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THIS WEEK
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Giving Week — Your gift to the OLLI Member Fund is very much appreciated!
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Families and Politics Workshop How to preserve family and friendship bonds while staying true to your own political beliefs — Open to OLLI Members and Guests, Friday, November 13
UPCOMING OLLI EVENTS
OLLI NEWS
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Fall Study Group Highlights — Chocolate! Field trip to Hotel Chocolat
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Get Ready for Spring Study Group Proposal Submissions beginning a week from today — Sunday, November 15 through Sunday, November 29
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Are the Midterms Ready for a More Powerful AI — Recording available on MyOLLINU
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Social Interest Groups (SIGs) — A fun, casual opportunity to connect with other OLLI members.
OTHER INFORMATION
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Free Healthy Hearing Event — November 13
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Chicago Super Debate 2: Philosophy in the Age of AI, OLLI Members are Invited to a Special Discount — November 19
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Travel Opportunities through our partnership with OLLI at ASU
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Invitation to Travel with OLLI at Southern Oregon University – Offering three trips in 2027
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2026-2027 Wirtz Season Announced!
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Northwestern Library information
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Northwestern PlanIt Purple link to events happening at NU
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National Resource Center for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (NRC)
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OLLI Office information
Scroll down to learn more. All times are CT.
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OLLI staff work remotely on Fridays throughout the Fall term.
To reach the OLLI staff please email: olli@northwestern.edu
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This Week is
OLLI Giving Week, November 9–13
| | This week, fellow OLLI members will make a short presentation in every virtual and in-person study group to explain the OLLI Member Fund and share their personal perspective on why it’s important to give to OLLI. Thank you in advance for your attention and your generosity. | | |
Direct Impact on Your OLLI Program
When you make a gift to the OLLI Member Fund, your contribution goes directly towards:
- Strategic planning initiatives that will increase study group variety, develop and recognize coordinators, increase membership, and create more meaningful member engagement.
- Software that supports members (like MyOLLINU and its ongoing enhancements)
- Technology tools, equipment, and support for virtual and in-person learning experiences
- Programming and speakers that provide meaningful intellectual and social engagement
- Need-based scholarships that enhance the diversity of our classrooms
- Hearing equipment for walking tours and classrooms
- NU School of Professional Studies (SPS) Scholarship Fund to support a student who otherwise would not be able to pursue secondary education
Your participation at any giving level demonstrates your commitment to OLLI and has a direct impact on your own program experience.
| | With the advent of 2026 OLLI Giving Week, we recognize members and friends on the 2025 Honor Roll of Donors who generously donated to OLLI in 2025. | | The 2026 Honor Roll of Donors will reflect donations from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027 and will be publicized in March, 2027. | |
Ways to Give:
- CLICK HERE to donate online.
- Drop off a donation at the OLLI office. Make checks payable to OLLI Northwestern.
- Mail the response card accompanying the solicitation letter you received in the mail.
Questions about how to support your OLLI via a charitable distribution, donor advised fund, stocks/mutual funds, planned gift, or endowed funds?
We appreciate your donation to the Member Fund. Your gift of any amount will be recognized on the 2026 Honor Roll of Donors: gifts of $250–$499 places you on the Bronze Circle donor list; gifts of $500–$999 will be recognized as Silver Circle donors; gifts of $1,000 or more are recognized as Gold Circle donors. Gifts may also be made In Honor of and In Memory of someone you wish to recognize.
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Families and Politics Workshop
How to preserve family and friendship bonds while staying true to your own political beliefs
OLLI Members and Their Guests Are Welcome
Date: Friday, November 13⋅
Time: 9:45am–12:45pm
Location: Chicago Wieboldt Hall, 339 E Chicago Avenue, Room 517
Facilitated by: Maryanne Colter, Illinois State Chair for Braver Angels
The holidays are coming up, and toxic political polarization can make some family gatherings stressful and difficult to navigate. For years, politics has been straining and breaking relationships. Our Families and Politics Workshop will teach you how to preserve family bonds while also staying true to your own political beliefs. We will use fun, engaging, interactive exercises to practice effective communication skills with difficult family members. Our goals are to understand why family differences over politics can be uniquely challenging and provide some strategies and skills for handling political differences in a constructive way.
Guests and family members are welcome to attend. Even if your own family is a dream, these skills will help you navigate any contentious gathering. Our Workshop facilitator is Maryanne Colter, Illinois State Chair for Braver Angels, a national organization working to bridge political divides and fight polarization. Maryanne is also a media personality and appears on the WTTW series Firsthand Democracy. You can see Maryanne in action in this 22-minute WTTW segment here.
SPONSORED BY THE OLLI CHICAGO COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE
| This event is free and open to all current OLLI members and their guests. Registration is required through the OLLI Augusoft registration system. OLLI members may register themselves and their guests through Augusoft. | | Facilitator Maryanne Colter serves as the Illinois State Chair for Braver Angels, a national organization working to fight toxic polarization, bridge political divides and promote “courageous citizenship.” She has been a volunteer with Braver Angels since 2019 and became Chair in 2024. Maryanne has moderated dozens of Braver Angels workshops, given many presentations, and served as a Braver Angels Ambassador. She is featured in the WTTW FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY documentary. Maryanne is retired after a long career in Project Management and Organizational Change Consulting. | | | |
Osher Online Community Event
Grandfamilies: Rising to the Challenge of Raising Another Generation with Hope and Heart
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Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 4:00pm–5:30pm
Location: Online Zoom Webinar
Speaker: Donna Butts
Speaker Donna Butts is an award-winning nonprofit executive, author, and nationally recognized advocate for intergenerational solutions that benefit children, youth, older adults, and families. For more than twenty-seven years, Donna served as Executive Director of Generations United, a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities and families through intergenerational policy and practice. In this role, she elevated the needs of grandfamilies and advanced policies supporting families across generations. Her leadership helped shape national conversations and paved the way for critical legislation and resources for relative caregivers.
| | Osher Online Community Events are sponsored by the Osher National Resource Center; events are free and open to all current OLLI members. | |
Registration is Open, Space is Limited!
OLLI HOLLI-day Party Luncheons
Celebrate the holiday season with a festive luncheon! Choose your location and join us for a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, delicious food, and holiday cheer. Log into your Augusoft Student account to register and pay.
SPONSORED BY THE OLLI CHICAGO AND EVANSTON MEMBERSHIP ENRICHMENT COMMITTEES
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CHICAGO HOLLI-day Lunch
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Date: Friday, December 4
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Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
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Location: Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse (at Dearborn & Kinzie), Chicago
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Cost: $45/person
Join us for a festive HOLLI-day lunch—new this year!—at this classic Chicago restaurant, located in River North in a historic landmark building with a storied past.
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11:30 AM: Reception, with cash bar
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Noon: Sit-down lunch
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Menu: Your choice of one of three entrees, selected at the dining table: Rigatoni Vodka, with Mascarpone Cheese and Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano; Chicken Piccata, with Capers, Lemon, and Fresh Herbs; or Mustard Maple Glazed Salmon. Served with mixed baby greens and vegetables, bakery rolls, roasted market vegetables, Yukon gold potatoes, Tiramisu dessert, coffee, and hot tea.
Open to OLLI members and one paid guest. Space is limited. Bookings must be received no later than Wednesday, November 25 at 5:00pm.
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EVANSTON HOLLI-day Lunch
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Date: Friday, December 11
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Time: Noon–2:00pm
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Location: 500 Davis Street, 7th floor, Evanston (Parking discount stickers available for easy parking in the building.)
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Cost: $35/person
Celebrate the holidays with your fellow OLLI revelers! You won’t recognize our Davis Street space which will be transformed into a beautiful HOLLI-day Haven.
- Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring new menu items catered by Michael's
- Buzzy holiday spirits
- Just $35/person. OLLI Members and ONE paid guest per member welcome
Registration closes December 4, however due to the popularity of this event, please register as soon as possible. Open to OLLI members and one paid guest.
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OLLI Study Group Highlights
Chocolate! Field Trip to Hotel Chocolat
| | The OLLI Chocolate! study group recently enjoyed a field trip to Hotel Chocolat on Pearson Street in Chicago, where they learned about the importance of cocoa quality and how varying cocoa concentrations influence the flavor and finished product. Group members sampled rich drinking chocolate and tasted chocolates with different cocoa percentages, discovering how the concentration of cocoa can transform the taste and character of each creation. Educational and delicious! | |
Recording Available on MyOLLINU
Speaker Abdiaziz Ahmed, technology policy strategist at the Brennan Center Elections and Government Program
Recordings of this speaker event as well as recent past speaker events are posted on MyOLLINU under General Info > Lectures/Training tab. You must log into your MyOLLINU account to access the video link.
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Do you have OLLI news?
If you have OLLI news to share, send us your news and photos to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming OLLI newsletter (notate OLLI Newsletter in the subject line): olli@northwestern.edu
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Special OLLI Member Discount
Chicago Super Debate 2: Philosophy in the Age of AI
Date: Thursday, November 19
Time: 5:30pm
Location: The Ferris, 1 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL
Cost: $20; OLLI members receive a 25% discount with code JOHN25
An evening of debate and conversation with Chicago’s wider community. The discussion begins on stage and continues through audience questions, food and wine, and the conversations you have with the people you meet.
Purchase tickets here
Use code JOHN25 for a 25% discount.
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Northwestern University Speech, Language, and Learning Program (NUCASLL)
FREE Healthy Hearing Event
Date: Friday, November 13
Time: Call for Appointment
Location: Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning — 2315 Campus Drive, Evanston
Let the doctors of audiology at Northwestern University help you take charge of your hearing health.
- Receive a Free Hearing, Cognition, and Balance Screening
- Speak to an Audiologist
- Demo Hearing Devices
More information on the Healthy Hearing Event flyer.
Appointments are limited. Call now to secure your spot:
847-491-3165
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Travel Opportunities
Through OLLI NU Partnership with OLLI ASU
The OLLI NU travel partnership with OLLI at Arizona State University offers our members a unique opportunity to deepen friendships, expand horizons, and learn in new settings beyond the classroom. Whether exploring cultural treasures, natural landscapes, or intellectually inspiring destinations, each trip is thoughtfully curated to combine expert-led learning with rich social experiences. You’ll traverse new terrain with people who share your curiosity and enthusiasm. You will create lifelong memories, sparking fresh ideas, and coming home with renewed energy for community and lifelong learning.
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Just Added! OLLI Corps New Zealand OLLI at ASU in collaboration with AUIP Study Abroad Program
- December 4–17, 2027
- Information meeting: November 9, 3:00pm–4:00pm MST (4:00pm CT). Register here.
- Click here for full itinerary.
- A rich blend of cultural discovery, service learning, and scenic exploration across Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, and Wellington.
- Note: All the trip coordination and payments will be handled directly by AUIP. You must provide proof of a current OLLI Membership to make a deposit and reserve a spot for the trip.
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Food & Landscapes of Ireland with ASU Faculty Kathleen Dixon
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OLLI's South Africa Expedition
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Madrid, the Camino & the Portuguese Coast with ASU Professor Dr. Eduardo Pagàn
| Questions? Email Tracy Grewe at Arizona State University: tmgrewe@asu.edu | |
Invitation to Travel with OLLI at Southern Oregon University
OLLI at Southern Oregon University has organized three trips in 2027 with Premier World Discovery (PWD) travel company. and is inviting fellow OLLI members from other regions of the USA to join.
ONLINE BOOKING OPTION: Save time, postage, and secure your seat for this group departure. Simply type https://res.premierworlddiscovery.com/ into your web browser and use the Booking Number (Web Code) to make your deposit online in just a few minutes. No need to submit a Reservation Form if booking online.
Burgundy & Provence French River Cruise
Mackinac Island, The Grand Hotel & Niagara Falls
Treasures of Ireland
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Experience Three Distinct Theatrical Events from the Wirtz Center
This fall, the Wirtz Center invites audiences to experience exceptional productions in both Evanston and Chicago.
In Evanston, discover Grace and the Butterfly Effect, a moving new musical about connection, resilience, and the ripple effects one life can have on others. Then step into the charming world of She Loves Me, the beloved romantic musical comedy filled with mistaken identities, heartfelt romance, and an unforgettable score.
At Wirtz Center Chicago, experience 73 Seconds, a gripping and deeply human drama that explores memory, family, and the life-changing truths that emerge when the past resurfaces.
Whether you're drawn to the emotional power of new musical theater, the timeless joy of a classic musical comedy, or thought-provoking contemporary drama, the Wirtz Center offers extraordinary performances on both campuses.
Visit wirtz.northwestern.edu to learn more, explore performance schedules, and reserve your seats today.
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Northwestern Library holds over 8 million items making it the 11th largest private university library.
Need help finding resources for your study group, or have other library-related questions?
Email Tracy Coyne: tracy-coyne@northwestern.edu
OLLI Research Guide
| | National Resource Center for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (NRC) |
The mission of the National Resource Center is to help OLLIs thrive by connecting OLLIs to each other and to resources, collaborating with OLLIs and partner organizations, consulting with OLLI leaders to find solutions, and celebrating the camaraderie and growth of OLLIs and their members. Members can subscribe to their monthly newsletter to find out what is happening at OLLIs across the country.
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Chicago Office:
339 East Chicago Avenue
Wieboldt Hall, Room 412
Chicago, IL 60611
312-503-7881
M-F 9:00am–3:30pm
olli@northwestern.edu
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Evanston Office:
500 Davis Street
Suite 700
Evanston, IL 60201
847-467-1523
M-F 9:00am–3:30pm
olli@northwestern.edu
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