The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is offering several free programs in March that are open to members and the public. The topics directly relate to the local community and Arkansas.

Established at the U of A in 2007, OLLI provides opportunities for seasoned adults to connect through educational courses, special events and social activities.

The free programs include:

Food Insecurity in NWA (NWA Food Bank)

Friday, March 10
10 a.m. to noon
Pryor Center, 1 E. Center St., Fayetteville
Description: Food insecurity is more of a problem in Northwest Arkansas than most people know. A panel of local professionals will discuss the issues and explore how the community can be more involved and part of the solution. Facilitators include representatives from NWA Food Bank Casey Cowan, Chelsea Tatlow and Sabrina Thiede.

Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas with former First Lady of Arkansas, Susan Hutchinson

Wednesday, March 15
1-3 p.m.
Pryor Center, 1 E. Center St., Fayetteville
Description: Former First Lady Susan Hutchinson will be sharing about one of her most impactful initiatives, the Children's Advisory Center. She'll discuss its history and how the centers serve abused children. The non-profit centers offer safe environments to avoid re-traumatizing children. She hopes to see more centers established throughout Arkansas, so every child victim has access to the comprehensive services of a CAC.

Philanthropy in Action — Walton Family Foundation

Friday, March 31
10-11 a.m.
Pryor Center, 1 E. Center St., Fayetteville
Description: The Walton Family Foundation envisions Northwest Arkansas as one of the nation's most vibrant and inclusive communities. Home Region Program Deputy Director Jeremy Pate will share the various streams of work that the foundation focuses its efforts on to strengthen the community and the region. That work includes advancing economic and cultural vibrancy, fostering inclusive growth and a sense of belonging, and supporting community leadership and capacity-building.

Registration is required for each program. To register, send an email to olli@uark.edu, or call 479-575-4545, with your name, email address and the title of the program(s) you would like to attend.

OLLI Seeking Instructors

OLLI is currently seeking instructors and course proposals for the fall 2023 term. Teaching for OLLI allows instructors to present their academic research to seasoned adults in an open-forum classroom setting for in-depth discussions.

Instructors include current or retired U of A faculty, distinguished community members and other experts. Ideal candidates are also graduate students and doctoral candidates actively pursuing independent research ventures they want to share.

It's common for OLLI instructors to donate their instructional time. Along with other benefits, instructors can access resources and tools to support preparation of their course.

Course proposals are reviewed twice a year. The deadline is April 30 for fall courses. If you enjoy teaching and sharing your knowledge with others, contact OLLI at 479-575-4545 or email olli@uark.edu for more information.