In this lecture, Jill Chalsty shares the story behind her memoir, 'Packets of Hope: A Journey of Healing and Rediscovery,' inviting participants to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the people she met, and the reflections that transformed personal adversity into strength and global impact.

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Monday, December 21, Synchronous Online

Get certified! Learn the valuable skills of administering CPR and using an AED. Sign up for this course to gain the knowledge and skill set required to be certified to assist both children and adults. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Monday, Nov 16, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Get certified! Learn the valuable skills of administering CPR and using an AED. Sign up for this course to gain the knowledge and skill set required to be certified in both. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill the slot

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Wednesday, Nov 18, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Sauces 1.0 not required! A well-made sauce can be an important building block or finishing touch for a great dish. But, once you can make a sauce, what do you do with it? In this class, students will learn how to create three classic sauces (Hollandaise, Espagnole, Veloute) and then pair or alter them to finish their recipes. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Offered twice; please register for only one session. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Sept 17, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )
Thursday, Oct 1, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

Join us to try eight red wines as we focus on the bigger, bolder styles produced around the world. Our wines will hail from different regions of the world and are made with different grapes, but all will focus on the heavier, fuller-bodied flavor styles many people love. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Oct 15, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

This course will explore how everyday choices in food, home care, and gardening can reduce toxins and support a healthier lifestyle. We will examine the impacts of common lawn chemicals, pest control services, and household products, and learn how conventional yard sprays can disrupt beneficial ecosystems. We will highlight practical, nature-based alternatives that help create cleaner food, safer gardens, and a more balanced relationship with the natural world.

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Thursday, Oct 22, TBD - UR Campus (1 seats (2%) remaining)

Come to this class to learn about the long-term health benefits of just moving! BeMoved® embraces the joy of dance with people of all movement abilities. Movement expressed through dance and music has a transformative power that enriches a person's well-being above and beyond the well-known physical fitness benefits. BeMoved® is a dance fitness experience that begins with easy-to-follow therapeutic movements that flow into dance styles inspired by a wide variety of musical genres. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Mondays; Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16 (skip 23), 30, Dec 7, 14, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Pate Au Choux is delightful and easy, whether sweet or savory! Learn the ins and outs of making and baking Choux Dough from scratch! We will make classic Cream Puffs, Delicious Ecliars, and savory cheesy Gougeres! Class may run over/under the allotted time. Offered twice; please register for only one session. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Oct 29, Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )
Thursday, Nov 12, Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

Navigating dementia is difficult. The intricacies of such a complex diagnosis may seem overwhelming. This course will examine the stages of dementia, explore the clinical features of each stage, and identify practical strategies that families and caregivers can use to continue to connect with loved ones.

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Tuesday, Dec 15, TBD - UR Campus (4 seats (10%) remaining)

Discover simple, science-informed tools to help improve mental clarity, creative thinking, and cognitive engagement at any age. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, participants will explore neuroplasticity, break repetitive thinking patterns, and learn ways to stay mentally active, adaptable, and inspired in everyday life.

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Thursday, Oct 29, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

Wine comes in all price ranges, from your $6.99 grocery store specials to a rare vintage French Bordeaux for thousands of dollars a bottle (or more!). What would you pay for a wine you've never tasted? $10, $20, $100? What makes a bottle worth more? Join us to explore six wines in the $100 per bottle range. Light fare will be provided to complement the wine tasting. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Sept 24, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

Join Diane, Maggie, and the Kitchen Classroom to try six pairings perfect for your Holiday tables. The pairings will be cheese-focused but not exclusively limited to cheese. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Dec 10, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

This course will provide participants with an overview of the (critical) role of the subconscious, and a plethora of (practical) strategies/techniques for enabling participants to enhance its support and usefulness while reducing or eliminating its 'negative chatter'.

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Thursdays, Dec 3 and 10, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

This course will focus on planning for the end of life. Discussions will focus on legal considerations, communication of wishes, and ritual planning. Participants will discuss their desires for the end of their lives, their hopes about their legacy, and ways of ensuring their desires are met. Led by a local death educator, the group will be conversational and driven by participant areas of interest and need.

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Wednesdays; Sept 23, 30, Oct 7, TBD - UR Campus

Have you ever tried a wine and been unsure if the wine was bad or just not to your taste? This class can help! Explore the undesirable flavors in wine, often caused by mishandling, misstorage, over-aging, or production issues. We will taste the same wine side-by-side with an altered version of the wine, to learn about common off-flavors and what causes them. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Nov 5, The Kitchen Classroom

Family gatherings and celebrations can still be joyful, meaningful, and inclusive for those living with brain change. Let's explore ways to prepare, include, and adjust to create meaningful moments for all.

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Monday, Nov 23, TBD - UR Campus

Learn to make your favorite Korean dishes at home! Bulgogi is a signature dish of many Korean restaurants, and you can make it at home. Learn about the specialty ingredients and techniques and how to combine them into a comforting dish. Japchae, savory and slightly sweet, is a stir-fried dish of glass noodles and vegetables. Kimchi pancakes can be an appetizer or an entree as it mellows out the intense flavor of kimchi. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Offered twice; please register for only one session. Note: The new refund policy applies.

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Thursday, Oct 8, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )
Thursday, Oct 22, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

Before the US enacted laws to educate and provide support for persons with disabilities, services and supports were either inadequate, inappropriate, or nonexistent. This presentation will provide a history of special education and disability support in the United States, clarifying terminology, legal rights, and evidence-based practices, culminating with a glimpse into an uncertain future.

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Mondays & Wednesdays; Nov 30, Dec 2, 7, 9, TBD - UR Campus

We each want to maintain a connection with what is meaningful to us, as that's how we describe an optimal quality of life. Yet, various health related factors prevent us from pursuing the quality of life that could keep us happy. Improving cell function is fundamental to becoming able-bodied and sharp-minded as we maintain the freedom to pursue an enjoyable quality of life now and for decades to come.

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Tuesday, Sept 15, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

This course is designed for those who would like to enhance their meditation skills or are new to meditation. You will learn various techniques on how to meditate successfully anytime and anywhere in order to manage everyday stresses and move beyond any blocks that keep you stuck in old patterns of thinking and behavior.

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Tuesdays & Thursdays; Nov 10, 12, 17, 19, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

The purpose of the course is to establish mindfulness meditation skills in class using a variety of practices to relieve stress and to promote positivity, relaxation, calmness, and physical and emotional health and well-being. The goal for each participant is to unlock the body's healing potential and restorative power through a consistent, daily mindfulness/meditation practice, and to be a part of a community committed to such a practice.

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Tuesdays & Thursdays; Oct 13, 15, 20, 22, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

This course will examine the role of fungi in human wellness and ecological balance. Students will learn about the healing properties of mushrooms such as Lion's Mane, Reishi, and Turkey Tail, including their effects on brain health, immunity, and stress resilience. The course will also highlight fungi's role in soil building, nutrient cycling, and plant communication. Students are encouraged to bring materials to take notes!

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Tuesdays, Sept 22, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Senior Living options are numerous. Let's examine options for healthcare services and senior living in the Richmond area, reviewing types of services available at different healthcare and senior living communities. We will then connect this information to insurance and payment options. By the end of the course attendees will have a better understanding of the options that are available as well as be prepared with questions to ask providers as they navigate the healthcare continuum.

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Wednesday, Nov 11, TBD - UR Campus

New research shows that sleep isn't the mind's off switch, but instead a complex and dynamic process that impacts both our physical and mental health. Our modern lifestyle damages the 24 hour wake/sleep cycle and hinders our brain's ability to maintain and regenerate itself. We'll discuss some important and useful new research findings, and share ideas for practical strategies to protect and improve our brain health.

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Tuesdays; Nov 3, 10, 17, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Plastics are everywhere. We use them constantly, store and cook our food in them, and wear them as polyester clothing. We travel in plastic cars and airplanes. But plastics are not biodegradable. Recent studies indicate that we're eating, drinking, and breathing increasing amounts of tiny micro- and nano-plastics. This course will discuss strategies to reduce our plastic consumption, and refer to recent studies of the health problems these substances may cause.

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Tuesdays; Dec 1, 8, 15, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Join this class to explore how we could all benefit from research-based strategies for managing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Modern environments challenge our capacity to focus and complete tasks. Fortunately, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adult ADHD offers insights on how to take back your attention and turn your intentions into actions, regardless of whether you have ADHD.

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Wednesday, Sept 23, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

The Grand Canal stretches 30 feet from the mouth to the rectum. Starting with the sense of taste and ending appropriately with the treatment of hemorrhoids, we will discuss the various maladies that one may encounter in our travels down the Canal. Clinical cases along with errors both on the part of the physician as well as the patient will be presented.

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Monday, December 21, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

We'll help you understand long term care as well as the options available to pay for care. What is the most tax-efficient way, based on an individual's circumstances, to pay for long term care? There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

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Thursday, Oct 15, TBD - UR Campus

Dr. Zanjani, the director of the VCU Richmond Brain Health Initiative (RBHI), will discuss Improving Brain Health and review the current guidance on modifiable brain health risk factors. Audience members will leave with brain health information and a strategy to improve their own brain health.

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Tuesdays, Sept 22, TBD - UR Campus (3 seats (2%) remaining)

Learn about Virginia's newly enacted Medicare Birthday Rule legislation and how it enables seniors to compare premiums and reduce healthcare expenses.

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Friday, December 18th, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

This two-part seminar offers an intimate space for adults navigating grief or supporting someone who is. Grief may stem from loss, life transitions, illness, or other significant changes. Part One explores how grief lives in the body, through education, discussion, and reflective writing. Part Two focuses on resilience and meaning-making, with small group case studies and a closing guided meditation and movement practice.

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Wednesdays, Dec 9 and 16, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )