Schedule: 
This course will take place on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM for five weeks (1/21/25 - 2/18/25).  This course will be on zoom.

Course Description:
TED Talks have become a very popular virtual method for sharing thoughts and ideas from a wide variety of disciplines. They provide original viewpoints that can stimulate your mind and open you to new knowledge, hear how others think, and provide you with a new way to explore the world. Each week 1-3 TED Talk videos will be shown in class, and students will engage in lively facilitated conversation sharing their perspectives on the ideas raised. There will be five different presenters from our Rainbow community, one for each class, each focusing on a different topic.

Per the TED Talks website: “The organization is on a mission to discover and spread ideas that spark imagination, embrace possibility and catalyze impact” and are “devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda ... (for those) who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others ...”

Jan. 21: Perception
Betsy McGinnity, Presenter
This TED Talk session will explore the nature of Perception. We’ll begin by experiencing how optical illusions show us how we see, then look at photographing nature beyond the limits of human perception, and finally explore whimsical art that craves your attention.

Jan. 28: Free Speech and Academic Freedom in Universities
Devon Davidson, Presenter 
This TED Talk Class  will focus on free speech and academic freedom in universities.  We will look at how universities can protect free speech while also protecting vulnerable students, the difference between free speech and academic freedom, and the connections between the rightwing’s attack on universities, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), critical race theory, gender, and free thought itself.

Feb. 4: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Artificial Empathy (AE)
Cynthia Jahn, Presenter
Artificial intelligence (AI) and artificial empathy (AE) are both an ever-growing presence in our lives, with ongoing development in areas such as chatbot therapy, companion robots, and conversational agents. How will AI and AE impact our lives and the ways that we connect with each other?

Feb. 11: Mediumship 
Thea Iberall, Presenter
Mediumship is the practice of communicating with spirits through a medium who receives messages, symbols, and impressions. Western science claims there is no empirical evidence for this activity, and yet thousands of self-proclaimed mediums appear to be able to do it. Let’s open the door to this fascinating topic together.

Feb. 18: Words, Grammar, and Different Ways of Speaking!
Alison Morgan, Presenter
In this very interactive discussion we will explore lexicography, making up words, “Does grammar matter?" and other fun topics relating to words. Bring your favorite words and pet peeves! 

Required Course Materials: None

Preparation for First Class: None

Class Schedule:
This class will take place on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM for five weeks (1/21/25 - 2/18/25).  This course will be on zoom.

Course Description:
The inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals into many western religions has been a challenge and a journey for all concerned. This course will look at five prominent religions in the United States, present a brief overview of their fundamental beliefs, values, and religious practices, and examine what each has experienced vis-à-vis LGBTQ+ issues and individuals in their communities. Religious leaders and individuals of those faiths will discuss their journeys and then open discussion to course participants. 

Religions to be explored.

January 21. Unitarian Universalist. Reverend Erica Richmond.

January 28. Methodist. Reverend Cynthia Good.

February 4. Catholic. Kathy Ann Gianino, Dignity Boston Liturgy Committee, member.

February 11. Religious Society of Friends (“Quaker”). Susan Davies, member.

February 18. Judaism. Rabbi Lisa Edwards.

 Instructors:

Rev. Erica Richmond joined First Parish UU Church in Arlington as Minister in 2020 after several years as a hospital chaplain and one year at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in North Andover. She earned her BA and MA degrees at Clark University in International Development, Gender Studies and Community Development, and  graduated from Union Theological Seminary in 2013.

The Reverend Dr. Cynthia Good is the pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Arlington, Massachusetts. She received her M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and her D.Min. from Hartford Seminary, with a focus on spirituality, creativity, and worship;  and completed a program in Spiritual Direction with the Stillpoint Center for Christian Spirituality at Ghost Ranch. She has served as Pastor of four churches and Interim Pastor of many more. 

Kathy Ann Gianino, Dignity Boston Liturgy Committee, has been for 45 years a member of Dignity Boston, a catholic, progressive, inclusive community where all are welcome, especially LGBTQIA. She also serves as a member of WATER: Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual. Within Dignity Boston, she coordinates liturgies and creates prayerful movement, ‘liturgical dance.’ Twenty years ago, she and her wife were married at a Dignity Boston service, where biological family, friends, co-workers and anyone else who came to church that day witnessed the ‘Glorious’ blessing of the legal marriage of 2 women.

Susan Davies’ search for a faith community brought her to the Religious Society of Friends,“Quakers,” 52 years ago. Among other qualities, she was drawn by the Quaker conviction in the equal roles of men and women; that no intermediaries were needed for engagement with God/spirit; the emphasis on living the faith through pastoral work in the community; and shared governance by “coming to a sense of the meeting” rather than voting. 

Rabbi Emerita Lisa Edwards, Ph,D,, is a Jewish lesbian activist in the pulpit, online, on the page, and in the classroom and the streets. From 1994 to 2019 she served as Rabbi (now Rabbi Emerita) of Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC) and “House of New Life,” the world’s original queer synagogue, an LGBTQ+ inclusive, progressive, diverse community founded in 1972. With degrees (including ordination) from five institutions of higher education , she is still learning. She and her wife, lesbian activist and archivist Tracy Moore, have been together since 1985.

Homework:  None

Required Course Material: None

Class Schedule:
This class will take place on Wedndays at 10:30 AM for five weeks (1/22/25 - 2/19/25).  This course will be on zoom.

Course Description:
This course will consist of five award winning Australian films, all of which have women in key production roles including director, screenplay, or book author. 

All of the films are available on streaming services and/or YouTube for free or for a nominal fee. Some are also available through local library networks. The films will be viewed for homework. Each week there may be additional short articles which the instructor will send out ahead of time.
In each class, the instructor will set the context for discussion with background on the film, its production, and its historical setting if relevant. Class discussion will include:

     a) general reactions to the film

     b) the actions and behaviors of the female protagonist relative to the           story and its historical setting 

     c) broad issues of relevance to female leads. Clips from the film,                  reviews, interviews, and relevant research will be used to ground              the discussion.

    d) is having women in key production roles important to ensure that            women are treated fairly in films?

The five weeks will follow a roughly chronological sequence according to the time in which the film is set.

Week 1: My Brilliant Career (set in late1890s)

Week 2: The Nightingale (set in early 1890s)

Week 3: The Dressmaker (set in 1950s)

Week 4: Tracks (set in 1970s)

Week 5: Rabbit Proof Fence (set in 1931)

Films: My Brilliant Career (1979), The Nightingale (2018), The Dressmaker (2015), Tracks (2013), Rabbit Proof Fence (2002). All the films have optional subtitles.

Instructor:
Kate Seideman grew up in Melbourne, Australia. She went to college (undergraduate and graduate) in England before moving to America for post-doctoral research. Since coming to Boston she has worked in research or early product development for several large high tech companies addressing issues of collaboration and ease-of-use. She is a member and volunteer at BOLLI (Brandeis Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) where she has previously taught this course.

Homework:
The films will be viewed for homework. Each week there may be additional short articles which the instructor will send out ahead of time.

Preparation for First Class: 
Watch My Brilliant Career (1979)

Class Schedule:
This class will take place on Wedndays at 1:30 PM for five weeks (1/22/25 - 2/19/25).  This course will be on zoom.

Course Description:
This five-week course offers a lively, hands-on introduction to ChatGPT and AI, perfect for those who are curious but new to artificial intelligence. Each week, students will dive into engaging projects, from creating song lyrics to personalizing their own AI, planning vacations to customizing meal plans, and even composing music—all with no prior tech experience needed. Each session builds skills in prompting, personalizing, and exploring AI, offering both practical applications and fun projects through which you will gain confidence and empowerment with AI’s possibilities. Each class includes interactive discussions, live demos, and group projects that allow students to try prompts and share insights. The format encourages participation without pressure, welcoming questions in a supportive, easygoing learning environment.

Instructor:
Carolyn Jenkins, soon-to-be author of From Tech-Timid to AI-Confident, approached ChatGPT with a fair bit of trepidation. But after a few curious prompts, she quickly fell in love with the creativity and ease it brought to everyday tasks, turning AI into a friendly, helpful intelligence. Now, she’s excited to share this discovery with others. Join Carolyn as she helps you unlock the fun and functionality of AI in ways you never expected!

Homework Expectations:
Homework is entirely optional, with daily suggestions for those eager to deepen their practice. Activities range from creative writing prompts to practical applications like meal planning, allowing students to set their own pace and engage as much or as little as they like. 

Required Course Materials: 
We’ll be using a few online AI programs, which we’ll go over in class. These are free, so there’s no expenditure for the class and nothing students need to obtain before the class.

Preparation for First Class: 
Just come with an open mind and a smile.