ALP Preview Meeting
Dates: Thursday Sept. 10th. 2026
Time: 9:30 to 11:30
Location: Seabury Chapel
Single Session Classes
| FSS-01 CT Foodshare's Produce Trucks - Seabury Heritage Room Dom Piccini, Director of CT Foodshare's Agricultural Program * , 9/25 * 1:00-3:00 Dom Piccini leads CT Foodshare's Agricultural Program, using Freight Farms hydroponic trailers to grow fresh produce and expand access to nutritious food for food-insecure communities across Connecticut through innovative mobile farming and local partnerships. | ||
| FSS-02 Democracy Today: Challenges and Possibilities - Seabury Chapel Miles Rapoport, Former Secretary of the State and Director of 100% Democracy * , 10/1 * 1:00-3:00 Democracy in the United States seems powerfully challenged right now. There are claims that the elections are rigged, and there are worries about potential interference in the elections coming up for the midterms. Where does all of this stand, and what can we look for? At the same time, we have longer terms, structural challenges that distort our elections and make people wonder if participation matters. The outsize role of money in politics. Gerrymandering and redistricting. Low levels of voting participation. Misinformation and AI's power. Are there ideas on how to fix these flaws? And can we hope to succeed? These issues, both immediate and long term, will be the topic of this important discussion. | ||
| FSS-03 Prisoner Rights - Seabury Chapel Stephen Pevar, Professor at Yale Law School * , 10/5 * 1:00-3:00 The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that persons convicted of crime and sent to prison nevertheless retain certain constitutional rights in prison. These include the right to adequate food, clothing, and shelter. Stephen Pevar, during his 45 years on the National Staff of the ACLU, filed more than 50 "conditions of confinement" cases in federal court on behalf of prisoners seeking to protect these rights. Mr. Pevar will discuss the rights that prisoners retain, using his cases as examples. | ||
| FSS-04 Revisiting The Age of Innocence in Cynical Times - Seabury Heritage Hall Jane Barstow, PhD, Professor Emerita, University of Hartford * , 10/6 * 10:30-12:00 Edith Wharton wrote her 1920 Pulitzer Prize winning novel in a gentler, less satirical mode than previous works. In her mid-fifties following the end of the war, the deaths of close friends, the lingering aftermath of a passionate affair, she experienced a degree of nostalgia for the old New York of her childhood but also a degree of hope in the brash, less cultivated younger generation. We will look at the novel in the context of Wharton’s life and art, her ongoing critique of American society, and her portrayal of men and women seeking to lead meaningful if limited lives. | ||
| FSS-05 The Triumphs and Tragedies of Mount Everest - Zoom Teleconference Mallory Howard, Assistant Curator, Mark Twain House and Museum * , 10/9 * 1:00-3:00 There are many reasons why people decide to tackle the monumental challenge of climbing the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest. The highest point on Earth. We will take a look at some of the tragedies that have befallen climbers over the years as well as some of the inspirational accomplishments. | ||
| FSS-06 King Philip's War (1675-76) in the Connecticut River Valley - Seabury Heritage Hall Sarah Sportman, PhD, CT State Archeologist * , 10/15 * 1:00-3:00 FSS-06 King Philip's War (1675-76) in the Connecticut River Valley | ||
| FSS-07 "Chronic Diarrhea" and Travelogue: China--"Off the Beaten Track" - Seabury Chapel George Wu, MD, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, UCONN * , 10/19 * 1:00-3:00 A lecture with Dr George Wu "Chronic Diarrhea" and Travelogue: China-"Off the Beaten Track" | ||
| FSS-08 The Construction of Upper Body Protheses - Seabury Heritage Hall Robert Reiger, Retired corporate executive in the chemical and electronics industries * , 10/26 * 1:00-3:00 Join us for an inspiring look at how technology and compassion come together to change lives. This course introduces e-NABLE, a global network of volunteers who design and 3D print prosthetic hands and arms for people in need, especially in underserved countries. The presenter, a retired corporate executive with a background in engineering and electronics, will share his personal journey into 3D printing after retirement. Over four years, he has created and donated 34 devices to children and adults. Come and see how one person's skills can make a remarkable difference. | ||
| FSS-09 CT Beaver Dams and AI - Seabury Chapel Evan Zocco, PhD Student, UConn Department of Natural Resources and the Environment * , 10/27 * 10:00-12:00 Evan Zocco's research uses drone imagery, remote sensing, aerial imaging, and deep learning to monitor changes in wetlands and floodplains. He is particularly interested in how beavers influence hydrology, vegetation, and ecosystem dynamics across landscapes. His work develops computer-based mapping methods that help identify and track environmental change over time. | ||
| FSS-10 Astrophotography - Zoom Teleconference Jeffry Mitton, Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado * , 10/29 * 1:00-3:00 Professor Mitton's "dedicated astro-camera" explores an incomprehensible vastness. Its pinpoint tracking of light depicts events such as the remnants of a supernova explosion named "Jellyfish" which is 5,000 light years away and 70 light years across. Jeff's photography has captured the "Ghost of Cassiopeia," and the Whirlpool Galaxy, 31 million light years away and canvassed among the 100 billion stars of the Milky Way. Jeff will describe his equipment and the planning that precedes a photographic outing. | ||
| FSS-11 Everyday Decisions: A Peek into the World of Probability and Statistics - Seabury Heritage Hall Jon Dixon, MD * , 11/3 * 1:00-3:00 Probability and statistics should not be thought of as boring or abstruse branches of mathematics. On the contrary, they can be useful as simple aids to rational, everyday decision-making. This session will review some very basic but easily understood concepts utilizing real-life examples and probability puzzles. Audience participation, while totally voluntary, will be encouraged. You might think you are a math dummy, but you will still have fun. Absolutely no math experience is required, just some curiosity. You might also gain a new perspective on intuition. | ||
| FSS-12 Anatomy of a Federal Murder Trial - Seabury Heritage Hall Robert Frost, Attorney * , 11/13 * 1:00-3:00 Based on an actual Connecticut federal murder case that ended in a mistrial and eventual dismissal, this presentation offers a first-hand look at the challenges and courtroom dynamics of defending a person accused of a serious crime. Participants will gain insight into the federal criminal justice system and the role of defense counsel. | ||
| FSS-13 Making Your Voice Heard in Dark Times - Seabury Chapel Christine Palm, Director, The Active Voice; and former state legislator * , 12/4 * 10:00-12:00 Making Your Voice Heard in Dark Times: A Citizen's Guide to the Untapped Power of State Government explains, through concrete examples, how "ordinary" citizens can have a powerful role in protecting our democracy. As the federal government goes further into authoritarian practice, state governments -- especially here in Connecticut -- have enormous power (thanks to the Tenth Amendment) to protect its citizens. Participants will learn how they can play a critical role in this. |