Albany Lifelong Learning Institute (ALLI)

Instructor: James Ketterer, Senior Fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement and Faculty in the Global Studies Program, Bard College

Overview: This course looks at the foundations, development and changes in U.S. foreign policy. The first two sessions explore the history and development of foreign policy. The following four sessions are case studies that highlight different aspects of America’s interactions with the world and vice-versa.

Day/Time: Tuesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Dates: 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30 and 10/7

Location: ETEC Building, Room 203

Format: In-Person Only

Participant Contribution: It is suggested that participants come to each session with a current event in mind that they are willing to share with the rest of the group by giving a short summary of the issue, your analysis and thoughts on how it connects to the course discussions, or highlights things we have not discussed but should. This is not a written assignment and certainly not a requirement, merely a suggested way we can connect the course materials to ongoing events.

Course Schedule

Session One: The World We Live In
This opening session explores the world ordered into nation states, the shifting reality of borders, the foundations of diplomacy and the development of American foreign policy up to the end of World War II.

Session Two: The American Century and the Creation of the American National Security State
This session will explore how the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War saw the development and expansion of key institutions that defined U.S. power from the late 1940s though the end of the 20th century.

Session Three: Case Study - On the Brink: Khrushchev, the Kennedys and the Cuban Missile Crisis
This session will explore the global and domestic context that led to the Cuban Missile Crisis, nuclear weapons, Cold War chess maneuvers and the roles of intelligence services, diplomacy, key institutions and leadership in a moment of existential peril.

Session Four: Case Study - 9/11 and the Response
This session will look at a key post-Cold War event that set several dynamics in motion that are still felt today. We will explore the ways in which American defense, diplomacy and development were mobilized to respond to the attacks and the shifting/expanding role of the intelligence services in new manifestations of warfare and security.

Session Five: Case Study - American Misreadings and Missed Opportunities During the Arab Spring
This session will explore the initial hopes and opportunities created by a series of uprisings and regime changes across the Arab world, starting in late 2010, and how those opportunities for U.S. policy were lost among competing interests, a lack of understanding of the region’s nuances and complexities, and the toxic intersection with American domestic politics.

Session Six: Case Study - The Strength of Soft Power
Arts, Education, Language and Media as a Diplomatic Tool: This session will explore several aspects of American culture and society projected outward as a foreign policy tool. This includes the use of jazz, US educational excellence, exchanges, teaching English, broadcast media and more.

Instructor: Honorable John “Jack” McEneny, Former Member of the New York State Assembly and author of "Albany: Capital City on the Hudson".

Overview: The class will explore the diverse people, industries, significant events, architecture and neighborhoods that have created the four centuries of history of one of America’s most fascinating cities.

Day/Time: Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Dates: 9/3, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1 and 10/8

Location: ETEC Building, Room 203

Format: In-Person Only 

Course Schedule

Albany’s colonial history begins with the claiming for a Dutch mercantile company on behalf of the Netherlands.  Discussions regarding these early colonial roots will examine the role of Henry Hudson, Killian Van Rensselaer, Peter Stuyvesant and others.

Examine the roles of the Dutch West India Company, Fort Orange, the Van Rensselaer Patroonship, Beverwyck, the fur trade with Indigenous people, before the final conquest of the New Netherlands by the English in 1664.

After its absorption into the British Empire, the Patroonship became an English Manor, Albany got its new name and received  a city charter.  It also became an important military headquarters during the four “French and Indian” wars fought between the French and British colonial empires.

We will observe the change from Dutch to English government, language and the continuing increase in immigrants and refugees with European and African roots.

Impatience toward the arrogant British style sparked a growing feeling of resentment and a move for independence and self-sufficiency in the 1754 Albany Plan of Union – leading twenty years later to the American Revolution in which Albany and New York State played critical part.

From the first decades of the new Republic to the Civil War Albany was known as a critically important American city.  Its people became leaders in the Industrial Revolution, political thought and commerce. Early turnpikes, the invention of the steamboat, the Erie and Champlain canals, as well as the first railroads led to the vast expansion of the new nation.

Albany’s banking, printing, lumber and brewing industries increased the wealth and influence of the Empire State.

The mid-century Irish Famine and the European revolutions flooded the city with immigrants, who were often feared by the nativists, only to show their value in the Union armies that finally ended slavery and defended and reunited the nation by the Civil War.

Instructor: Members of the Institute’s professional staff

Overview: This course will be a deep dive into the Albany Institute of History and Arts’ collections, from the Hudson River School to ancient Egypt. A field trip by the class can be scheduled to the Institute.

Day/Time: Thursdays,1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Dates: 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2 and 10/9

Location: ETEC Building, Room 203

Format: In-Person Only

Course Schedule

Week 1 - September 4
Albany Institute of History and Art overview with a focus on its historical start in 1791 to the present.

Week 2 - September 11
Hudson River School paintings include 80 plus masterpieces on display at the Institute.

Week 3 - September 18
This week is all about the Egyptian collection which includes two mummies received in the 1800s and the additions to this collection.

Week 4 - September 25
Spanning two floors of the museum is the 19th century sculpture collection.  Learn about the local artist who created and donated these masterpieces.

Week 5 - October 2
With over 5,000 clothing and textile objects in the museum’s collection, a large selection will be featured.

Week 6 - October 9
With only a small percentage of the over 35,000 objects on display, the final session will highlight the unique objects not seen every day.

Instructor: Millicent (Millie) Eidson, DVM, Emeritus Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UAlbany

Overview: Do you feel a burning desire to put your thoughts on paper? Join us as we dive into the world of creative writing, tailored to your interests—whether it’s poetry, short stories, novels, or creative nonfiction like memoirs and biographies.

Day/Time: Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon

Dates: 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2 and 10/9

Format: Zoom Only 

Guiding you on this journey is Millicent (Millie) Eidson, a retired epidemiologist and public health veterinarian who has turned her expertise into captivating fictional tales about mysterious microbes. With five alphabetical novels (Anthracis, Borrelia, Corona, Dengue and Ebola) and a collection of short stories under her belt, Millie brings a wealth of experience and a passion for storytelling. As a Professor Emerita at the University at Albany, she’s committed to lifelong learning and teaching. For more information, see Professor Eidson's website.

Don’t let your writing dreams stay on hold. Join us and let your creativity flourish!

All classes will be Thursday mornings using Zoom on a link provided before the class. Participants will benefit from some homework between classes but it is not required, and time within class will also be available. Specific topics for each date may be slightly adjusted depending on class needs and interests.

Course Schedule

Class 1: What can I Write? - Sept. 4, 10 to 10:55 a.m.

Embark on a journey to uncover the vast landscape of creative writing. Together, we’ll explore various genres and styles to find the one that truly speaks to you. Homework: Reflect on which format excites you the most and be ready to dive in.

Class 2: Why should I Write? - Sep. 4, 11:05 to noon

Discover the myriad rewards of creative writing and confront the challenges, including the ever-present imposter syndrome. Homework: List your personal rewards and potential roadblocks, and brainstorm ways to overcome them.

Class 3: Shitty First Drafts - Sept. 11, 10 to 10:55 a.m.
Embrace Anne Lamott’s liberating concept of “shitty first drafts” and learn how to get started without fear. Homework: Begin your own “shitty first draft” and let your creativity flow.

Class 4: Workshops - Sept. 11, 11:00 to noon
Experience the invaluable process of exchanging feedback in a writing workshop, a crucial step in your writing journey. Homework: Share your “shitty first draft” or a previous piece in the class workshop for constructive feedback.

Class 5: Where and How Should I Write? - Sept. 18, 10 to 10:55 a.m.
Explore the best times, settings and tools that can enhance your writing process. Homework: Start establishing a writing routine that supports your creative progress.

Class 6: “Rules” of Creative Writing - Sept. 18, 11:05 to noon
Dive into the essential principles of effective creative writing, such as showing vs. telling and the use of eloquent elements. Homework: Analyze your favorite creative writing works to see how they adhere to these rules.

Class 7: Editing - Sept. 25, 10 to 10:55 a.m., 
Learn about the different types of editing and how to approach self-editing and receiving edits from others. Homework: Continue editing your classmates’ work and begin the second draft of your own piece for the workshop.

Class 8: Writing Resources - Sept. 25, 11:05 to noon
Discover a wealth of writing support groups and resources, including the use of AI, to enhance your writing journey. Homework: Bookmark useful resources and identify groups to join for ongoing support.

Class 9: Publishing Options and Legal Issues - Oct. 2, 10 to 10:55 a.m.
Explore the various avenues for publishing your work and understand the legal and tax implications of writing as a business or hobby. Homework: Investigate one publishing option that interests you.

Class 10: Where Do I Fit In? - Oct. 2, 11:05 to noon
Discuss how your work fits into the broader writing world, considering genre, tropes and the decision between single works and series. Homework: Decide whether to write to the market or follow your passion, regardless of trends.

Class 11: Free Marketing - Oct. 9, 10 to 10:55 a.m.
Learn about the numerous free marketing strategies available to promote your published work. Homework: Choose a few marketing options to try once your work has been published.  

Class 12: Paid Promotions - Oct. 9, 11:05 to noon
Examine the effectiveness of paid promotion options and determine if they are worth the investment. Homework: Commit to continuing your creative writing journey, applying the lessons learned from this course.

Instructor: William Saxonis, Adjunct Professor, Department of Public Administration and Policy, UAlbany

Overview: This course will explore Ellington’s art, life and times utilizing music, film and excerpts from interviews recorded with key figures in Ellington’s world including several interviews personally conducted by the instructor.

Day/Time: Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon

Dates: 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3 and 10/10

Location: Albany Guardian Society, 12 Corporate Woods Blvd 1st Floor, Albany, NY 12211

Format: In-Person or Zoom 

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 1899, and died in New York City on May 24, 1974. He lived a most extraordinary life. His doting mother recognized her son as exceptional from the start, proclaiming, "Edward you are blessed!" This course will explore Ellington’s art, life and times utilizing music, film and excerpts from interviews recorded with key figures in Ellington’s world including several interviews personally conducted by the instructor.

For six decades, Duke Ellington demonstrated his remarkable gifts as a composer, arranger, bandleader and pianist. Simply stated, Ellington was prolific, innovative and in the opinion of many, the 20th century's greatest composer. His music was never restrained by the boundaries of the jazz idiom. He wrote music for symphony orchestra, theater, ballet, movies, dance halls concert halls and places of worship - about 2,000 compositions in all.

His bands always showcased some of the jazz world's finest and most individualistic musicians. Many of these all-stars stayed with the band for decades, some virtually their entire adult lives. The ensemble was further enriched by Ellington's creative and gifted piano playing that was skillfully woven into the arrangements with laser precision. His solo and small group piano recordings have become jazz classics.

Ellington's mystique also included a dynamic stage presence and unlimited charisma. He brought sophistication  to jazz for audiences of all races, colors and creeds. Ellington traveled incessantly to perform for enthusiastic audiences worldwide and the rigors and frequent indignities of life on the road seemed only to stimulate his creative spirit. Whether he was playing in a high school gym, a jazz club, Carnegie Hall or before British royalty, Ellington always charmed and delighted his audience. 

Class Schedule

Week 1: Introduction and the Emergence of Genius

Topics: Why study Ellington?

• An exploration of Ellington’s youth in Washington DC, his move to New York City and rise to national fame at Harlem’s Cotton Club.

Week 2: Ellington the Composer

Topics: Ellington’s creative process

• What inspired Ellington’s compositions?
• A review of the extraordinary life of Billy Strayhorn, Ellington’s writing and arranging companion. Strayhorn was a significant factor in the Ellington story.

Week 3: The Band was Duke Ellington’s Instrument

Topics: How Ellington held together, decade after decade, a band of all-star musicians even when it was financially impractical 

• The role the band played in creating Ellington’s unique sound.
• A snapshot of some of the band’s featured soloists.

Week 4: Ellington’s Extraordinary Music

Topic: Exploration of compositions that go beyond Ellington’s contributions to America’s songbook (e.g., Mood Indigo, Sophisticated Lady and It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing). The quality and breadth of the totality of Ellington’s music including symphonies, scared concerts, suites, movie scores… is astounding.

Week 5: Ellington and Civil Rights

Topics: Ellington’s underappreciated role in civil rights.

• The exploration of how Ellington navigated maintaining popularity with his white audiences while using his art to celebrate his Black heritage.
• The challenges Ellington and other Black artists faced traveling across America.

Week 6: The Ellington Continuum

Topics: Ellington’s legacy and how he influenced a wide range of musicians beyond the jazz idiom including Gershwin, Stravinsky, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.

• Studies by management gurus of Ellington’s methods of composing and  maintaining an all-star band
• Ellington’s continued influence, 51 years after his passing. Despite wide ranging acclaim, a compelling case be made that Ellington is under appreciated.

Instructor: Kasey J. Waite, PhD, Lecturer, Department of English, UAlbany 

Day/Time: Fridays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Overview: This course explores significant and intriguing science fiction novels authored by women, and evaluates how the different settings and times often call attention to the racism, sexism and other social injustices of our own moment.

Dates: 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3 and 10/10

Location: Albany Guardian Society, 12 Corporate Woods Blvd 1st Floor, Albany, NY 12211

Format: In-Person or Zoom 

“Science Fiction is the only genre of literature in which it’s possible for a writer to explore the question of what this world would be like if you could get rid of [X], where [X] is filled in with any of the multitude of real world facts that constrain and oppress women. Women need to treasure and support science fiction” - Suzette Haden Elgin.

Course Description
While the creation of the Science Fiction genre is often attributed to a female author, Mary Shelley, women remain largely underrepresented in both the practice of science as well as the writing of the genre itself. However, many of the most popular science fiction novels are authored by women. This intersection provides the guiding theme of the class—significant and intriguing science fiction novels authored by women.

Objectives

• Recognize important markers of the Science Fiction genre, such as space travel, non-human life forms, dystopian settings and the creation of new sciences and machines.
• Identify and discuss the deeper themes of Science Fiction, such as the destruction of our species, climate change and our moral and ethical responsibility to the planet and each other.
• Connect and evaluate how the different settings and times often used by Science Fiction call attention to the racism, sexism and other social injustices of our own moment.

Texts

• The Parable of the Sower. Octavia Butler. ISBN-13: 978-1538732182
• The Lathe of Heaven. Ursula LeGuin. ISBN-13: 978-1416556961
• Station Eleven. Emily St. John Mandel. ISBN-13: 978-0-8041-7244-8
• Binti. Nnedi Okorafor. ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-8525-3  

Schedule

• Sept. 5 – Parable of the Sower: chapters 1 – 11
• Sept. 12 – Parable of the Sower: chapters 12-25
• Sept. 19 – Lathe of Heaven
• Sept. 26 – Station Eleven: chapters 1- 27
• Oct. 3 – Station Eleven: chapters 28-55
• Oct. 10 – Binti