Courtesy image.
THOUSAND OAKS — For details on the series and to register, go to: https://www.callutheran.edu/centers/lifelong-learning/fifty-better/lecture-series.html
Lectures are $10 each. Bundle the entire series (12 lectures) for just $85. Or “build-your-own bundle” – choose 5 lectures for $40.
Half of the lectures offered this fall can be attended in-person at our Thousand Oaks campus (parking is free and accessible). All lectures are recorded and can be attended virtually.
Questions: fab@callutheran.edu or (805) 493-3290
Why Can’t We Solve the Homelessness Epidemic? (Two Parts) with Andrea Plate
Every year, the number of homeless Americans rises: In 2023, 653,000 slept on the streets or in emergency beds provided by nonprofit/government services. Yet every year, we increase funding and resources for this population. Why, then, do we have such an ever-worsening epidemic? What can we, as concerned Americans, and our leaders do to stem the tide?
This two part series will include: A brief history of the homeless, from the “hobos” of the Great Depression through the rise of homelessness in the 70s to today’s tipping point; a look at the two chief but conflicting policy approaches to the problem: Treatment First under the Bush Administration to Housing First since the Obama years; and a framework for weighing two very real competing concerns: Civil liberties—do the homeless have a “right” to remain homeless?—versus the public safety and health of all citizens.
Bio:
Andrea Plate is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker who served fourteen-and-a-half years at the West Los Angeles branch of the Department of Veterans affairs, where she ran a residential program for chronically homeless veterans. She is the author of the internationally published nonfiction book Madness: In the Trenches of America’s Troubled Department of Veterans Affairs (Marshall Cavendish International).
Today, Ms. Plate is a Senior Lecturer in the Sociology Department of Loyola Marymount University as well as a private practice telehealth counselor. She has been a keynote presenter for the National Association of Social Workers and has published two other nonfiction books, including one about her days as a child actress in the entertainment industry. She holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and two M.A. Degrees (from UCLA and USC).
Mondays, November 3 & 10 from 10am-12pm (PT)
Zoom
Barbed Wire and Broken Promises: The Internment of Japanese Americans During WWII (Two Parts) with Dr. Jason Hensley
During World War II, the United States incarcerated over one hundred thousand people of Japanese descent. Many of these were imprisoned within California and many of them were citizens. Though the United States has acknowledged this history and even apologized to Japanese Americans for it, it’s still a topic that we rarely examine and discuss. This two-part lecture will spend time understanding the history of these camps, daily life there, and their perceived role in the war effort. In doing so, it will dive deep into an uncomfortable time, and yet a time that holds many lessons for this country and its future.
Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD (Holocaust and Genocide Studies), Dmin (Biblical Studies), teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a higher-education ambassador for the Council on Foreign Relations, and the award-winning author of 12 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net.
Wednesdays, November 5 & 12 from 1:30-3:30pm (PT)
Thousand Oaks Campus & Zoom
Buildings That Define American Cities: DC and New Orleans (Two Parts) with Eleanor Schrader
Every city has a particular feel about it, defined by its architecture, demographics, geography, climate, and the people and cultures that have shaped the city from its founding to its current status. From historical to contemporary structures, this two-part lecture will explore the iconic structures that identify various American cities and how they came to be. A variety of architectural styles are discussed, as well as the sociopolitical context in which these buildings were created.
Our nation’s capital, Washington DC, hosts a plethora of neoclassical architectural styles in keeping with our visual and philosophical connection to ancient Greece and Rome. Other architectural styles found in the city include Gothic Revival, Beaux Arts, and New Formalism. Additionally, we will discuss the monuments and memorials that grace the environs of Washington DC, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial.
New Orleans, nicknamed “The Big Easy” because of its laid-back, slow-paced lifestyle and vibrant, easy-going music scene, is a melding of Spanish, French, and Afro-Caribbean influences. As the city grew, a unique tapestry of architectural styles were shaped by its climate and multicultural inspirations, including French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Neoclassical, and vernacular styles. Also famed for its French Quarter and Mardi Gras, New Orleans is notable for its distinctive range of building styles, from elegant mansions to elaborate cemeteries.
Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world. She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby’s Institute in London and New York. She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.
Thursdays, November 13 & 20, 10am-12pm (PT)
Thousand Oaks Campus & Zoom
Murder, Motives, and Mystery: Inside the Mind of a Homicide Detective with Dr. Pedro Fernandez
Join retired LAPD homicide detective and university professor Pedro Fernandez for a fascinating journey into the world of homicide investigations. This engaging lecture will demystify how detectives solve murders—from the first call at the crime scene to the final courtroom testimony. Learn about real investigative techniques, the role of forensic science, and how motive, means, and opportunity guide every case. With stories drawn from decades of experience, this talk offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of bringing justice to victims and their families. Perfect for curious minds and lovers of true crime!
Bio:
Dr. Pedro Fernandez is a seasoned veteran in the field of criminal justice, with a career spanning over three decades. His journey began in military law enforcement, where he served as a Military Police Officer, Criminal Investigator, and served as the Chief of the Guard and Tactical Supervisor on deployments as a member of the United States Navy and Reserves. He has also served as a civilian police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. During his tenure at the LAPD, Dr. Fernandez worked in a variety of assignment that included Patrol, Gangs, Vice, Gang Detective and Homicide Investigator. His commitment to public safety and security continued at the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Air Marshal Service, where he served on Multi-Agency Task Forces, held Supervisory Roles, and was the Assistant Federal Security Director of Law Enforcement at a major international airport. In addition to his work experience within three distinct categories of the criminal justice system, Dr. Fernandez has continuously sought to improve his contributions to American policing through his academic pursuits and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Public Administration, and a Doctorate in Criminal Justice.
Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Dr. Fernandez is an active member of several criminal justice professional organizations, including the Hispanic American Command Police Officers Association, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the American Society of Public Administrators.
Tuesday, November 18, 10am-12pm (PT)
Thousand Oaks Campus & Zoom
More Than Skin Deep: Race and Medicine Continued with Dr. Paloma Vargas
Medicine and race have been linked since time immemorial. Over the past 100-150 years, records have been maintained recording health disparities between white and non-white individuals, and the impact of race on access to medical care. Most recently, the CoVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparities in access to health care, treatment, and outcomes. In Part I of this lecture (Dec 2024), we reviewed examples of the impact of race on medical treatment and discussed well-known cases that have impacted medicine and the medical field in the United States and abroad. Part II will briefly review information covered in Part I and will expand on this topic to provide additional examples and include the impact of social determinants of health on communities of color, including economic stability, access to and qualify of education, healthcare quality and access, neighborhood and environment, and social and community context.
Bio:
Dr. Paloma Vargas (she/they/ella) is the Dean of Mathematics, Science, Health Education, Kinesiology and Athletics at Oxnard College, a 2-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). In her capacity as Dean, Dr. Vargas works with administration, faculty, and staff to determine best practices in serving diverse student populations. She often serves as a facilitator and trainer for faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions in centering equity with a particular focus on inclusivity in STEM.
Dr. Vargas previously served as a biology faculty member, researcher, HSI Director, Science Coordinator and STEM Advisor at private and public institutions. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College (HSIs), and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Medical and Molecular Parasitology from The Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at New York University. Her graduate and post-doctoral work focused on host-pathogen interactions of both parasitic amoeba (E. histolytica) and Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaire’s Disease.
Wednesday, December 3 from 10am-12pm (PT)
Zoom
Propaganda in Putin’s Russia with Dr. Asya Pereltsvaig
Putin’s propaganda machine was first put in place already in the first year of Putin’s presidency and has had a significant impact on what many Russians think, believe, and do. In this talk, we’ll explore how the propaganda machine in Russia works, what its key instruments are, how it impacts people subjected to it, and why it has been so successful. We’ll also consider the question of whether there’s similar propaganda in the US, and if so, how to avoid becoming its victim.
Bio:
Asya Pereltsvaig received a degree in English and History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a PhD in Linguistics from McGill University. She taught at Yale, Cornell, and Stanford universities, and has been teaching in lifelong education programs since 2010. Her expertise is in language, culture, and history, and the relationship between them. Asya has published five scholarly books with Cambridge University Press. Asya is a popular instructor for several lifelong learning institutes around the country.
Thursday, December 4 from 10am-12pm (PT)
Zoom
LA in the 1960s: Conflict, Counterculture and Change with Sharon Boorstin
In the 1960s, the baby boomers came of age, and unlike earlier generations, they rejected the norms of their parents. In this course, we explore how this generation gap played out in Los Angeles. Highlights include the Watts Riots in 1965, the Sunset Strip curfew riots in 1966, and the Century City anti-Vietnam War march in 1967. We also look at LA’s mod fashion styles, the Hippie movement, and movies, including “The Graduate” and “Easy Rider,” which broke conventions and ushered in a new Hollywood era.
Bio:
Sharon Boorstin is a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in lifestyle, food and travel. In 2019 she won Visit California’s Eureka Award for Best Newspaper Travel Article. In the 1970s and ‘80s Sharon was the Restaurant Critic of the (late) Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, and in the ‘90s she edited the annual Gayot Guidebooks for Los Angeles and other cities. She also wrote for magazines including Bon Appetit, Smithsonian and Town & Country Travel. With her husband Paul, she wrote dozens of screenplays for feature films and television including Angel of Death (ABC) starring Jane Seymour. Her memoir/cookbook, “Let Us Eat Cake: Adventures in Food and Friendship” (Harper-Collins 2002), was a selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club. Raised in Seattle, Washington, Sharon moved to Los Angeles in 1966 after earning a California Lifetime Teaching credential at U.C. Berkeley. She taught high-school History, English and Social Studies in L.A. for 11 years.
Monday, December 8, 10am-12pm (PT)
Zoom
The Soundtrack of the Season: A Journey Through Holiday’s Greatest Hits with Tony Moon
From mid-November to January 1st, American Radio, TV, and most retail stores are loaded with Holiday music. It’s in our ears 24/7! Songs are old, some are new, and all are from different decades, genres, and styles.
In this lecture we will discover the background stories of who wrote the “”standards”” and why so many artists have recorded them. We’ll visit behind the scenes of their marketing success and sometimes failure. We will relive the music not played often anymore and discuss the reasons for their holiday disappearance. Lots of music and videos will make this a nostalgic winter time romp! Come join us as we jingle and jangle our way down Santa Claus Lane humming a happy holiday tune!
Bio:
Tony Moon has spent 60 successful years in the music business. Beginning in 1960, he joined the L.A. group Dante and The Evergreens, which was managed and produced by Lou Adler and Herb Alpert. He later moved to Nashville, becoming the guitarist and conductor for Brenda Lee. Tony also began playing on recording sessions and was Nashville’s first rock independent music producer, working with five major labels. He scored several big hits for The Vogues, including “5 O’ Clock World.” Tony has won several awards as a songwriter and music publisher. His songs have been released by artists as diverse as Porter Wagoner, Willie Nelson, Vickie Carr, Pearl Jam, and The Beatles.
He currently administers several Music Publishing Companies and a New York Entertainment Company.
Tuesday, December 9, 10am-12pm (PT)
Zoom
Holiday Art Greetings with Katherine Zoraster
For as long as I can recall, one of the first signs of the upcoming Holiday Season is the arrival of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Museum Store Holiday Preview catalog, featuring their gift cards, ornaments, and calendars, most of which come from images within their vast collection. One of the oldest museums in the United States, it was also one of the first museums in which to take advantage of their own collection to market and share their images. In this special holiday lecture, we will look at the stories behind a few of the cards in the museum collection. Ranging from a variety of themes including Classic Religious Art, Medieval and Illuminated Manuscripts, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces, Asian Art and American Art, the works chosen from the collection for Holiday Cards will give a brief overview of the history of art and the Met’s collection.
Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.
In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.
Wednesday, December 10, 1-3pm (PT)
Thousand Oaks Campus & Zoom