It’s hard for Maureen Walsh to say which has been her favorite class from the past five years that she’s taken part in the People Program.
“One of the classes I took recently that I really enjoyed was jazz dance,” said Walsh, who has also studied stained glass, mosaics, yoga, drawing and ceramics. “That class was not only good exercise, but I noticed I was using different parts of my brain to learn the skills and steps.”
Walsh, 67, also said she gained something else.
People over the age of 55 work on a jazz dance routine at the People Program.
“The best things about this program are the social interaction, the intellectual stimulation and the laughs we share,” she added.
The People Program is one of a number of organizations that offer leisure learning opportunities for older adults across the metro area. Read on for information about a number of others, and make 2024 an active one.
Learning and social outlets
Walsh is one of more than 400 hundreds local residents enrolled in the People Program, one of a variety of educational and social opportunities offered throughout the area for adults interested in expanding their knowledge while pursuing a new hobby.
Pat Jacobs practices Christmas songs on the violin during a class at the People Program.
With two locations in New Orleans, 2240 Lakeshore Drive, and 6201 Stratford Place in Algiers, the program was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph five decades ago. It offers more than 175 weekday classes every fall and spring semester, and all classes are led by volunteer instructors.
“Each fall and spring, the program serves 425 seniors in the New Orleans area,” said Scott Wallace, the program’s director. “Of the participants, 25% are African American and over 90% are female, many of whom are widowed or single.”
For $200, participants can attend as many classes as they wish. Some options include music; arts and crafts like jewelry-making, water color and stained glass; fitness programs; violin and ukulele classes; foreign language studies; and dance.
In People Program classes, those over 55 can learn Brazilian embroidery techniques.
And for those interested in classes offered over Zoom, the fee is only $150.
“The program enables valuable social connections for older residents,” Wallace said. “Perhaps the easiest way to say it is that People Program's mission is to combat senior isolation and loneliness one smile at a time.”
For more information and to register for next classes which begin in January, go to peopleprogram.org or call (504) 284-7678.
Martha Bravo paints with acrylics at People Program.
Here are a few other leisure learning programs offered throughout the New Orleans area.
LEARNING BEFORE LUNCH: Meets at 10 a.m. the second Thursday of each month in the Homer Hitt Alumni Center on the campus of the University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans.
This speaker series offers talks about issues on a variety of topics.
“The goal of the group is to provide the community informed and thought-provoking talks that offer perspectives and insights about issues and institutions affecting out daily lives,” said Martha Priska, a member of the group’s board. “Our programs and speakers appeal to the over-50 age group.”
Julie Saputo paints a picture of her daughters with oil paints at People Program.
Programs for 2024 thus far are:
Jan. 11: Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of ”We Cast a Shadow” and ”The American Daughters.”
- Feb. 8: Matt Haines, author of “The Big Book of King Cake”
- March 14: UNO Astrophysicist Dr. Gregory Seab, “The April 8 Solar Eclipse is Coming"
- April 11: Bob Becker, retired CEO of New Orleans City Park, “New Orleans City Park: From Tragedy to Triumph.”
Yearly membership is $25 a person or $30 per couple. To attend a single program, the fee is $5.
For more information, go to learningbeforelunch.com.
THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY: “We are hitting the ground running in 2024 with programs for older adults,” said Janet LeGros, the library's director of marketing.
In January and February, there will be several author events on various topics.
“There are also virtual author talks through the Library Speakers Consortium, wherein authors discuss upcoming and newly released books,” LeGros said.
The library also offers creative writing workshops over Zoom at 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month, as well as several book clubs covering a variety of literary fiction, mystery novels and African American literature.
Additionally, LeGros said there are e-resources for older adults, including videos that cover a number of topics including crafts, language and ancestry.
“All of these are just some of the older-adult-focused programs we will have this year,” LeGros said. “We also have family programs that bring adults and children together such as story times. The library has so much for older adults and more events will be added throughout the year.”
For more information, go to events.nolalibrary.org
THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY: Chris Smith, manager of adult programs for the library, said genealogy classes are among the most popular.
“We have a series of genealogy classes beginning at the end of January, and then I am creating another series that will begin at the end of summer,” Smith said.
“There’s also the American Italian Genealogical Research Center upstairs at the East Bank Regional using the resources there for research. And the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans and the Jefferson Genealogical Society have programs too with guest speakers.”
Gardening is another popular program, he added, with patrons coming in to attend a variety of monthly meetings that include LSU Master Gardeners, two different bromeliad societies, a day lily society, a Louisiana iris society, an Old Garden Rose Society, a camellia society, and several garden clubs that meet regularly.
Ongoing computer programs are also offered at various libraries every month.
For more information, go to jplibrary.net.
FRIENDS OF THE CABILDO: The group will sponsor an adult history class entitled “A History of Carnival,” a four-week seminar via Zoom, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The schedule includes:
- Jan. 15: “The Origins of Carnival Day to Modern Day,” by Dr. Karen Leathem with the Louisiana State Museum
- Jan. 16: “African American Carnival: Origins and Thriving Today,” by Dr. Kim Vaz-Deville with Xavier University
- Jan 18: “Evolution of Mardi Gras Throws,” by Doug MacCash, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com, and “New Orleans Gay Carnival,” by Frank Perez, historian
- Jan. 22: “Satire and Folk Carnival,” Dr. Karen Leathem.
The cost is $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers. For information, call Jason Strada at (504) 523-3939.
JEFFERSON COUNCIL ON AGING: Its 10 senior centers on the east and west banks offer a number of free programs and are open to any parish resident age 60 and over.
Programs include health and wellness classes, arts and crafts, computer and language classes, and pro bono clinics.
Transportation is provided.
For information, go to jcoa.net or call (504) 888-5800.
NEW ORLEANS COUNCIL ON AGING: More than a dozen senior centers are available for residents age 60 and over, offering classes, field trips, and scheduled speakers as well as programming that occurs on a regularly scheduled basis.
To locate a center near your home and find its schedule of events or to learn more about the services offered, call the council’s office at (504) 821-4121 or go to the nocoa.org.
NEW ORLEANS RECREATION DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: The wide variety of classes and programs offered includes cycling, line dancing, tennis, meditation, a senior choir, hip-hop and Pilates.
For more information, call (504) 658-3052 or go to the nordc.org
JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION DEPARTMENT: Programs and classes include art, pickleball, gardening, a bike riding club and fitness are offered through playground locations on both the east and west banks.
Additionally, playgrounds are home to the parish’s Golden Age clubs for those age 50 and up, which offer a number of day and evening programs.
For more information, residents on the east bank, call (504) 736-6999; West Bank residents, call (504) 349-5000; or visit jprd.com.
YMCA OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS: Programs vary by location and include group exercise classes, health screenings, water aerobics and therapy classes.
For information, call (504) 568-9622 or go to ymcaneworleans.org
ST. BERNARD COUNCIL ON AGING: Located at 8201-A West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, the center is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, offering activities for parish residents 60 and older, including darts, cornhole toss, and arts and crafts.
For information, call (504) 278-7335 or go to sbcoa.org