Participants in a “Let’s Talk Current Events” Program, pre-pandemic.

Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (Aug. 25, 2021)-Northern Essex Community College’s Life Long Studies Program, noncredit courses open to adults 18 or older, but especially popular with seniors, will return this fall, after a year-long hiatus, due to COVID-19.

Back by popular demand is “Let’s Talk Current Events”, led by Frank Baggs, and “Tai Chi”, taught by octogenarian Allen Drelick, a certified Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi instructor, who has been teaching at Northern Essex for six years.

New this fall are “The Journals of Lewis and Clark” and “Creative Poetry Writing”, taught by Mary-Ellen Morris, and “Water Collage/Three Dimensional Paper” and “Book-in-a-Box”, led by artist Sandra Golbert, who works in fiber, mostly hand-made paper and hand-dyed silk, to produce sculptures and wall hangings.

Northern Essex History Professor Richard Padova is teaching “The History of Catholic Worship in Lawrence, MA” which will explore Catholic churches in the city over the years, starting with Immaculate Conception, which was the first Catholic Church in Lawrence, opening 175 years ago in 1846.

Life Long Studies Programs will be taught in a classroom this fall, and everyone will be required to wear masks and socially distance. Programs meet once a week during the day and last for the entire semester or half the semester. Tuition ranges from $50 to $119. All courses will be taught on the Haverhill Campus, except for “The History of Catholic Worship in Lawrence, MA”, which is offered in Lawrence.

For a full schedule of Life Long Studies courses offered this fall, please visit the website.

If you have questions, contact Sandy Zappala, program coordinator, szappala@necc.mass.edu.

NECC’s Center for Corporate & Community Education offers noncredit business, professional, career, and personal development courses as well as professional certificates and computer training for individuals and companies looking for cutting-edge skills, by providing the training that is most needed in today’s workforce. For more information email noncredit@necc.mass.edu or call 978-659-1200 or visit us online

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.