PLAINFIELD – The Goddard Spark is an upcoming lifelong learning program within the former Goddard College campus.
photo courtesy Goddard Spark
The first residency will occur Friday through Sunday, April 10 to 12, with instructors teaching a variety of classes that recognize individualized learning styles, meet individual needs and fosters community.
The initial courses for the program’s launch weekend are “Introduction to Community Organizing” by Adam Hughes, billed as “A beginner-friendly course designed to provide anyone who takes it with the tools to start building community power back home afterwards like building campaign strategy, power-mapping your community and holding 1-on-1 conversations.”
Hardwick’s Emily Lanxner will offer, “Engaging the Steelband as a Vehicle for Activism.” The class “will look at the history of the steelband in Trinidad as it relates to social activism, with a hands-on experience learning a short tune on the steelband instruments.”
“Star Trek as America’s Self Portrait,” is being offered by Jessie Earl. It is “An exploration of how each iteration of Star Trek reflects the social and political environment at the time of its release by how its progressive ideals are shaped within its storytelling.”
“AC/DC: How to Rock at Adaptive Leadership,” is Nathan Fry and Georgie Darling’s “class using the metaphor of AC and DC electricity to explore the promises and pitfalls of directive vs. collaborative leadership styles and how to balance them for effective, sustainable long term leadership.”
Kat Gordon offers “A class exploring the textile crafts as uniquely a ripe area for marginalized groups to connect and organize through, and a chance to learn about key periods in United States history which fabriculture played a large but overlooked role” in, titled, “Threads of Protest: Fabriculture as a Site of Resistance.”
“De-Mystifying Translation as Writing Practice,” is Mordecai Martin’s offering, which is “A class exploring the practice of literary translation as a valuable skill for writers of all experience levels via readings, discussions, and generative exercises, including exploring the surprising power and possibilities of ‘mistranslation’.”
Each day will have one class in the morning and one class in the afternoon. Each class will run over all three days in two-hour blocks and will continue with the same group and instructor throughout the weekend. Three meals a day and a room on campus also are both bundled into the price for the weekend residency.
“The launch residency aims to cultivate excitement and investment in this reborn form of the Goddard educational philosophy that, like the original Goddard College, inspires its students to bring their own unique ideas and experiences to face the challenges of the modern world,” said organizer Adam Myers.
Learn more and register at goddardspark–org.us.stackstaging.com.
