 "Photo: Communiversity")
Teach people useful, fun and interesting things and don't charge them more than a few pennies. This is what Communiversity does for UMKC students.
The organization, which opened its doors 35 years ago, offers classes, seminars, services and events that are hard to find anywhere else. Subjects include music and dance, money management, nutrition and social issues like the environment.
Communiversity is affiliated with UMKC through the Student Life Office and is the largest volunteer adult education program in the country. The classes are non-credit and there is a $2 registration fee per semester. This helps cover printing costs for the five catalogs produced each year.
"We are built on the idea of free speech and encourage sharing skills," said Rick Mareshke, director of Communiversity.
Students can volunteer to teach.
"We have a lot of International students who teach a language or a cooking class," he said. "Teaching looks great on a résumé, and sometimes graduate assistantships are offered because you have taught."
The Rev. Susan Peterson, a spiritual leader for Celebrate Life, Center for Spiritual Living in Johnson County, teaches "Developing a Daily Spiritual Practice." She was inspired to create the course nine years ago by her mentor.
"He had suggested teaching as a way to get out there, and now it is a way for me to teach who I am," Peterson said.
The class teaches different principles of meditation and positive thinking.
"I teach because I get to watch students grow," she said. "They clear their mind of the to-do lists and negative ideas to become a better person, which makes a better world."
Larry Bradley, author of "Neither Liberal nor Conservative Be: An Action Plan for People Disgusted by Polarized Politics," offers the course "Election 2008: Getting the Choices You Want."
"I want to change people's perspective about politics by helping them understand principles and outcomes, rather than the candidate's personality or issues that are focused on," Bradley said. "We need to change how we do business as citizens and voters to get what we want instead of what we are offered."
For Bradley, satisfaction comes from seeing the light go on in students' minds when they realize new ways to approach politics.
"In my book, I am not telling you what to do," she said. "I just offer new insights to make political lives more efficient an effective."
Communiversity also offers "Outside the Box," one of the Student Life's Leadership Programs, which focuses on two topics in November.
Visiting professor of political science Dr. Mohammed Hafez will be speaking about his book, "Suicide Bombers in Iraq," as well as the insurgency in Iraq at 11:45 a.m. Nov. 6.
Gerry Buckley has a seminar called "Backpacking Across Europe" at 11:45 a.m. Nov. 14. He and others will offer advice about how to travel abroad and actually afford to enjoy it. Find out where to go and what to expect while in Europe.
Both sessions are free to students and will be in the Alumni room in the University Center. They include a free lunch, so it might be a good idea to pre-register so there is enough to go around.
On Nov. 4, Communiversity will have its ninth annual Wholistic Health Fair in Pierson Auditorium. Come learn how to stay healthy from more than 60 professionals from all over the area for free. At the silent auction, you can bid from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. on gift certificates, nutritional products and a Feng Shui Consultation.
Twenty workshops will be offered including belly dancing, using the Law of Attraction and simple yoga moves. They are $2 each or three for $5 if you pre-register. You can sign up at the fair for an extra fee, but some workshops may fill up.
To register, call (816) 235-1448, or send mail or stop by the office at 5327 Holmes, Kansas City, Mo., 64110. Visit www.umkc.edu/commu for more information.
hshwt2@umkc.edu
