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Growing Up in the Shadow of the Mafia

January 21

Gino Felicetti, son of a Mafia member and author of The Devil’s Choice: Costa Nostra Chronicles, will join us from Sicily via Zoom to discuss the Costa Nostra he grew up in and it’s influence in Italy and the US.

Are We Sliding Toward Authoritarianism?

February 4

Harry Litman, Former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania; ConstitutionalLaw Professor; Legal Analyst on CNN, MSNC, CBS and BBC.  He is currently writing on Substack after resigning his 14-year career at the LA Times in protest over the owner’s interference in journalistic freedom. He will be joining us via Zoom.   

Life on the International Space Station

February 18

Dr. Tracy Caldwell Dyson, CSUF alum and astronaut will join us via Zoom.  Come hear the amazing story of her numerous space flights and what it’s like to live on the Space Station for a year — including when 2 astronauts unexpectedly are detained on your voyage for months.

A People’s Guide to the OC

March 4

Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times columnist, and former editor of OC Weekly, and author of the books Orange County: A Personal History, Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, and ¡ Ask A Mexican!. He will be discussing his book A People’s Guide to the OC.  Come learn about the “other” history of the OC — beyond Disneyland and Knott’s and orange groves lies a history of oppression, resistance, and struggle.                     

The Immigration Crisis

March 18

Jackie Menter, Director of Refuge and Resettlement Services at Jewish Family Services of Long Beach and Orange County (previously HIAS) and Hector Villagra, Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Education at MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense Fund) will discuss the immigration crisis in the US and internationally resulting from the US crackdown on immigration. Recent US immigration policy changes have left refugees stranded in refugee camps around the world and undocumented workers and students in the US afraid to go to work or school and afraid to leave their homes. Come hear from experts dealing with this crisis at home and abroad.

Trans is NOT a Choice. We Were Born This Way

April 8

OLLI’s own Debbie Gonzalez will lead a panel discussion of parents discussing the challenges their children and families have faced during transition. They will be joined by Dr. Alan Cortez, Kaiser-Permanente endocrinologist, to discuss the pros and cons of puberty blockers and other treatments for trans youth and adults. 

April 15

No class

Porto‘s Bakery: From My Mother‘s Kitchen in Cuba to a Southern California Success Story

April 22

Beatriz Porto, CEO of Porto’s Bakery and daughter of the founder.  You’ve probably enjoyed their pastries — now come hear the family’s incredible success story.