Lifelong Learning Institute Opens Tuesday at Park Vista
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Mahoning Valley Lifelong Learning Institute welcomes its first learners Tuesday, inviting them to explore new ideas in a fresh, imaginative way, says Brian Kolenich.
Kolenich is executive director of Park Vista, where the institute is based. He is also on its advisory board.
The educational opportunities the institute offers are intended to inspire and challenge people throughout the Valley ages 50 and older.
"The Mahoning Valley Lifelong Learning Institute extends and strengthens Park Vista of Youngstown's whole-person wellness approach, Kolenich said. "The institute is the Valley's opportunity for intellectual wellness later in life: Affordable, accessible, academic-level lectures."
The institute opens its spring semester Tuesday as Greg Ferro takes participants inside the lives of two 20th-century presidents. The Presidents' Day course kicks off the institute's Harris Lecture Series on History and Political Science.
The four donor-funded events are supported by charitable gifts and include the Gelhaar Lecture Series on Arts and Culture, Kyle Lecture Series on Religion and Spirituality, and Wellness and Rehabilitation Lecture Series.
The institute has relationships with the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and Youngstown State University. "We're partnering with three local organizations that share our goal and mission," said Marise Sahyoun, director of institute. "Those partners add depth and dimension to our curriculum and our growing institute."
Melvin North, director of learning in retirement at YSU, calls the institute a “game-changer for the Valley.”
“We try to connect people to resources to inspire them to be lifelong learners and to enrich their lives," added Heidi M. Daniel, director of the public library. "I think, together, we have the resources to develop a great program for older adults."
"We have a fabulous group of presenters for our first semester, and I'm focused on securing dynamic speakers for our fall semester," Sahyoun said. "Right now, I'm working with a national speaker and author of 11 books whom we'll be honored to host later this year."
Park Vista of Youngstown is one of 11 retirement communities owned and operated by OPRS Communities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services, headquartered in Columbus.
The institute's first semester courses and speaker bios can be found at this website.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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