CLL Community Classes
CLL Summer Literary Salon
Thursday, June 11, 1:00-2:30 (In-person)
Cost: Free for CLL Members and non-CLL Members
Come and join 2026 CLL memoir class members as we read and interpret our best personal stories. You’ll be surprised and delighted by the range of perspectives you’ll hear! We’ll be celebrating another wonderful year of learning and growing as writers with encouragement from memoir teacher, Linda Downing Miller, teacher extraordinaire. Tasty refreshments and celebratory drink will be served. If you are interested in reading a piece, please contact Pat Lee at palwwcom@gmail.com.
American Murals and Muralists of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s
Thursdays, June 11-25, 2:30-4:00 p.m. (Hybrid)
Cost: $40 for CLL Members and $60 for non-CLL members
Most murals created in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, like the Beaux-Arts buildings containing them, conformed to academic traditions. Artists looked to the past, primarily the ancient world, the Italian Renaissance, and the Baroque era, for their inspiration. Grand allegorical representations of virtues and ideals, generally portrayed as monumental female figures, were typical of murals of this period, but as the twentieth century progressed, subjects and styles changed. This three-session hybrid class will examine murals created in the United States by both American and foreign artists during the decades of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. It will include murals commissioned for commercial buildings, banks, government buildings, department stores, restaurants, nightclubs, and theaters during this time period. The complex structure of the many New Deal programs, often incorrectly grouped together as “WPA art,” will be explained and the themes and style of the murals produced under these programs will be discussed. The class will end with a look at the great mural commissions of the time, such as Radio City Music Hall, Coit Tower, and the Cincinnati Union Terminal.
Kathleen Murphy Skolnik teaches art and architectural history at Roosevelt University for classes on architecture and design of the late 19th and early 20th century at the Newberry Library. She is the co-author of The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière and a contributor to Art Deco Chicago: Designing Modern America. From 2008 to 2016 she was the editor of the Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine and currently serves on the Board of the International Hildreth Meière Association and the Advisory Board of the Art Deco Society of New York.
These classes do not require a CLL membership to attend; however, they require registration and may have an additional fee.
Please visit the new CLL Registration page on Church Center to Register for classes.
Ongoing
Mindfulness Meditation
Every Monday and every Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Cost: Free
Sign-up through CLL office; the Zoom link will be sent from the facilitator, Regan Burke.
Bridge Group
2nd and 4th Monday of every month, 1:00–4:00 p.m. (In-person)
Cost: Free
This group is currently full. Contact Linda Daly (below) if you are interested in being put on the substitute list.
Let’s Play Mahjong!
Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (In-person)
Cost: Free
Midweek Meditation
Wednesdays, 11:00-11:30 (In-Person)
Cost: Free
Join CLL Director Annette Mileski on Wednesdays for 30 minutes of mindful restoration, meditation, and gentle movement. All are welcome.
Current Events
Wednesdays (In-Person)
12:00–1:00 p.m.
Roger Becker
Come together for group discussion of the daily headlines and other issues facing us as seniors, Chicagoans and citizens of the world. Our leader brings topics from multiple news sources and opens the group to in-depth conversations from diverse viewpoints. Participants are encouraged to suggest agenda items. All opinions are welcome for lively discussion.
Roger Becker graduated in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. Most of his professional career was spent in leading owners, architects, and contractors in developing health care design and construction projects. Roger was in charge of facilities services at St. Louis Children's Hospital, led the design and construction program at the University of Chicago Hospitals, and prior to retirement was Senior Vice President of Program Management at Lillibridge Healthcare Services. He has been the facilitator of this course since 2015.
Film Series
Twice a month, Wednesdays, 2:00-4:30 pm (In-person)
Cost: Free
Join us to enjoy a current film! Register to receive a list of this month’s movie selections.
Dates for Summer:
July 15 and 29
August 12 and 26
Art and Conversation
Thursdays, 11:00-12:30 p.m. (In-person)
Cost: Free
Art and Conversation is not a class but a celebration of fellowship and creativity. An art studio collaborative where people make art and new friends.
Surprise yourself. Be free. Have fun! We invite people to make new friends while indulging in lively discussions and making art. Bring a piece you are working on or start a new one! You don’t have to be talented, just interested and interesting. We can provide some basic materials but you can also bring some from home.
Canasta
Thursdays
1:30-3:00 p.m. (In person)
Fiber Friends,
Fridays, 2:00-3:30 p.m. (In person)
Cost: Free
Interested in learning how to knit or crochet? Or do you already know how, but would love to sit and stitch with a group? Have we got a space for you! Heather Groh will be facilitating this group and all skill levels are welcome. She will be able to help you get started with some simple patterns if you are new to the craft and will provide support if you are feeling a bit stuck in your stitching.
Monthly Lunch Meet Ups
Fridays
12:00-2:00 p.m. (In person)
Each month we select a neighborhood restaurant to meet at for lunch! This is a great way to connect with others and discover what might be your new favorite restaurant. Each person is responsible for their own check. Please email Dave Dalton to be notified of the upcoming restaurants and dates.
July
Abstract Art
Wednesdays, July 15- August 5, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (Hybrid)
Cost: $__for CLL Members, $__ for non-members
Abstract art reveals itself over time, it grows with you. The beauty is the freedom to connect with an abstraction on your own terms. You do not need to figure it out. Noticing and sensing is enough. Venture into viewing abstracts through how they make you feel not what they represent. When they begin to make sense, you will stop asking questions.
This class will focus on how to look at a landscape, a series of objects, or a still-life and how they break down to their visual negative and positive components e.g. black, white, and gray. This is a class designed to understand composition and know how to abstract it. Color is not the focus here…only black, white and gray. We will break down these images to their basic format. We will use the same image each week and produce different simple drawings each week.
Pauline Kochanski is a multi-disciplinary Chicago area exhibiting artist, teacher, and writer. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University. Pauline produces artwork using a variety of materials though she graphite, color pencils, and ink are at the top of her list. She brings a broad spectrum of teaching experiences to CLL and is thrilled to be able to support her students in their creative growth. Pauline considers herself a student as well as a teacher and guide.
Painting and Collage: Bringing Out the Artist in Everyone
Thursdays, July 16- August 20, 11:00-12:00 p.m. (In-Person)
Cost: $__ for CLL Members, $__for non-members
This class takes the expectation away from painting a specific object and is a lot of fun! We will experiment with different techniques through guided demonstrations before exploring a variety of paintbrushes, paper, and methods for applying color to paper. Once the painting is completed and all the works have been dried, we’ll cut their work apart, creating swatches, much like mosaic tiles to assemble into collages.
Students arrange the swatches in place prior to any permanent gluing, much like designing a patchwork quilt. Designs can be figurative or abstract. When the students are happy with their design, we’ll create our own collage.
Susan Stevens has been drawing and painting most of her life. She specializes in collage, using watercolors, gouache and acrylics. She teaches at OLLI (Temple University in Philadelphia), and at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, and in southwest Michigan at the Harbert Community Church, the New Buffalo Elementary School and River Valley School in Three Oaks, MI.
She has taught seasoned artists as well as adults with no previous experience. People who were told “they had no talent” when they were 8 years old, are especially responsive to the alternative techniques and experimentation in the class.
She retired from the Chicago Architecture Foundation as Director of Communications. She splits her time among Philadelphia, Chicago, Lakeside, Michigan.
Hugh Stevens has assisted his wife during collage classes for the past 20 years. He is a poet and an artist. A graduate of Northwestern University, Northwestern University Law School, and the University of Chicago, he served for more than twenty years as an assistant public defender.
Dance for Hunger
Monday, July 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (In-person)
Join Anne Burnell for a fit and fun dance class while helping the Fourth Presbyterian Church Social Services Center! Free for CLL members with the donation of two non-perishable goods.
Anne Pringle Burnell is an award-winning teacher and international presenter. She created programs including: Peyow™ Aqua Pilates, Stronger Seniors™ , Funktional Barre, StretchTension, Plank Challenges, Water Ballet Stretches, Pilates Breathwork for Covid, Ai Chi Unravel, and Seated Adaptations and more. The Rehab Institute of Chicago conducted case studies on her program and published findings in AKWA Magazine 2015. Anne has authored several articles and instructor manuals, as well as being a Continuing education provider for both fitness instructors and therapists. Anne is a professional singer and the current President of Chicago Cabaret Professionals.
Lake Geneva Trip
July 28, 9:30-6:30 p.m. (In-person)
Cost: $75 for CLL Members, $100 for Non-Members
Join us for the perfect summer day trip! We will travel by coach bus to downtown Lake Geneva for shopping, strolling by the lake, or whatever you’d like! Lunch will be on your own at one of their many restaurants or bring your own. Then we’ll board the Grand Belle of Geneva for a guided ice cream social boat cruise. We’ll learn all about how many wealthy and famous Chicagoans spent their summers. Guests must be able to travel on their own or bring someone to assist them.
August
Beyond the Headlines: Understanding Today’s News
Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Hybrid)
Cost: $20 for CLL Members, $30 for Non-CLL Members
Sally Sachar will dig deep into public policy and current events and how they are being covered in today’s media landscape. This fascinating class is sure to produce conversation. Sally spent nearly 30 years in Washington, DC working in public policy and leading nonprofits in education and health. After moving to Chicago, she founded the Ibis Collaborative, which leads public policy and current events discussions with older adults locally and nationally. A former presidential appointee, she held senior roles at the U.S. Department of Labor, including Deputy Chief of Staff and Associate Assistant Secretary for Policy. She also runs a consulting firm focused on strengthening nonprofits and small businesses.
Summer 2026 Dates:
August 13 and 20
Ice Cream Social
Friday, August 21, 2:30-3:30 (In-person)
Cost: Free
We had such a great turnout last year that we’re doing it again! Yes, we will be enjoying some cool treats as we chat...and who knows what else we will do? In the case of inclement weather, we will be inside, because August is a great time for ice cream!
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