OLLI at Berkshire Community College

OLLI at Berkshire Community College

@olliatbcc.bsky.social

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College in western Massachusetts is a dynamic learning community with over 1,500 members that offers 200+ terrific programs a year. For the Joy of Learning! berkshireolli.org

25 Followers 35 Following 25 Posts Joined Jan 2025
1 day ago
Spring 2026 registration now open berkshireolli.org/spring2026

Spring 2026 Registration Now Open! berkshireolli.org/spring2026

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1 month ago
Javier Corrales in a black suit jacket and glasses

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents: Tyrants, Smugglers, and Hostile Takeovers: US-Venezuela Relations with Professor Javier Corrales
Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/event-6518691

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1 month ago

Two timely free and open to the public talks (on Zoom) this week:
1/14 at 7 p.m. Jim Brooke with an update on Ukraine - berkshireolli.org/event-6433453
1/15 at 7 p.m. Tom Gerety on ICE and the Constitution: Pushing Back Against Assaults On American Freedom - berkshireolli.org/event-6515994

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1 month ago
Berkshire OLLI - Winter 2026 Class Schedule

There is still time to sign up for winter classes! Learn, connect, and make new friends at OLLI at BCC! berkshireolli.org/winter2026

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5 months ago

So many fall lectures coming up - berkshirecc.edu/events - but two free talks on the courts and democracy may be of particular interest here on bsky - Steve Vladeck and Tom Gerety on 10/20 (berkshireolli.org/event-6378076) and Tom again with Aziz Huq on 10/28 (berkshireolli.org/event-6378108)!

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6 months ago
Berkshire OLLI - Kate Maguire: The Vision and Reality of Making Theater in the Berkshires

Come to the Annual Nancy Vale Memorial Lecture with the Amazing Kate Maguire - The Vision and Reality of Making Theater in the Berkshires! This Thursday, Sept 11 at 4 p.m. berkshireolli.org/event-6279330

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6 months ago
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Our Fall classes start next week and there is still time to sign up! berkshirecc.edu/Fall2025!

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8 months ago

Lots of great lectures coming up this summer! this week - Friday - Dr. Maud Montgomery and Dr. Tom Gerety on higher education and Saturday - Jeremy Yudkin on the upcoming Tanglewood season! berkshireolli.org/events

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9 months ago
SUMMER 2025 Movement Classes

Musical Theatre Dance: A Participatory Dance Workshop
with George Pinney (In-person in Lee)
Wednesdays - Five sessions beginning June 4 -10:30 a.m. - Noon

Fitness and Better Health Through Basic Self-Defense Training for Everyone with Andrew Weiss (In-person at BCC)
Mondays - Five sessions beginning June 2 -  5:30 - 7:00 p.m.


Imagination Is Ageless with Sally Filkins  (In-person at BCC)
Tuesdays - Eight sessions beginning July 8 - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

International Folk Dancing with Elaine Sohn (In-person in Lee)
Wednesdays - Six sessions beginning July 9 - 9:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Practical Self Defense with Laycolaion Freeman 
(In-person in Pittsfield, MA)
Thursdays - Four sessions beginning July 10 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

African Rooted Dance with Noel Staples Freeman 
(In-person in Pittsfield, MA)
Thursdays - Four sessions beginning July 10 - 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Come join in some great movement classes this summer at OLLI at BCC! berkshireolli.org/summer2025

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9 months ago
OLLI at Berkshire Community College
Historical Celebration: 250 Years Since the American Revolution
Summer Courses
American Painting in the Revolutionary War Period
with Ralph Pearson (Online)
Mondays - Four sessions beginning June 2 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
Thomas Paine's Unique Life, Times, and Writing
with Douglas Cooper (In-person in Great Barrington)
Tuesdays - Six sessions beginning June 3 -1:30 - 3 p.m.
The Legacy of Lafayette
with Genet Jeanjean, Aliki Braine, Polly Lyman, Alan Hoffman, Trudy Hammer, and Phil Deely (Online)
Wednesdays - Four sessions beginning June 4 - 9:30 - 11 a.m.
The American Revolution in the South: Where the War Was Won
with Richard Eason (Online)
Mondays - Six sessions beginning July 7 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
The Pursuit of Happiness: Where Are We Now?
with Michael Forbes Wilcox (Online)
Tuesdays - Six sessions beginning July 8 - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
OLLI at Berkshire Community College offers non-credit programs including courses, lectures, special events and trips, shared interest groups, and more -- online and in-person! For the joy of learning!
OLLI Berkshires250 programming info at berkshireolli.org/Rev250

OLLI at Berkshire Community College Historical Celebration: 250 Years Since the American Revolution - Summer Courses - Online and in-person! (berkshireolli.org/summer2025)
For the joy of learning!
OLLI Berkshires250 programming info at berkshireolli.org/Rev250

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9 months ago
Preview
OLLI’s Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture presents: Chris Whipple RESERVE FREE, General Admission  Reservations Required  Mahaiwe Member Resgistration: Wednesday, April 23 at noon Public Registration (if tickets remain): Wednesday, April 30 at noon OLLI, the O...

This Saturday at the Mahaiwe Theater!

Tickets: mahaiwe.org/event/ollis-...

Watch or read the interview with Chris Whipple:
www.berkshireeagle.com/uncharted-ch...

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10 months ago
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Come for the wild story, stay for the history!
Tickets: berkshireolli.org/event-6162274
Prof. Stephen R. Platt on his book:
The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II
Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom

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10 months ago
book cover with biden, harris, and trump

2025 Mona Sherman Mem. Lecture with Chris Whipple - May 24, 5:00 p.m.
At the Mahaiwe in Gt. Barrington, MA
Free, but tickets required
Tickets for OLLI members: berkshireolli.org/event-6093100
Registration opens to the public on Wednesday, April 30 at noon. mahaiwe.org/.../ollis-mo...

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11 months ago
Preview
Arts Beat: two major Hartford theatres to come together Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Stephen Sondheim’s landmark musical, will bring two major Hartford theatres together in their first partnership.

Great shout out for our upcoming Berkshire Previews class, and a wonderful story about some upcoming shows in the area: www.masslive.com/westfieldnew...

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1 year ago
YouTube
An Unchecked Presidency? A Dialogue Between Constitutional Lawyers Tom Gerety and Peter Shane YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College

If you missed the talk last night with Tom Gerety and Peter Shane on the presidency and separation of powers, it is up on the OLLI at BCC YouTube page: youtu.be/ynEclhsYXbs

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1 year ago

Coming next week!

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1 year ago
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I am bringing my jazz diplomacy talk to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, Tuesday, March 11, 1 PM. See link for registration details.

berkshireolli.org/event-6013547

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1 year ago
YouTube
Karen Curlee YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College

Spring Course Spotlight:
youtu.be/Gx7Mp3RUhJU

Movie Musicals - 1930s to Now with Broadway Stars Karen Curlee and Wayne Bryan!
Mondays - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Six Sessions - 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12
on Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/M105MovieMus...

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1 year ago
courtroom image from scopes trial. men in suits standing and talking

Spring Course Spotlight!
The Scopes Monkey Trial 100 Years Later: What Happened Then and Why Should We Care Now? with Doug Mishkin
Six Sessions - 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Hybrid - Zoom and in-person in Great Barrington
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/T101ScopesMo...

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1 year ago
Peter shane in blue suit and glasses

An Unchecked Presidency? Trump’s Attack on the Laws and the Constitution: A Dialogue Between Constitutional Lawyers Tom Gerety and Peter Shane
Monday, Mar 10 at 7 p.m. ET, via Zoom
Free & open to all - www.berkshireolli.org/event-6090045

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1 year ago
Prof. Joel Wolfe in a brown sweater, wearing glasses

Need a break from the news? Join us for:
The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:
Football: The Real American Pastime
with Professor Joel Wolfe, UMass Amherst
Monday, March 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET Online via Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/event-6043447

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1 year ago
open house spring 2025

Meet our spring instructors and join us for a Spring Open House on March 4 at 10:30 a.m. at BCC!
Register here: berkshireolli.org/event-6029820

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1 year ago
YouTube
Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0 with James Brooke YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College

If you missed Jim Brooke's update on Ukraine - it is up on our YouTube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVn2...

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1 year ago
YouTube
The Trump Executive Orders and the Constitution with Dr. Tom Gerety YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College

If you missed the lecture with Dr. Tom Gerety last night on the Trump admin executive orders, it is now up on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Ox...

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1 year ago
James Brooke headshot, black jacket, white shirt

Free and Open to the Public on Zoom - Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0 with James Brooke, former New York Times foreign correspondent and former Ukraine reporter.

Tuesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom - Free & open to all
Register here! berkshireolli.org/event-6007382

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1 year ago
Dr. Tom Gerety headshot

OLLI at Berkshire Community College has a new free and open to the public lecture on the newly signed Executive Orders - with Dr. Tom Gerety, Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. ET. Register today! berkshireolli.org/event-6041858

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