Classes and Workshops

Yoga:  Move your whole body through a complete series of seated and standing yoga poses. Chair support is offered to safely perform a variety of postures designed to increased flexibility, balance and range of movement. Restorative breathing exercises and final relaxation will promote stress reduction and mental clarity.

Requirements: Wear loose clothing     Class size: 10 min/30 max        Instructor: Laura Lerman
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am             Room:  First Congregational Church

Belly Dance:  A Middle-Eastern dance fitness class that will get your body moving.  You can expect to learn Tribal, Egyptian, Lebanese, and North African dance style and technique.  Benefits include strengthening and toning your body and relaxing your mind. Participants can purchase course materials from instructor.

Requirements: Wear loose clothing   Class size: 10 min/20 max  Instructor:  Stephanie Carr
Time:  11:45 am—12:45 pm                 Room:  First Congregational Church

Meditation:  In this course we will explore the various techniques of meditation. Learn and develop the practical skills of mindfulness and meditation, including methods for (a) deepening concentration and (b) responding skillfully to physical pain, stress, and difficult emotions and thought patterns.

Requirements: Wear loose clothing     Class size: 10 min/30 max        Instructor: Vernice Daniels
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm             Room:  First Congregational Church

Sing Out! (Men’s Multi-Style Singing Group):  Come sing with us! Join in the joy of group singing as we sing great music from the Swing and Be-Bop eras, as well as Blues, Doo-wop and Motown. The instructor is Alina Morr from the Grammy-nominated jazz group Straight Ahead.

Requirements: All skill levels are welcome     Class size: 8 min/25 max        Instructor: Alina Morr
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm             Room:  Orchestra Hall

Advanced Fitness: Have fun and move to the music through a variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of movement, and activities for daily living. Handheld weights, exercise ball, elastic tubingwith handles and chairs are utilized.

Instructor: John Barber Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am   Room: First Congregational Church
Class size: 15 min/30 max

Tai Chi:   Provides an opportunity for participants to learn the ancient Chinese form of moving meditation and relaxation while creating balance between the mind and body. The flowing dance-like movements are able to improve muscular strength, flexibility, joint movement, balance, and cardio-respiratory fitness.

Requirements: Wear loose clothing   Class size: 10 min/30 max   Instructor: Bobby Calhoun
Time: 10:15am-11:15am                      Room:  First Congregational Church

Zumba Gold:   A dance fitness class that will get your body moving to Latin and other genres of music. You can expect to hear fun & festive music that will inspire you to dance, walk in place and move your hips and arms while standing or sitting in a chair. The benefits include improving your physical and psychological health.

Requirements: Wear loose clothing Class size:  10 min/30 max   Instructor: Sheila Gerard
Time:  11:30 am—12:30 pm                Room:  First Congregational Church

Art and Design 101:   Be yourself and DO ART. Explore your possibilities in drawing, painting and collage. This course is for beginners and those who want to review working with the process in art-making. Course goals: working with a variety of materials to understand what is possible; gaining self-confidence; and learning about artists past and present.

Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm      Class size: 9 min/15 max           Instructor:  Nancy Wolfe
Room:  First Congregational Church

Theater:   This class will provide the opportunity to explore aspects of theater performance and production.  Through various theater techniques, such as improvisation, oral history and storytelling, the group will develop and share their creativity with an audience.

Time:   10:15 am—11:45 am       Class size:  6 min/10 max         Instructor: Assata Haki
Room:  First Congregational Church      Supply fee per term:  $10.00

Drums Alive: Golden Beats –   This class is a drumming and movement workout this is specifically designed to enhance emotional and cognitive health as well as social engagement.  Class meets May 31 – August 9

Time: 9:00 am-10:00 am   Class size: 10 mini/20 max    Instructor: Meida Ollivierra
Room:  First Congregational Church  Requirements: Wear Loose Clothing

Gentle Yoga:   Gentle yoga for all levels of abilities. We will do seated and standing poses, with floorwork being optional. Plenty of helpful modifications will be suggested.  Gain flexibility, balance, range of motion and even muscular strength.

Time: 10:15 am-11:15 am   Class size: 15 min/30 max    Instructor: Trina Campbell
Room:  First Congregational Church

Fine Arts:   Learn the skill of printmaking, collage, figure drawing, mandala making, and painting self-portraits. Students are able to learn and create in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere that welcomes all who are interested in self-expression and using their imaginations.

Time: 12:30 pm-3:00 pm        Class size: 10 min/ 20 max        Instructor: James Puntigam
Room:  First Congregational Church                  Supply fee per term:  $10.00

Introduction to the Black Bottom Community (In partnership with Society of Active Retirees (SOAR)

This lecture will explore the expanse of the City of Detroit known as the Black Bottom community including Hastings Street, Brush Park, as well as the area known as Paradise Valley. The course examines equity and social justice in the community, considering the primary roles of race/ethnicity, housing, space and socioeconomic status. It is within this context that we study evolving African-American culture. Music (blues, jazz, gospel) along with theater, visual and performing arts embody the black experience in Black Bottom. This lecture will use documentary history, scholarly sources, and personal narratives to explore the connections to equity and social justice.

Friday, September 27  /  10:15am – 12:15pm

Instructor: Dr. Caroline Campbell    Location: Hannan Center

Class Size: 15 min/35 max  Cost: Free

Detroit’s Black Bottom – Mini Course (In partnership with Wayne State University)

Hannan Center and Wayne State University are offering a six week mini course on Detroit’s Black Bottom community. Participants will meet on Wednesday mornings in October and November with Wayne State students enrolled in a course on research writing. Together, Hannan participants and WSU students will discuss, learn and write about the historic Black Bottom community. As part of the course, Hannan participants will write short narratives and creative pieces that will provide source material for a 2020 production by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Community Jazz Ensemble.  Wayne State students, who will be learning to conduct primary research, will interview Hannan participants about their experiences and memories of the Black Bottom community as part of their semester research projects.

Wednesdays, October 2 – November 6  /  10:00am – 11:15am

Instructor: Dr. Thomas Trimble    Location: Hannan Center

Class Size: 12 min/25 max

The Why, How and Impact of Reparations (In partnership with Society of Active Retirees (SOAR)

This presentation will provide an overview of historical circumstances and events that give rise to claims for reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans. Consideration will be given to the manner in which reparations might be given as well as how the society may be affected. Mark P. Fancher is the staff attorney for the Racial Justice Project of the ACLU of Michigan. Through his work he addresses police violence and police misconduct; employment discrimination; racial harassment and racial violence; racially hostile educational and employment environments; and problems in the criminal justice system.

Thursday, October 15  /  10:00am – 12:00pm

Instructor: Mark P. Fancher, ACLU of Michigan  Location: Birmingham Temple

Class Size: 10   Cost: Free

*Transportation will be provided by Lyft at no cost to participants 

Essential Oils 101

Essential Oils 101 is an introduction to using essential oils. In this 4-week workshop you will learn how essential oils can be used for every aspect of your life. You will also learn what essential oils are, how they are manufactured, and why all essential oils are not the same. The grade of essential oils matters. You will leave this workshop with basic information to get you started and an appetite to learn more.

Fridays, October 4 – October 25  /  11:30am – 1:00pm

Instructor: Trina Campbell      Location: First Congregational Church

Class Size: 10 min/20 max   Cost: $10 Materials Fee

Bead and Wire Jewelry Making

This two-part workshop will teach participants how to create basic earrings and necklace designs with bead and wire. At the end of this two-week workshop participants will leave with their handmade jewelry ready to wear and a gold box to store their pieces.

Tuesdays, November 12 + 19  /  10:00am – 12:00pm

Instructor: Rosemary Summers  Location: Hannan Center

Class Size: 8 min/12 max   Cost: $10 Materials Fee

Health and Wellness Craft Workshop

This workshop will include four sessions, each with a different focus on health and wellness.  The crafts produced from this workshop will benefit participants by relieving aches and pains, assisting in relaxation, and providing a fresh beverage option.

Session 1 – Make Your Own Heating Pads/Cold Packs

Session 2 – Aromatic Bath Salts

Session 3 – Fruit and Herb Infused Beverages

Session 4 – Plants in Painted Pots

Tuesdays, October 8 – October 29  /  10:00am – 12:00pm

Instructor: Marcina Mills Bowers  Location: Hannan Center

Class Size: 10 min/25 max   Cost: $10 Materials Fee