on the current happenings in international relations and European politics. This class examines the resurgence of a world organized in major poles – three at this time – who contend with each other for dominance. The unipolar world centered around the United States from 1989 (the end of the Cold War) to roughly 2008 is gone. The United States faces major challenges from Russia and China, each of whom has global ambitions. Their goals will be examined and we will look to the future in this fast-evolving situation.
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- The World in Review - Fall 2025 Zoom
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14882
Dates: 9/10/2025 - 12/3/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Ellen Pirro
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Join Ellen for a monthly update on the current happenings in international relations and European politics. This class examines the resurgence of a world organized in major poles – three at this time – who contend with each other for dominance. The unipolar world centered around the United States from 1989 (the end of the Cold War) to roughly 2008 is gone. The United States faces major challenges from Russia and China, each of whom has global ambitions. Their goals will be examined and we will look to the future in this fast-evolving situation.
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- Water Aerobics - Fall 2025
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU14891
Dates: 9/11/2025 - 10/23/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 7
Building: Bell Center Pool
Room:
Instructor: Darlene Strachan
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
This 7-session class features stretching and dynamic exercises, music, games, dance, and volleyball. Bring a towel and your swimsuit. Exercise equipment such as water buoys and noodles are provided. You do not need to know how to swim to participate in this class. All fitness levels are welcome.
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- OLLI at Drake Book Club
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU14921
Dates: 9/12/2025 - 12/12/2025
Times: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 4
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Lori Blachford
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
Join us for the OLLI at Drake Book Club this fall as we read and reflect together on four books about relationships, from intimate and always messy tales of family and marriage, to the complex connections we navigate within our communities, and even with the books we love. Our authors – all award-winners – will give us plenty to talk about. Discussions will take place online each month.
September 12: This Is Where I Leave You (Jonathan Tropper)
October 10: Until Augus (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
November 14: Our Missing Hearts (Celeste Ng)
December 12: 84 Charing Cross Road (Helene Hanff)
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- Prairie Ponderings
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15011
Dates: 9/18/2025 - 9/18/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Jester Park Conservation Center
Room:
Instructor: Patrice Petersen-Keys
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Tall grass prairie once covered 85% of Iowa’s landscape. Most of this unique habitat has long since vanished; however, life on the prairie still lives today. During the program, we will stroll through the prairie to learn about the unique plants and animals that live there.
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- Birdwatching in Central Iowa - Fall 2025
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU15021
Dates: 9/22/2025 - 10/6/2025
Times: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 3
Building: TBA
Room:
Instructor: Dennis Thompson
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Join one of Iowa’s foremost birders, Dennis Thompson, for a morning bird walk exploring central Iowa parks. We’ll look for a wide variety of species in various habitats. Novices are very welcome. Bring binoculars and a small notebook to record your sightings. Participants will receive meeting directions via email prior to the class. Expect some uneven terrain and wear sturdy shoes.
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- Experience Fall at The Brenton Arboretum on a Guided Hike - September 25
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU14951
Dates: 9/25/2025 - 9/25/2025
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Brenton Arboretum
Room:
Instructor: Melissa Burdick
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Please note: if you have already registered for September 16, do not register for this session.
Join us for a captivating autumn adventure through the vibrant trails of The Brenton Arboretum! Lace up your hiking boots and enjoy a guided hike led by Executive Director Melissa Burdick. Discover the fascinating science behind the changing fall colors, uncover the rich history of the trees and the land, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the season. This is your chance to explore, learn, and connect with nature in one of Iowa’s most beautiful settings.
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- GOVERNOR ROBERT D. RAY AND BILLIE RAY LECTURE SERIES Inaugural Lecture: 1979 – Governor Robert D. Ray’s Global Moral Leadership and the Most Significant Year in Iowa’s Humanitarian Heritage
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15081
Dates: 9/26/2025 - 9/26/2025
Times: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Ambassador Kenneth Quinn
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Reception to follow.
Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, who between 1978 and 1982 served as a State Department Pearson Fellow on assignment to the staff of Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray will describe how, in what was arguably the single most globally impactful year in our state’s 180 year history, Governor Ray and Mrs. Billie Ray were at the forefront of Iowa’s leadership in: rescuing the “Boat People” refugees from Vietnam; eliciting global praise at the United Nations in Geneva for America’s humanitarian policies; welcoming Pope John Paul II to Living History Farms; building Iowa’s early agricultural connections to China; and inspiring the Iowa SHARES campaign that rushed lifesaving food, medicine, and Iowa medical volunteers to save Cambodian genocide victims.
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- “Coffee Cats” Cat Cafe
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15101
Dates: 9/29/2025 - 9/29/2025
Times: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 1
Building: Coffee Cats Cat Cafe
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Participants purchase own food and coffee
Coffee Cats is an innovative and distinctive approach to a coffee shop. We highlight locally sourced coffee and food items along with a separate cat lounge area, housing adoptable cats from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
The Cafe is not typically open on a Monday, so OLLI members will have the opportunity to enjoy a beverage in the comfort of the cozy coffee shop or in the purr-fect surroundings of feline friends.
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- Drake Musical: Cabaret
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU15151
Dates: 10/2/2025 - 10/2/2025
Times: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Coleman Theater, Drake Campus
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Reception and presentation prior to performance.
Cabaret is set in 1929–1930 Berlin during the twilight of the Jazz Age as the Nazis rise to power and focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Clifford Bradshaw’s relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. The original Broadway production opened on November 20, 1966, at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City and became a box office hit that ran for 1,166 performances, winning eight Tony Awards.
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- Drake Musical: Cabaret GUEST TICKET
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU15152
Dates: 10/2/2025 - 10/2/2025
Times: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Coleman Theater, Drake Campus
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Reception and presentation prior to performance.
Cabaret is set in 1929–1930 Berlin during the twilight of the Jazz Age as the Nazis rise to power and focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Clifford Bradshaw’s relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. The original Broadway production opened on November 20, 1966, at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City and became a box office hit that ran for 1,166 performances, winning eight Tony Awards.
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- Beginning Mah Jongg - Fall 2025
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU15181
Dates: 10/3/2025 - 10/24/2025
Times: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 4
Building: Harkin Institute
Room:
Instructor: Margie Davidson
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Want to challenge and exercise your brain by learning a new game? Mah Jongg is a fascinating rummy-like game played with tiles rather than cards. It is a game of skill, strategy and calculation and it involves a certain degree of chance. The four-player table version should not be confused with the tile matching computer game version, which is a recent invention and completely different from the table game. This class will follow the rules of the National Mah Jongg League, using an annually updated card that outlines the standard hands. Learners will work with experienced players during each class session as they learn rules, strategies, and all the challenging aspects of this game.
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- POLITICS IN AMERICA The Effects of the ‘Great Divide’
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU15211
Dates: 10/6/2025 - 10/13/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 2
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Tom Henderson, Doug Gross, Dennis Goldford
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
American voters have returned President Trump to the White House. He emphasizes that people have given him a mandate. His motto is “Promises Made. Promises Kept.” He learned from his first term. Loyalty to the President is the foundation upon which his Administration is built. He is transforming the federal government. Project 2025, executive orders, DOGE, the expansion of Presidential power—all seeming to take place at a rapid pace—something none of us have experienced in our lifetime. How do we react to seemingly constant change?
Deportation, reducing the size of the federal government, the expanding role of the Chief Executive, tariffs, and the Middle East are issues on the minds of many. And we haven’t considered the changing face of Iowa politics. Will the Hawkeye State remain in the ‘red column’? Or is change in the wind? Join us as a retired professor and political pros reflect on how the re-election of President Trump has impacted all of us.
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- Artificial Intelligence for Beginners: Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT And Other AI Tools
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU15241
Dates: 10/8/2025 - 10/22/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 3
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Bill Mogolov
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Discover how Artificial Intelligence is transforming everyday life in ways you never imagined! This beginner-friendly course introduces AI tools like ChatGPT and other powerful apps, showing how they can assist with writing, research, organization, communication, creativity, and problem-solving. Through hands-on demonstrations, interactive exercises, and real-world examples, you’ll gain practical experience using AI effectively, responsibly, and with confidence. No technical background is needed—just curiosity and a desire to explore the limitless possibilities of this exciting and rapidly evolving technology!
Other Requirements: Students are required to bring a laptop, tablet, or phone to class. Laptops or tablets are preferred, but phones are acceptable.
Participants will need to have a phone or computer to use.
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- Trees for Fall Color
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15271
Dates: 10/9/2025 - 10/9/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Brenton Arboretum
Room:
Instructor: Melissa Burdick
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Join us for an inspiring lecture on Great Trees for Fall Color in the Midwest, where you’ll discover the best tree species to bring vibrant reds, oranges, and golds to your autumn landscape. Whether you’re planting in a backyard, park, or larger property, this talk will highlight hardy, reliable trees that thrive in the region’s climate while offering brilliant seasonal displays. In addition to showcasing standout native varieties and underused gems, we’ll explore the environmental factors—like temperature, moisture, and sunlight—that influence the intensity and timing of fall color, giving you a deeper understanding of how to plan for spectacular seasonal beauty.
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- Get Your Drake Library Card and Tour the Library Archives - Fall 2025
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15291
Dates: 10/13/2025 - 10/13/2025
Times: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 1
Building: Cowles Library
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
This informative tour of the Cowles Library gives OLLI members an overview of the collections at the Library, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Drake Archives.
Take advantage of this opportunity, as an OLLI at Drake member, to apply for (or renew) your free Drake Library Card. Staff will be able to process your card application while you are visiting the Library. Bring a photo ID – driver’s license or passport.
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- Historic Farm to Table Dinner: Wallace Centers of Iowa
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Fee: $75.00
Item Number: FA25COU15301
Dates: 10/16/2025 - 10/16/2025
Times: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Wallace House
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Join the Wallace Centers of Iowa for a farm-to-table dining experience at the historic Wallace House. This three-course dinner will incorporate organically grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs harvested from the Wallace Farm near Orient, IA, and locally sourced ingredients from other Iowa farmers. The Wallace House is a restored 1882 Victorian home where “Uncle Henry” and Nancy Cantwell Wallace lived when they founded the Wallaces’ Farmer farm journal and showcases the legacy of the Wallace family, including US Vice President Henry A. Wallace.
The Wallace Centers of Iowa is a nonprofit with the mission of preserving the Wallace family legacy of agricultural innovation and public service with programs that connect Iowa’s food, land, and people.
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- Historic Farm to Table Dinner: Wallace Centers of Iowa GUEST TICKET
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Fee: $75.00
Item Number: FA25COU15302
Dates: 10/16/2025 - 10/16/2025
Times: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 1
Building: Wallace House
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Join the Wallace Centers of Iowa for a farm-to-table dining experience at the historic Wallace House. This three-course dinner will incorporate organically grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs harvested from the Wallace Farm near Orient, IA, and locally sourced ingredients from other Iowa farmers. The Wallace House is a restored 1882 Victorian home where “Uncle Henry” and Nancy Cantwell Wallace lived when they founded the Wallaces’ Farmer farm journal and showcases the legacy of the Wallace family, including US Vice President Henry A. Wallace.
The Wallace Centers of Iowa is a nonprofit with the mission of preserving the Wallace family legacy of agricultural innovation and public service with programs that connect Iowa’s food, land, and people.
GUEST TICKET
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- Celebrating 100 Years of the Civic Music Association: Yo-Yo Ma – Preview
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15311
Dates: 10/17/2025 - 10/17/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Harkin Institute
Room:
Instructor: Ashley Sandor Sidon
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
CMA’s 100th Season is one you’ll never forget: Legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma makes his Civic Music debut on November 1! Join Ashley Sidon as she discusses this special upcoming performance.
Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age four, and three years later moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies at the Juilliard School before pursuing a liberal arts education at Harvard. He has received numerous awards, including the Avery Fisher Prize (1978), the National Medal of the Arts (2001), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010), Kennedy Center Honors (2011), the Polar Music Prize (2012), and the Birgit Nilsson Prize (2022).
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- OLLI at Drake Trivia Evening - Fall 2025
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15331
Dates: 10/22/2025 - 10/22/2025
Times: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 1
Building: The Cork
Room:
Instructor: Margie Davidson, Jan Hetzel
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Participants purchase own food and drink
Test your knowledge about all things trivial and have a fun evening at The Cork in Johnston at the Johnston Town Center. Participants will work in teams for this fun event. Bring a friend.
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- HEALTHY EATING SERIES: Coffee, Tea ... and Chocolate
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Fee: $30.00
Item Number: FA25COU15411
Dates: 10/31/2025 - 10/31/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Patricia Quinlisk, Lisa LaValle
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Chef Lisa LaValle and Dr. Patricia Quinlisk are back to talk about three of their favorite foods – coffee, tea and chocolate! Join us for a nutritious brunch to expand your morning beverage selections, and to learn how to make delicious, healthy, and easy morning foods.
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- Civic Music Association Presents World-Renowned Cellist: YO-YO MA
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Fee: $50.00
Item Number: FA25COU15811
Dates: 11/1/2025 - 11/1/2025
Times: 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Days: Sa
Sessions: 1
Building: Civic Center
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
The Civic Music Association’s 100th Season is one you’ll never forget: Legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma makes his Civic Music debut! This special performance from Yo-Yo Ma pairs repertoire from the center of his musical firmament with reflections on how it has shaped his thinking about art, human nature, and our search for meaning. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this legend live and in person!
This section is sold out. There will be no waiting list for these tickets. Please do not add to cart. Please consider purchasing the $120 gold ticket.
There will be no refunds for these tickets.
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- Cribbage for Beginners
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Fee: $45.00
Item Number: FA25COU15821
Dates: 11/3/2025 - 11/17/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 3
Building: Harkin Institute
Room:
Instructor: Mary Christopher
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Cribbage, said to have originated in England, is about 400 years old and is one of the most popular card games for 2 players (it can also be played by 3 or 4). In this class, students will learn six-card cribbage basics including playing, pegging, scoring, and some simple scoreimproving strategies. Standard 52-card decks will be provided as well as cribbage boards, although students are free to bring their own.
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- Docent Tours at DSM Art Center: Mexican Art 1900–Today November 5
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15461
Dates: 11/5/2025 - 11/5/2025
Times: 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 1
Building: Des Moines Art Center
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Wednesday, November 5: 1–1:45 p.m. or 2–2:45 p.m.
Friday, November 7: 1–1:45 p.m. or 2–2:45 p.m.
10 per tour group
Participants will be assigned their tour time
Don’t miss this opportunity for a docent tour of the Des Moines Art Center’s featured fall exhibition Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations curated by Dr. Mia Laufer.
Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations is a survey of the photographer’s long career viewed through the lens of the projects he created with others including: Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Andre Breton, Luis Buñuel, Gabriel Figueroa, and Octavio Paz. This exhibition will provide the opportunity to see many of Bravo’s iconic pictures in a new light and to highlight some of his lesser-known bodies of work.
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- Fighting Fake News
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Fee: $15.00
Item Number: FA25COU15841
Dates: 11/7/2025 - 11/7/2025
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Jennifer Glover Konfrst
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Over the past decade, it’s become harder and harder to distinguish between what is real and what is manufactured. Nowhere has that been more clear than in the changing media landscape. We’ll discuss the history and evolution of fake news, and how to be a discerning media consumer in an environment where fact and fiction often seem to overlap
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- The Jewish People of Iowa, Past and Present
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Fee: $15.00
Item Number: FA25COU15681
Dates: 12/5/2025 - 12/5/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Caspe Terrace
Room:
Instructor: Sandi Yoder
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Join the Iowa Jewish Historical Society and the Education Department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines to learn what it means to be Jewish in Iowa. Area Jewish high school students who are part of the nationwide Student to Student program will share their personal narratives while discussing a range of topics, including:
• the Jewish life cycle
• Sabbath
• Jewish dietary practices
• Hebrew language
• Jewish holidays
Des Moines was one of three communities chosen to pilot the Student to Student program. Since then, the program has served thousands of students and adults across our nation.
The class also includes a tour of the museum, highlighting the history of the Jewish people in Iowa and artifacts related to the topics covered by the students.
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- Functional Fitness for Life
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Fee: $15.00
Item Number: FA25COU15691
Dates: 12/8/2025 - 12/8/2025
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 1
Building: CrossFit Valley Junction
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Unleash your inner athlete and dive into the exhilarating world of functional fitness. Designed with OLLI members in mind, learn how improving everyday movements makes you stronger, more agile, and brimming with energy, making daily activities a breeze.
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- VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Food Sorting at the Food Bank of Iowa - December 12, 2025
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15851
Dates: 12/12/2025 - 12/12/2025
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Food Bank of Iowa
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Join OLLI at Drake members in volunteering at the Food Bank of Iowa. Sign up to volunteer for one session only. The task will be sorting food with consideration for freshness, safety, quality, and client preference into quantities appropriate for shipping. This activity could involve sorting produce, or other products, depending on the donations received for processing that day.
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- Understanding Smart TVs and Streaming Services
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Fee: $0.00
Item Number: FA25COU15731
Dates: 12/12/2025 - 12/12/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Oak Street Health, 215 Euclid Avenue, DSM
Room:
Instructor:
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Every day, more and more people are “cutting the cord” and canceling their cable subscriptions. Instead, they’re using free or low-cost streaming services like Youtube, Netflix, and Hulu to watch their favorite shows and movies online. This presentation will give an introduction to streaming: what it is, how to use it, and the variety of content available. You’ll also learn how to watch live TV without cable and how smart TVs and streaming devices can let you watch videos from the Internet on your television.
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- Global Order in the Age of Trump
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Fee: $15.00
Item Number: FA25COU15761
Dates: 12/19/2025 - 12/19/2025
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 1
Building: Harkin Institute
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: Professor David Skidmore
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
The US-designed post-World War II global order rested upon four pillars: American hegemony, democracy promotion, economic globalization, and multilateral institutions. As compared with previous historical eras, this combination brought relative peace, prosperity, and freedom. The Trump Administration’s foreign policies are undermining each of these pillars of global order. What is the worldview motivating Trump’s approach to the world? What are the likely consequences of this radical shift in U.S. foreign policy?
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