Posted by Rachel Iacino on Apr 29, 2024 in General information and announcements
Spring Into Learning with CFU!
Leisure, Home, Travel and Enrichment
The Art of Travel Photography
Since becoming a professional photographer 7 years ago, Steve Sorenson has won numerous national and international awards for his work and has successfully sold his art. An avid traveler, he has visited all the continents at least twice.
This workshop gives you the practical knowledge to take an award-winning travel photograph. We’ll analyze composition, framing, camera settings, and light. We’ll discuss what would make an image better and when it is good enough. Learn how to plan your shoot, taking into consideration whether the subject moves or is static and how much time you’ll have to set up your shot.
Gardening Classes with Andy Vieth
With a BS in Landscape Architecture from CSU, Andy Vieth has a passion for transforming outdoor spaces. He blends artistic design principles with practical horticultural knowledge in his design
business, Vital Land Studio. Andy serves on the City of Edgewater Sustainability Board.
Xeric (Not Zero-scape) : Creating a Colorado Garden
Xeric gardening is a gardening philosophy based on creating a water-wise landscape that meets the needs of our climate, active outdoor lifestyles, and reduced maintenance, so you can spend time outside having fun. The course will cover xeric principles and ways to implement them at home. We’ll address hot topics such as lawn replacement and share respected and practical resources available across the Front Range to help you find success on your own xeric gardening journey.
Get Growing : Vegetables in Your Summer Garden
It’s never too late to start a vegetable patch! Learn the ins and outs of creating a thriving vegetable garden at home while having fun in the process. This course focuses on foundational principles of organic gardening and building rich soils to grow healthy and thriving plants. You will be able to enjoy and eat the freshest vegetable while also using less water and work over the course of this and subsequent growing seasons. Along the way the course will explore ways to introduce creativity, whimsy or art into the garden to make it something that reflects your own style and tastes.
And check out Andy’s 3-week garden design workshop
“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”—Michael Pollan’s advice to those of us seeking to eat healthy foods and feel good. It’s great advice that actually results in improved health and energy levels – – something that most of us are seeking. Sandra Soule has used this advice for the last seven years, vastly improving her health and stamina, even into her 70s.
People learn by using their senses, so this course allows you to taste a wide variety of healthy foods, see a spectrum of colorful fruits and vegetables, and enjoy the textures and scents of excellent nutrition. You will explore a plant-based approach to healthy life-long eating plans, called Nutritarian diet, developed by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. In addition to tasting wonderful food, in each class meeting you will learn the principles of a healthy plant-based approach to eating and find out how you can make the transition to this healthy lifestyle.
Creativity
Exploring Mixed Media Art
Mixed media is visual art created using a mix of media, or art tools. In this playful course, we explore ways to create captivating pieces using paints, stamps, stencils, and collage elements. As we intuitively play with these various media, we’ll make at least three 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ tags that you can use as bookmarks, gift tags, or keepsakes with poems or affirmations written on the back. You’ll experiment with different combinations of media: first watercolor and stamps, then acrylic paint, stencils, and pen; and finally layering with collage elements.
Lisa MacKenzie’s career was in IT and project management where she conducted many trainings. A lifelong crafter, she has explored many different forms of art. Mixed media and process art uses art in an intuitive and playful way that she finds appealing. She finds it to be more of a fun and free “experience” with art supplies, rather than a means to achieve a specific outcome. Lisa has sold pieces of her mixed media and is eager to share her knowledge and joy with others.
Spontaneous Collage with Tara Witterholt
Sometimes you just need time and space to do something creative. Spontaneous collage is just that! No drawing or art skills needed . With a large variety of materials provided, students create individual collages either intuitively or using instructor prompts. Students leave with projects they can continue at home or bring back for additional sessions.
First Session – Spontaneous Collage – 05/15/2024
Write To Inspire: Creative Writing for Personal Growth
Embark on a transformative journey of self-expression and personal growth through the art of creative writing. In this dynamic course, you’ll dive into the depths of your imagination, discovering the power that words to illuminate your inner world and connect you with others. Each week we’ll take time for a short writing exercise to get us warmed-up and then we’ll explore new avenues of creativity. Discover how to enhance your writing as we explore topics such as:
- Crafting compelling characters and setting
- Exploring narrative structure
- Tapping into emotions
We’ll discuss the importance of revision so that you can refine your work. Students will have the option to share their work for feedback, but it’s not required. Seasoned wordsmiths as well as novice explorers of the written word will find that this course offers something for everyone seeking to unleash their creativity and nourish their soul through writing.
Samy Alkaihal has a Bachelors in English Literature and a Masters International Business. He has been both an educator and adjunct teaching faculty for the last 3-4 years and currently teaches creative writing at Red Rock Community College.
Personal Development & Communication
Inclusion & Belonging
An Interactive Discussion of DEI with Timniyha Owens
Timniyha Owens (they/them/theirs) is an experienced community leader and inclusion consultant who currently serves as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). In 2022, Timnyiha received a Public Service Recognition Award modeling of inclusion at OIT, and was honored in 2023 by the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce as one of its 2023 40 Under 40 Business Leaders.
This workshop invites you to reflect on your own culture and share with others in a conversation intended to build self-awareness, humility, and historical and societal context for our own identities. Contrary to common myths, the fundamental principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) include everyone, regardless of who they are.
Join us for a conversation that has the potential to enlighten you and inspire your journey toward awareness, compassion, and change.
Love is the Answer
LaToya Matthews is author of two books, one of which is Love is the Answer-Love Is Your Superpower that she provides students in class. LaToya Matthews is known for her expertise and wisdom. Bringing humor and honesty, she is a sought-after voice for women’s conferences, college events, church programs, youth rallies, and national seminars.
Self-love involves treating yourself with kindness, compassion, and acceptance. By embracing your flaws and imperfections, you can start to forgive yourself and let go of self-judgment. This acceptance of self creates a foundation for self-esteem and healthy relationships. In this workshop you’ll get tools to enable you to heal emotional wounds and release resentments. Discover how to deal with stress and anger and focus instead on your own strengths and assets. Experience the transformative power of self-love.
Vibe Tune Up with Peter Hughes
Consider how your thoughts, words, and actions are either an asset or a liability–expanding or limiting our thriving potential. In this powerful hour-and-a-half Vibe Tune-Up session, participants are introduced to a series of performance-enhancing life-shift tools designed to align us with our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health and wellness. From here, we do an assessment of current affairs; personal, local, and global, with the intention to shift our perspective and align us with generating conscious, intentional, and sustainable results.
Peter j. Hughes is a master life-shift facilitator with twenty years of on-the-court experience leading workshops and classes, and coaching private clients. People who have worked with Peter, no matter their background, beliefs, or relationship to spirituality, are touched by the light and love that he emanates. Peter’s delightful and often wicked sense of humor, bull’s-eye direct yet loving guidance, and “wildly insightful” old-soul wisdom, get to the Heart (and Soul) of the matter and reframes access to your thriving-potential.
Thought Field Therapy with Jill Strunk
Rapid Self Help for Emotional Problems
Jill Strunk is a practicing psychologist. She was trained in Thought Field Therapy in 1997-1998, including training in advanced levels of TFT with the founder Dr. Roger Callahan. She has taught TFT in a variety of settings. Her clients find it a powerful tool in managing emotions and enhancing well-being.
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is an energy-based form of therapy. It alleviates emotional distress through tapping points on the bioenergy meridians in a specific sequence. Different sequences are used for different types of distress. A typical TFT treatment takes less than five minutes and can alleviate phobias, fear, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, unnecessary guilt, anger, rage, shame, embarrassment, obsessive thinking, compulsive behavior, panic, or physical pain. You can easily learn TFT and use it anytime you want to reduce negative emotions. Research provides scientific validation for the positive effects of TFT without reports of negative side effects. This workshop will include theory and explanation of TFT treatment, along with demonstrations and practice
Classes with Tara Witterholt
Collage For Clarity
Most problem-solving starts with a logic-based approach. Why be limited? – Tap into all your brain! In this workshop, we use simple collage techniques and collaborative conversation to get out of our heads and access more of our problem-solving capacities. Students bring a current dilemma or decision and learn a new tool to strategize solutions and expand possibilities. This workshop is designed to get creative first and make impactful changes as you work through problems or decisions with creative approaches that diminish regret.
An IT professional for over 25 years, Tara Witterholt also has extensive art leadership and decision facilitating experience. She has led collage workshops privately and through her work for the past several years. She might just help you discover the breakthrough you’ve been seeking.
First Session – Collage for Clarity – 05/05/2024
Spontaneous Collage
Sometimes you just need time and space to do something creative. Spontaneous collage is just that! No drawing or art skills needed . With a large variety of materials provided, students create individual collages either intuitively or using instructor prompts. Students leave with projects they can continue at home or bring back for additional sessions.
First Session – Spontaneous Collage – 05/15/2024
Practical Spirituality in an Impractical world
The word “spirituality” means different things to different people, but what is it exactly and, more importantly, how does it apply to our everyday lives? In this workshop we’ll look at the threads of truth that run through the many of the world’s faiths and see how we can apply those truths to our everyday existence. We’ll examine what the mystic traditions have to say and explore what enlightenment is and how one achieves it. We’ll look at how to bring peace and balance into every aspect of our life by learning how to look at ourselves and others in a more divinely conscious way. Author and researcher, Jeff Danelek, culling from the writings of many of today’s best known spiritual teachers, offers strategies you can apply when the concerns of the world threaten to take your “inner light” away. Explore ways you might engage in a deeper walk with spirit. Class is for novices and “old souls” alike.
Planning for your future
Retirement Red Zone
How to Avoid the Potholes and Pitfalls
Bob Coulson retired from three careers (military, manager, and minister) and lived in two retirement communities. He is a Certified Retirement Options Coach™ and Certified Senior Advisor©. An optional, personalized Life Options Profile – Retirement Roadmap and one hour of personal coaching is available from the instructor for $65.
The “retirement red zone” is 5 to 10 years before and after your
retirement date. It is the critical time for smart financial planning
because decisions made during this period will significantly impact the
longevity and quality of your retirement lifestyle. The potholes
(unexpected challenges) include: the risks and costs of healthcare,
custodial care, market flux, inflation, taxes, insurances, and invisible
mortgage. The pitfalls (strategic oversights) include the risks and
costs of your life span, withdrawal errors, tax bites, investment
safeguards, optimizing Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, and Veterans
benefits, and “what if” estate planning. To navigate the retirement red
zone, it is crucial to be aware of the potholes and pitfalls and how to
avoid them, now. The “retirement stuff no one ever told you, and wish
you knew” we will cover.
Do’s and Dont’s of Estate Planning
Unlock the secrets to securing your family’s future in this interactive estate planning class. Led by a seasoned attorney, this comprehensive session delves into the intricacies of estate planning, from wills and trusts to probate and trust administration. With expert guidance and compassionate insight, you’ll discover how to navigate the complexities of legacy planning with confidence.
Ilya Lyubimskiy, founder of Premier Legacy Law, brings a wealth of experience in estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and trust administration, as well as business formation planning. Ilya has crafted comprehensive estate plans, from simple wills to complex trusts, while providing compassionate guidance to clients as they navigate their roles as personal representatives or trustees.