EBENEZER LIFE LONG LEARNING
Support Arts And Life Long LearningHelp us make a difference in the lives of older adults at Ebenezer. Support arts and Life Long Learning by making a gift online now or by calling the Ebenezer Foundation today at 612-672-7715 . |
"Learning is not a product of schooling but the lifelong attempt to acquire it." Ebenezer Foundation
2722 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 Ebenezer’s Life Long Learning Initiative is a collection of coordinated arts and education programs designed to foster growth and creativity for seniors. Life-long learning is the process of keeping your mind, body and spirit engaged — at any age — by actively pursuing knowledge and experience.
Learning and growing helps everyone at every stage of life, and for seniors, the benefits are endless. Research has shown that with opportunities for self expression and discovery, seniors experience vibrant living, artistic growth as well as improved mental and physical health. Life Long Learning helps our residents stay connected to their world — both locally and beyond. |
Ebenezer offers numerous opportunities for Life Long Learning, including:
Northern Clay Center - Clay classes |
A teaching artist from Northern Clay Center provides ceramic arts classes in partnership with the Ebenezer Ridges Campus in Burnsville. Northern Clay Center is a recipient of a learning program grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board and The Wallace Foundation.
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MacPhail Center for Music - Music for Life program |
Instructors from the MacPhail Center for Music teach participants about music through singing, playing instruments, music composition and patterns. Preschool children from the Ebenezer Ridges childcare program join seniors in collaborative musical experiences. Together the seniors and children learn about music education through this unique program, celebrating creative aging and life long learning.
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Visual Arts
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Many sites offer watercolor and acrylic painting. Resident art decorates our walls and has been featured in a Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) documentary as well as public exhibits and art shows.
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Creative Writing
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Memoir writing and poetry classes help residents record their ideas on paper. The “Make Yourself Heard” project allows residents to be heard, both within the context of their living communities, as well as in the broader community. It combines artistic learning and expression with health-enhancing benefits provided through the purposeful, engaging, creation of personal and group poetry, as well as capturing these special artistic moments on video.“Make Yourself Heard” has taken place at Ebenezer Minneapolis and Ebenezer Martin Luther in Bloomington with Ebenezer Ridges in Burnsville’s program ready to start the end of July. “Make Yourself Heard” is facilitated by teaching artists from Alzheimer’s Poetry Project – Minnesota and COMPAS and made possible through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
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Creative Writing Participant Has Memoir Published
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Evelyn Powell finally got her memoir published. Evelyn participates in creative writing through Ebenezer's Life Long Learning Program. Evelyn has told others in her class, “Writing is the best thing that has happened to me.” She has been in the class since 2007, hardly every missing a class session, and the new book is filled mostly with the stories she has written in the class, plus a couple hundred photos. Evelyn’s accomplishment is a real testament to the Lifelong Learning Program established at Ebenezer.
Her Publication Party (Which also coincides with her birthday) will be February 26th at 10 a.m. in the Ebenezer Park Apartment Lounge. This will be a special event scheduled to present her book and give residents, staff, and anyone else interested in attending, a chance to hear amazing stories. Signed copies will be available for purchase if you like what you hear. For more information please contact Jennifer Rutschke at jrutsch1@Fairview.org |
Continuing education |
Programs include Augsburg’s College of the Third Age, interdisciplinary discussions hosted by retired professors which help educate residents on a wealth of topics ranging from the history of Baroque Europe to multiculturalism and world religions.
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Horticultural therapy |
Horticultural Therapy programs serve more than 300 people yearly with plantings, outings, tending courtyard and indoor gardens, and one-on-one visits. In 2001, it was honored with the Aging Services of Minnesota “Most Innovative Program of the Year” award.
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Spiritual care |
Programs provide residents with the opportunity to explore and celebrate their spiritual self. Staff chaplains are available on our campuses at any time to provide spiritual comfort.
Other programs include monthly presentations on health topics, ballroom dance classes, computer classes and much more. |
