In-Person

Truth Tellers is a documentary film chronicling the lives of courageous Americans fighting for peace, racial equity, environmental justice, and Indigenous rights through the eyes of Robert Shetterly, a long-time activist and artist.

The film explores the intersection of these issues, stressing the urgency of coming together to confront them and galvanizing our resolve to uphold our country's founding ideals.

Artist/activist Robert Shetterly has painted 255 portraits of Americans, past and present, who had the moral courage to confront issues of social, environmental, and economic justice. These Americans Who Tell the Truth have been exhibited throughout the United States for almost two decades. Truth Tellers is both a story of Shetterly's art and activism and a history lesson in what it means to be a citizen of a democracy.

March 19, 2025, March 26 Snow Date

10:30 am - 12 pm

Location: Education Center, room 112

Doug Rawlings taught at UMF for 27 years and is a co-founder of Veterans For Peace.  He has known Rob Shetterly for years.

In-Person

The Crusades were military expeditions launched between 1095 and 1291. They were organized by European Christians to recover the Holy Land from the infidels. Enthusiasm for crusading was high in the twelfth century but diminished with the decline of papal authority and the stirrings of the Protestant Reformation.

The era of the Crusades was distinguished by a variety of personalities: kings, queens, emperors, and princes. The events are the basis for mythologies, legends, and countless novels (usually very poor history but entertaining). In this class, you will be introduced to some of the interesting participants, the major events, and the influence of the Crusades on the expansion of medieval Europe.

4 Sessions

April 9, 16. 23. 30, 2025

10:30 am - 12 pm

Location:  The Landing, Olsen Learning Ctr, lower level

Charles Parker received a BS in Plant Science and a Master’s in Education at the University of New Hampshire.

Charles and his wife Diane ended up in Joplin, Missouri where he taught chemistry. He also taught at Crowder Junior College in Webb City and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.

What does chemistry have to do with Middle Eastern history? Absolutely nothing. However, when he retired from teaching chemistry, Charles realized a long-held dream of a Master’s degree in history. He attended Pittsburg State University in Kansas and was deeply impressed with the classes of Dr. Stephen Harmon, whose specialty was Middle Eastern/North African history, specifically Middle Eastern and African terrorist groups. His thesis discussed the legitimacy of Hamas. He has taught several classes related to Middle Eastern history and hopes to continue.

In-Person

For only lasting a decade, the 1920s sure made a mark. Learn some history, fashion, lingo, and more in this class. 

May 14, 2025

2 PM - 4 PM

Location:  Education Center, room 112 

Diane Parker, who majored in history once upon a time, is still passionate about it. While living in what she thought was a mundane town in the Midwest, she discovered its history to be not so mundane. The 1920s  were anything but mundane. Bonnie and Clyde had one of their major shootouts there. That led Diane to delve into more history of the decade called The Roaring Twenties.