Daytime Speakers

Spanish Conversation for Cognitive Well-Being: Advanced Class

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 4:00-5:30pm

On-going Wednesdays 

This course is designed to provide a stimulating and engaging environment for individuals interested in learning Spanish while promoting cognitive health. Through interactive conversation activities, this course aims to enhance mental agility, memory and linguistic skills, all while fostering social connections and cultural understanding. In this 6-week course, participants will explore daily conversational topics. Your instructor, Señora Bartlett, will guide you through various activities and exercises designed to challenge your brain, improve language proficiency and keep your cognitive abilities sharp.

Señora Carla Bartlett is a native Spanish speaker and also fluent in Italian. She has been teaching for over 30 years at the high school and Adult Education levels. She holds a BA from U of M-Ann Arbor and a MASTERS Art of Teaching.

It's a Grand Life. Thriving as Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

Craig Nash, Grandparent and founder of “It’s a Grand Life”

Craig Nash will share his story on how he and his wife, Kathy, became guardians of their granddaughter in 2022. He’ll share how he decided to turn his pain into a purpose by starting a podcast called, “It’s a Grand Life” to provide subject matter experts for Grandparents raising their Grandchildren (GRG). After gaining insight into the number of grand families and their financial challenges, he launched a 501c3 in 2024 to assist GRG make ends meet. He will also provide data on the explosion of the number of grandparents raising grandchildren across the country and the impact they have on the economy. Craig will provide insight into his work with Generations United, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults through intergenerational programs and public policy. 

Landscape in the American Imaginary: History, Legend, and Superstition in the Films The Witch and The Revenant

Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

Robert Burgoyne, PhD Thursday, May 14 at 1:00 pm Cost: Complimentary members / $5 guests Robert Burgoyne is a writer, speaker, and podcast host whose work centers on the ways film engages with the historical past. In this talk, he will discuss two films that explore the historical past from a disconcerting, deeply unfamiliar perspective: Robert Eggers’ The Witch, set in Puritan New England of the early 1600’s, and Alejandro Inarritu’s The Revenant, set in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800’s. The imagery of landscape in these two films, in particular, the imagery of the wild forest, draws into view older but still potent systems of belief concerning nation, race, mystical belief and the natural world. Both films evoke worlds that are charged with supernatural possibility, chiefly associated with the dark woods of the wilderness, portrayed as a place of both dread and renewal. Dr. Burgoyne served as Professor and Chair in Film Studies at The University of St Andrews in Scotland, and as Professor and Chair of English at Wayne State University. If you are a film fanatic and like to delve deep into themes, historical context, etc., this program is for you!

It is highly recommended that you see both films prior to the May 14th lecture. Next will be showing them on the following days: The Witch: Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00 – 5:30 pm The Revenant: Wednesday, May 13 at 4:00 – 6:30 pm 

Eating Healthy for Healthy Aging

Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 12:00-1:30pm

Halle Saperstein, Registered Dietician 

Join Halle Saperstein, Registered Dietitian at Henry Ford West Bloomfield, for a session on how better nutrition can support healthier aging. Halle will discuss how our appetites and body composition change as we get older, how to eat nutritiously through these changes, and how to make “smart swaps” to make sure you’re eating great-tasting meals and snacks that are still good for you. She will also cover the fact vs. fiction of current nutrition trends – including high-protein and “fiber-maxing.” A light lunch will be served.

Thank you to Henry Ford Health, our Wellness and Health Partner!

Financial Crimes & Fraud Prevention- Presented by FBI Detroit

Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

The Federal Law Enforcement Agency will discuss the most current frauds and scams, how they are perpetrated, warning signs to watch for, how to protect yourself, what to do if you or someone you know is victimized, and how A.I. is used in scams. You won’t want to miss this! Generously sponsored by Shaun Shaya, Shaya Realty (brokered by KW Domain).

A Home Safe and Beautiful - Inside and Out

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

Mike Smela, Handyman

This program will create a discussion around prepping your home for a beautiful spring and summer. We'll talk about many things including walkways, foundations and quick repairs. Which projects are DIY and which projects should be left for the professionals? Join us!

The World Through the Eyes of a Traveling Artist

Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

Julie Dawson - Artist, Author, Photographer & Traveler

Birmingham watercolor artist, Julie Dawson, will give a presentation about her wonderful world as an artist. Much of her subject matter comes from extensive travels with her husband, Peter. She has traveled through 100 countries, 50 states, and all seven continents. Her work has been shown in more than 87 one-woman exhibitions, and appears in collections around the world. Julie will talk about the excitement of her career and travels and tell the personal stories that inspired each of her paintings. Her representational watercolors feature flowers, animals, children, and her geometrically designed kaleidoscopes. Julie also introduces her five children’s books, about The Sillybillies, and her photography coffee table book, Seeing the World Through the Heart of its Bells.

Eastern Market- What's New and What the Future Holds

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

Katy Trudeau has been leading Eastern Market as CEO for over a year and her work speaks for itself. With a Master's in urban planning from Wayne State University and nearly two decades of experience across Detroit's nonprofit and public sectors, Katy stepped into this role with a clear vision: keep Eastern Market a vibrant, inclusive space where small food businesses can grow and Detroit's food community can thrive. From deputy director of the Planning Department to the helm of one of the most iconic public markets in the country, her path has always been rooted in this city.

Fall Prevention for Seniors

Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 12:00-1:30pm

Kory Sheill, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Staying active and independent starts with preventing falls. In this session, Kory Sheill, Doctor of Physical Therapy at Henry Ford Health, will share easy-to-follow tips for improving balance, building strength, and creating a safer environment. Attendees will leave with practical tips to reduce fall risk and move confidently. A light lunch will be served.

Thank you to Henry Ford Health, our Wellness and Health Partner!

Monarchs - A Dwindling Species

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 1:00-2:30pm

Debbie Jackson, Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist 

Have you noticed how hard it is to find a monarch nowadays? Their population is about 10% of what it used to be and like the canary in the coal mine, it's an indication of the perils our ecosystem is facing. Come learn how you can help this lovely creature without investing a lot of money or time. Join us as Debbie Jackson returns to Next and shares her 50+ years of knowledge about this beautiful species and hear how you can get involved to help boost their dwindling population. 

Aging with Strength

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | 12:30-1:30pm

Aaron Wallace, Owner, Balance Your Fitness 

We work hard for our entire lives to ensure a comfortable retirement but how can we make the most out of our health in our golden years? Learn how you can take care of your holistic health to ensure a long and enjoyable retirement!