Founded in 2002 by John Henderson and Zane Robertson, this Denver-based educational organization, brings affordable seminars to the public. Active Minds® started as a series of poetry classes in a church basement, according to its founders. Today, over 30 instructors bring varied programming to over 200 organizations and hundreds of attendees, hungry for information and conversation on relevant topics.
Active Minds® presents at series sponsored by organizations as varied as The Tattered Cover, Denver’s well-known independent book store, assisted living residences, retirement communities, and churches of every denomination. While many of the audiences at Active Minds® programs are comprised of Boomers and those over 65, most audiences are varied. In some cases, attendance is a multigenerational family affair. Driven by the belief that lifelong learning is central to a life well-lived, the programs offered cover a spectrum of topics from Afghanistan to chocolate, Lincoln to the World Bank. “The whole idea,” says Robertson, “is to provide rich topics that people can sink their teeth into.” Everyone walks away feeling a bit smarter and more conversant.
This week, for example, Active Minds® has presented seminars entitled "Water in Colorado," "Olympics," and "Chocolate and Coffee." On Thursday, February 11, Active Minds® presents on Abraham Lincoln and South Africa. See schedule details. All the events listed currently are free to attendees.
The organization also provides “class notes,” additional reading suggestions and a resource section on its website with listings on home care services, health and wellness, and financial planning, among others. Active Minds® selects experienced instructors who have relevant background, strong teaching skills, and a passion for the mission, and trains them with their methodology.
Gardens at St. Elizabeth, a residential community for seniors in Denver, hosts Active Minds® seminars with some regularity. After a recent presentation, resident Kathy W. noted that “this is the most valuable program we have…I wish we could have it more often. The instructor is breathtaking in her delivery, her memory and her preparation on all subjects.” Another resident, Dorothy T., commented that “whatever topic the instructor discusses , it is always done with great knowledge, respect for the audience, and a thought-provoking style.”
Robertson shared a story of a woman who instructed her daughter before her death to mention in her obituary that attending Active Minds® seminars was one of the activities she enjoyed most in her later years. “This story,” he said, “takes the idea of lifelong learning to an even deeper level.”
Elizabeth Kelsen-Huber, District Program Coordinator at Douglas County Libraries, writes that “the feedback from patrons was overwhelmingly positive” regarding the program they sponsored a while back.
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Kathryn writes and speaks on a variety of topics, including aging, caregiving, and independent living. She is also Denver Disability Examiner and Denver Mobility Products Examiner. Contact for inquiries and suggested future topics. Select "subscribe" at the top of this article to receive Kathryn's posts on a regular basis.
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