The life and work of Mira Lloyd Dock, the first woman to serve in Pennsylvania state government, provides many insights into the Progressive Era conservation movement and women’s roles within that movement. Dock was heavily involved in the conservation movement at the local, state, and federal levels. Her most ardent supporters said she did more for forests than any woman in the United States. As a member of the Pennsylvania State Forest Commission, Dock helped formulate policies that served as models for other, northeastern industrial states. She also worked tirelessly for women's rights to have meaningful careers, enroll in institutions of higher education, and vote.

Race is a socially constructed social category based on physical appearance that has been used to put people into separate groups. Racism builds social structures which bring advantage to some groups and disadvantage to others. The most obvious one is slavery, but most every aspect of social structure and the economy is affected. The course will focus on what white people need to know about race in America. We will use videos, lectures, and class discussion to look at ways race has been used in American society historically and currently to build social and legal structures which disadvantage persons of color. Strategies to dismantle racism will be suggested.

The dark years of the Middle Ages were ended by the Bubonic plague, giving rise to the Renaissance in Europe in 1700. The Black Death in London led to sweeping municipal regrowth and development in 1666. The Coronavirus pandemic so far in 2020 has brought about ultra-modern systems of community, industry, education, and health.

This will be a Zoom discussion of the book: Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. Participants will need to obtain and read the book on their own. In order to facilitate good discussion, specific discussion questions will be assigned in advance of the session. This book is about end-of-life matters so participants will be encouraged to share their thoughts, concerns, and personal plans for the end of life with other class members after reading the book.

The history, practices, and traditions of the Orthodox Christian faith will be the focus of this three-session course. Presentations will include a basic approach to the belief system and way of life as lived out by followers of the Orthodox Church.