OLLI Fall 2025 - Flipbook - Page 16
Study Groups
Study Groups offer an opportunity to investigate
topics in depth. Most study groups typically meet
once a week for four to eight weeks.
Please note the abbreviations at the end of the
description:
RF= returning facilitator RG = repeat group
NF= new facilitator NG = new group
IMPORTANT! To participate in most study groups,
an active email account and internet access is
necessary.
Mah Jongg for Novices
Tuesdays, September 2 3 October 21
4:30 3 6:30 p.m.
Peoria Next Innovation Center
American Mah Jongg is a fascinating game of skill
and chance, with a little luck rolled in. We will
start with the basics of the game 3 identifying the
tiles, understanding the rules, reading the card
3 and move on to actual game play with plenty
of oversight and support. This course is for the
beginner starting from scratch, but we9ll have you
tossing tiles with the best of them by the end of
the group. Join Dan Stanley, a 21-year Mah Jongg
enthusiast who has taught many opera singers to
play while waiting for a call to the stage (but you
don9t have to be able to sing to learn to play).
$45 3 Facilitated by Dan Stanley, Continuing
Education staff member and Mah Jongg
enthusiast and, Gail Gordon, retired teacher and
Peoria Mah Jongg maven. (RG/RFs)
Seats available: 12
16
STUDY GROUPS
More of the Life You Want
Thursdays, September 4 3 October 9
3:00 3 5:00 p.m.
Bradley University, Bradley Hall 225
This unique opportunity combines OLLI with a
Bradley undergraduate honors seminar. Focusing
on questions of how one should live one9s life,
this group will examine the issue through a
lens created over two thousand years ago in
India. We9ll begin by introducing basic ideas of
Buddhism, reading the Buddha’s 昀rst sermon.
We9ll then advance to read the entirety of a later
sermon titled The Vimalakirti Sutra, and conclude
by examining the Chan/Zen tradition through an
early Chan text called The Platform Sutra. There is
no expectation that you will have done any prior
work. All are welcome! Please plan to obtain and
read The Vimalakirti Sutra, translated by Burton
Watson, Columbia University Press, 1997, available
through online and local booksellers and libraries.
$45 3 Facilitated by Dr. Dan Getz, Bradley
University professor of philosophy and religious
studies, trained in the traditions of Asia. (RG/RF)
Seats available: 10
The Immigration Paradox
Tuesdays, September 9 3 October 14
10:30 a.m. 3 12:00 p.m.
Goodwill Commons, 2319 E War Memorial, Peoria
Explore The Immigration Paradox, a powerful
and eye-opening documentary series that
examines one of the most complex and polarizing
issues of our time4immigration. Facilitated by
Dr. Aurea Toxqui, Associate Professor at Bradley
University, and as an immigrant herself, this topic
is close to her heart. The Immigration Paradox
moves beyond headlines and heated rhetoric to
understand why people risk everything to come
to the U.S. Through interviews with experts in
economics, sociology, history, policy, and activism,
the 昀lm reveals overlooked perspectives and
challenges long-held assumptions. Come ready
to listen, learn, and engage in the conversation!
Participants are asked to watch each episode in
advance of class. The episodes are available for
free through Kanopy with a public library card.
$45 3 Facilitated by Dr. Aurea Toxqui, an Associate
Professor of History at Bradley University. (NG/NF)
Seats available: 20
