Central Vermont OLLI

with Dave Keller, Soul/Blues Musician

Hear firsthand what it’s like to be a working musician as Keller shares stories from life on the road and in the studio. Experience a live performance of original songs and gain insight into his songwriting process. Ask questions and join an open discussion that offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of a career in music.

with Gerette Marie Buglion, Author, Educator, Writing Coach

Engage in a timely exploration of cults and culture. Learn to identify the traits of cultic organizations and relationships and understand why this knowledge matters in a society that values the dignity of each individual. This session introduces the mechanisms of control used in cultic groups, examines their impact on individuals and society, and offers practical tools to help participants “cult-proof” their lives.

with Alison Levin, Founder & Executive Director, Community Harvest of Central Vermont

Discover how gleaning strengthens community connections across Central Vermont and beyond. Learn how this practice links for-profit farms with charitable food systems to create a more resilient, locally rooted network that helps everyone eat local. Explore the role each of us can play in reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity. Gain insight into the environmental benefits, farmer support, and meaningful community impact of gleaning.

with Ash Levin, Staff Naturalist, North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier

Discover the fascinating world of owls, from giants with six-foot wingspans to species smaller than a chicken egg. Join North Branch Nature Center staff naturalist Ash Kerby-Miller to learn about the unique adaptations, migrations, and conservation stories of these remarkable predators that live right in our backyards.

with Kerstin Lange, Author

Trace the story of the former East/West German border through the lens of Vermont author Kerstin Lange. After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the once-deadly Iron Curtain quickly became obsolete, sparking global optimism about the possibility of peaceful change. Thirty years later, Lange cycled the length of this border, exploring its impact on the land and the people who lived alongside it. Learn how over a thousand rare and threatened plant and animal species found refuge in the militarized border zone, and consider how reunified Germany is faring today.

with Betty Smith, On-air Broadcaster and a Founder of VPR

Explore the origins and evolution of Vermont Public Radio, now Vermont Public, through the lens of one of its founding visionaries. Gain insight into how a bold idea became a lasting institution, the challenges of navigating a rapidly changing media landscape, and the enduring importance of storytelling, the human voice, and regional identity. Participants will examine the changing role of media over time and discover how one creative initiative helped transform the delivery of information and entertainment throughout the region.

with Catherine Veronica Delneo, Commissioner & State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries; Carolyn Marie Picazio, Director, Waterbury Public Library; and Megan Boisseau Allison, Teacher Librarian, U-32 Middle and High School

Join a panel of prominent local librarians to explore the ongoing battle against book banning in the United States and around Vermont, highlighting the courageous efforts of librarians who stand up for free access to information.

with Giovanna Peebles, Retired Vermont State Archaeologist

Journey through 12,600 years of human history in Vermont through the lens of archaeological discovery. Follow Giovanna as she shares the complex stories of the region’s Native peoples and their remarkable ability to adapt to changing climates and environments. Discover deep connections to the land, its plants, and animals across generations. Examine how European arrival brought profound upheaval and how Native communities endured despite these challenges.

with Rick Winston, Film Historian

Explore Hollywood during the late 1940s and early 1950s—a flashpoint of anti-communist hysteria in America—through three landmark films created by filmmakers navigating fear, principle, and political pressure.

High Noon
Written by Carl Foreman during the height of Hollywood’s anti-communist fear, this western follows a lone marshal, played by Gary Cooper, who must confront danger and moral courage as his town abandons him in a moment of crisis.

On the Waterfront
Created by Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg amid the pressures of the blacklist, this film stars Marlon Brando as a dockworker torn between loyalty and truth while challenging corruption on the New York waterfront.

Salt of the Earth
Produced by three blacklisted filmmakers, this story depicts a New Mexico mining community that unites in a labor strike, reflecting their commitment to principle, solidarity, and justice despite political repression.