Fox Run Residents Look Forward to Attending On-Campus Presentations

During the year that Larry and Martha Wright were on the Priority List for Fox Run, an Erickson Senior Living community in Novi, Mich., they attended a number of events on campus, including six presentations by the Center for Continuous Learning (CCL).

These talks were just one of the many reasons why they made the move to Fox Run nearly a year ago.

"The idea of having CCL means that residents are continuing to challenge themselves intellectually. And the subjects they cover aren't fluff; the speakers talk about significant topics," says Larry.

Since settling into their apartment home, the Wrights have attended many more CCL programs and a number of other activities.

"Fox Run is a vibrant community!" he says. "There are a lot of events here."

Up and running

The CCL program began in 2005, when a group of Fox Run residents worked with the Community Resources and Marketing departments to bring speakers on campus.

Shortly after, the community's first lecture was held: Dr. Frederic S. Pearson, a professor of political science and former director for the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Wayne State University, spoke on the Iraqi Election.

Resident Dr. Joslen Letscher, who remembers the talk fondly, has been involved with CCL since the early days.  

"They decided it was something that would be helpful not just for residents, but also to people who might be considering coming to live at Fox Run--so they could see what kind of intellectual activities we had," she recalls.

Because of the enthusiasm surrounding on-campus educational programs, the next couple of years led to the official founding of the CCL with an elected chair, officers, and a staff liaison.

Knowledge for a crowd

Joslen, currently a member of the 12-person CCL committee, notes that while the talks were originally held in rooms around campus, they became so popular that all events were moved to the Performing Arts Center once it was built.

"Anywhere from one to two hundred people attend CCL each month," says resident Jo Ann Cline, also a CCL committee member.

Visitors are not only welcomed but encouraged. Residents can bring up to two friends, and Priority List members are invited as well.

College-level learning

Previous CCL presentations have touched on topics from art and politics to animal welfare science.

Wendy Evans, lecturer for the Department of Art and Art History at Wayne State University, visited campus to present "How to Look at Art With the Eyes of an Artist."

"Attack From Within--How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America" by Barbara McQuade, professor at the University of Michigan and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, was a popular event.

Bruce Zellers, teacher at Greenhills School and special lecturer at Oakland University, gave a talk called "FDR and the New Deal: FDR and the Art of Presidential Leadership."

"Advances in Animal Welfare Science at the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS)" by Dr. Grace Fuller, Director of Animal Welfare at the DZS, caught everyone's attention.

Open to feedback

After the speakers finish presenting, residents can ask questions. "The speakers are really impressed with our audiences. They will say how much they like coming here because of the questions and the back and forth that goes on," says Jo Ann.

Following each presentation, attendees are encouraged to fill out a short evaluation. If a speaker was particularly popular, the CCL may invite them back, as long as they can speak about another topic.

The CCL committee has an ongoing list of future speakers, and they get suggestions from attendee evaluations.

"We try to find speakers who someone has heard before. We don't want to just pull them out of the air," says Jo Ann, with a laugh.

That's because CCL strives for the best!

"CCL events help everybody learn and grow," says Joslen. "The discussions are quite enlightening. They continue to provide fuel for further learnings of related topics."

Residents who have to miss a presentation they're interested in can watch the recorded version on Fox Run's in-house television channel at a later date.  

Staying active

Joslen, who is excited to celebrate CCL's 20th anniversary next year, continues to be impressed with how invested her neighbors are in education.

"Fox Run residents really want to learn!" she says. "It keeps me active and thinking about what's happening in the world today."

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