The Association of Lifelong Learners (ALL) logo

ALPENA — The Association of Lifelong Learners (ALL) programs for the week of July 13 include the following:

Online lecture: The Spanish Inquisition

Time: Monday, July 13 at noon

Location: ACC Madeline Briggs Center 140

The Spanish Inquisition remains one of history’s most complicated institutions, its legacy shaped as much by legend and polemic as by archival record. Join linguist and historian Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he examines the Inquisition not simply as an instrument of religious persecution, but as a calculated tool of state-building under Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. Explore how a fragmented kingdom gave rise to a unified Spanish identity and the Inquisition’s impacts on Spain’s Jewish community.

Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer studied French and Spanish literature before going on to get a master’s in European culture at the University of Cambridge. He has traveled extensively and has many years of experience leading educational adventures in France, Spain, and Italy. He has recently completed a PhD in 19th century Spanish literature. In addition to his principal research, he regularly writes for a number of publications on urban history and architecture.

This is a Road Scholar virtual lecture offered via Zoom at Madeline Briggs Center.

Sound bath meditative experience

Time: Tuesday, July 14 at 1:30 p.m. or Tuesday, July 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Location: Massage Works Natural Health Center in Alpena

A maximum of six people per time slot is permitted. Time slots are given by a first-come, first-served basis.

Call Linda Ferguson at 402-679-7669 to register.

A sound bath is a meditative experience where you lie down and waves of sound wash over you. It may help with stress, fatigue, and depression symptoms. Amy Traylor, owner of Massage Works, invites ALL members to experience a sound bath in her Natural Health Center (NHC) in Alpena. She is offering two sound bath sessions followed by a complimentary eight-minute therapy mat experience if you choose. Traylor is a licensed massage therapist and has owned Massage Works NHC for over 20 years.

Online lecture: George Washington and the road to Independence

Time: Tuesday, July 14 at 2 p.m.

Location: ACC Madeline Briggs Center 143

Join author and historian Dr. Edward Lengel as he explores how Washington’s hope for America’s future led him to take on leadership in the struggle for independence. Celebrate the United States of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 through the lens of Washington’s leadership in the Revolutionary War.

This is a Road Scholar Virtual Lecture offered via Zoom at Madeline Briggs.

Fighting hunger at ACC: Supporting student success

Time: Thursday, July 16 at 1 p.m.

Location: ACC Madeline Briggs Center 140

Learn how Alpena Community College is addressing student food insecurity through Michigan’s Hunger Free Campus Grant. This presentation will share the reasons ACC pursued the grant, highlights from a recent campus food insecurity survey, and plans for expanding “The Market at ACC” food pantries across campus to better support students with access to food and essential resources.

Kristen Wisniewski is the grant director at ACC and an adjunct psychology professor. Lisa Blumenthal is the marketing and data specialist at ACC. Both worked to secure the grant for ACC and they look forward to the impact it will have on students.

Age Well – psychology of kindness – strategies for prosocial behavior

Time: Thursday, July 16 at 2 p.m.

Location: ACC Madeline Briggs Center 143

This program covers how small acts of kindness and positive thinking shape a happier, more fulfilling life. As part of the “Age Well” series, author Dr. Catherine Sanderson, an expert in positive psychology, for a lecture on the science behind well-being, resilience, and optimism. Explore research backed strategies for fostering positivity and gain practical tools to strengthen happiness in everyday life.

This is a Road Scholar Virtual Lecture offered via Zoom at Madeline Briggs.