Waterbury Campus Receives Special Grant

By: Justin Verrier

Posted: 9/18/06

The Osher Foundation of San Francisco recently awarded the UConn Waterbury campus with a $100,000 grant that will fund a lifetime learning program.

"Lifelong learning is about a broad range of activity," said Brian Chapman, who has been appointed to head the program. "I consider it to be from birth until death and is all about active adult learners."

After getting funds from the Connecticut Community Foundation as seed money, the Waterbury campus won the very competitive grant and became one of nearly 100 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii to host the Osher lifelong learning programs.

An assessment was done in the area prior to the submission of the grant application that showed the program may have a great chance of success.

"Retirees, who are likely to have spare time and are interested in learning everything from landscaping to financial management, are a key audience," said a UConn press release announcing the grant. "The assessment found that more than 120,000 people living within 50 miles of the campus are more than 50 years old."

Chapman, an assistant director for the College of Continuing Studies at UConn Avery Point, has a strong background in adult education and feels his strong focus on community outreach is what won him the job.

He will look to use his background as he says his number one goal is to build a strong community that brings together people of all races and socio-economic status.

"It's a great way to really connect with the community and for Waterbury to showcase itself," Chapman said.

And he'll be counting on that community not only to attend some of the new adult education classes, but also to teach them.

Chapman is currently tracking down citizens around the area to come and share their knowledge with fellow Waterbury residents. As of Thursday, teachers are lined up for classes on taxation for retirees, a class based upon the representation of Italians in American films and, tentatively, an architecture class.

"In addition to resources from our high caliber faculty, we plan to use our community of extraordinary people," Chapman said. "They are a great resource."

There are also partnerships in the works with the Mattatuck Museum and the Palace Theater in Waterbury for interactive learning experiences.

Although the program will not be fully operational until next year, the Waterbury campus will hold a preview of things to come starting on Oct. 20. There community members can get their first glance at Chapman's program with sample lectures and discussions.

Aside from these one-day events, Chapman has invited the subjects of the film "Been Rich All My Life."

The movie is based upon five 1930s showgirls who came back together in 1985 and have been performing to packed crowds ever since.

With ages ranging from 84 to 96, firstrunfeatures.com said, "Director Heather Lyn MacDonald has created a loving, stereotype-busting portrait of age-defying women who have never wavered in their love of dance or of each other."

"There will be tears in people's eyes," Chapman said. "People retire and no one ever hears about them. But this movie really highlights those people."