IN PERSON at APL and ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM if desired.

New research from the American Immigration Council shows that immigrants in Androscoggin County from faraway places such as Burundi, Somalia, Djibouti and Brazil paid over $24.0 million in taxes and held over $74.0 million in spending power in 2019. Marina Chakmakchi works with immigrant-origin students at USM to ensure that they reach their potential and enrich our community at the same time. She will provide a general overview of the report and talk about immigrant-origin USM students residing in Lewiston-Auburn.

Marina Chakmakchi is a multilingual international professional. She has worked as a women’s rights lawyer in Russia, a student advisor in England, and an ESL teacher in Turkey. Marina first came to Maine in 2003 as an international student to study law. She now guides immigrant-origin students and internationally trained professionals as a Global Talent Navigator at the University of Southern Maine.

ZOOM

We will view a new Ted Talk each week and enjoy a thoughtful discussion about its topic. Senior College students never mind giving their opinions, disagreeing, and engaging in lively, interesting discussion.

Bill Frayer is a long-time Senior College instructor. He received his BA in English from Brown and and MS in adult Education from USM.

IN PERSON at APL and ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM if desired.

As we are repeatedly told how divided and polarized our society has become, we may feel discouraged from trying to bridge those divides. This presentation is an antidote to that discouragement, providing practical tips for productive dialogue in divided communities. Drawing on his book Together We Decide, Craig Freshley emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness, inclusivity and cooperation as he shares inspirational stories and teaches practical skills for getting along and moving forward together.

Craig Freshley is a professional facilitator, author and public speaker who is passionately committed to peacemaking and draws on his experience with consensus decision-making to promote healing in our world. In 2019, he received the American Civic Collaboration Award for creating and facilitating Make Shift Coffee Houses, community gatherings that provided a space where individuals from diverse political backgrounds could come together to engage in dialogue and understand each other’s perspectives.