Join Dr. Raik to learn about: Protecting Your Brain: What New Research Says You Can Do to Lower Dementia Risk.

Learn about various health issues: what they entail, symptoms, prevention, and suggestions for healthier living w/Gerontologist Dr. Raik.

Dr. Raik spent 40 years practicing and teaching geriatric medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and its associated medical schools. She has just retired from clinical work but continues medical student teaching.

Step into 1956 New York City with this delightful romantic comedy created by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green. Ella Peterson, a meddlesome switchboard operator at "Susanswerphone," can't resist getting involved in the personal lives of her clients—eventually falling in love with a struggling playwright who only knows her voice. Highlighted by iconic songs like "Just in Time" and "The Party's Over," it is a warm, witty tribute to mid-century Manhattan charm.

Paul is a lifelong musician, music educator, & performer based in Connecticut. Named after Paul Stanley from the band KISS, he grew up surrounded by music and started playing guitar, piano, and drums at a young age. He runs his own teaching studio & teaches at a local high school.

Paul performed everything from jazz & classical to video game music and Broadway-style cabarets. He enjoys exploring Connecticut, going to concerts, & sharing his love of music. His classes are interactive, upbeat, & designed to bring music & great stories to life!

Join Maegan for weekly classes focusing on the achievements of women in all fields of life!

Maegan is an editor and French translator by profession. Both of these positions allow her to work with writers, artists, nonprofits, and businesses worldwide. Her work combines two passions: helping people build relationships through communication and learning new things.

Maegan moved to NYC in 2011 for the Publishing and Digital Media program at NYU. She was excited to discover an online community center for older adults--something she had longed to see in her home city of Montreal while working for HelpAge Canada. She has been leading VSC classes ever since and cherishes the bond she shares with the participants over women leaders throughout history and their influence on our lives today. She loves to spend time in nature and has two small dogs, Cindy and Tucker (who sometimes pop in on classes!)

Tired of sifting through piles of unwanted emails? Join Johanna in this friendly, easy-to-follow session, you'll learn how to create filters to organize your inbox, unsubscribe from or block unwanted emails for good, and how to manage emails across popular platforms like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo.

Join Johanna of Smarter Service for Tech tips, including using your device, surfing the internet, using email, and many more relevant tips to keep up with today's technology trends. Johanna brings over a decade of experience in the tech industry and a true passion for helping older adults navigate technology and build confidence.

Originally from Texas—a place she still fondly calls home—Johanna now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband of over 12 years and their three beautiful children. When she's not spending time with her family, Johanna enjoys baking and decorating cakes!

Join Justin to learn more about how the body's muscles and bones work together to create the movement that allows you to sit down, walk, and lift things up.

Justin is a medical student at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, where he studies how technology and health systems can support healthy aging. He is from Brooklyn and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University. When he's not studying for school, he spends his time with his family and reading narrative non-fiction.

Join Anna to gain a better understanding of how the body uses Food as Fuel. We will discuss specific macro and micronutrients, as they relate to the treatment of chronic diseases. We will experiment with creating healthy, easy, fun, and delicious recipes that you will want to make over and over again!

Anna DiMaggio, MS, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist with over 25 years of experience in the field. She is a specialist in Nutrition for older adults and offers evidence-based, easy-to-understand Nutrition and general health information, and LIVE Cooking Workshops. Her true passion lies in understanding the interconnectedness of Food as Fuel and Medicine, & how that relates to Chronic Diseases. Her mission is to empower Older Adults with the knowledge, motivation, & kitchen skills that help them live their happiest and healthiest Life.

A judge gets the whole story and all the time in the world. A bystander gets ten seconds and a bad angle. Some weeks we'll read real court cases, talk through the facts, and see how each one was decided. Other weeks we'll watch hidden camera scenarios and ask a harder question: would you have stepped in? Bring your reasoning. Nobody has to agree.

Christa is a writer and MSW student (intern) with a background in clinical research and end-of-life work. They spent previous years working with older adults at an eye doctor, and at a memory clinic doing Alzheimer's research.

Join Susan and the Tour Guide at a vast array of amazing cities in the US and the World as they guide you to landmarks and iconic sites. The Tour Guide will comment on what is happening as it’s occurring in real time. There's no experience like it!

Join Josh for early standards, classic folk songs, and other laid-back acoustic music from across the ages, plus some stories that tie them all together. The child of a high school band director, Josh was raised in a musical family, taking up piano and drums before the age of 5.

A multi-instrumentalist today, he mostly plays guitar and sings, often for his two young children. Josh lives in Los Angeles and volunteers regularly with Musicians On Call. He loves to share music with the world and hopes you'll join him for a fun hour of songs!

Famous for its beauty, long neck, and graceful swimming, the swan is treasured by many world cultures due to their traits and cultural symbolism. Join Denise for this presentation, which will explain what those are - join us!

Denise worked in various libraries as a librarian for 35+ years, retiring in 2018. After retiring, she wanted to get more involved with her community, so she now volunteers at her local Senior Center, school lunch program, and various other organizations, including the VSC! Denise spends time with family, reading, crocheting, and cooking when she's not volunteering.

Glenn performs as an old-school singing cowboy, complete with colorful costumes and a repertoire of country and western favorites from past decades. Together with his wife, Suzanne Smithline, he performs in the family-friendly rock and roll band "Squeaky Clean," which appeared for many years on Nickelodeon's "Eureeka's Castle."

Glenn performs an hour of well-loved songs ("anything that you can sing wearing a cowboy hat"), occasionally shares a corny joke, and provides updates on the family. Over the years, he has come to know the favorite songs of many participants. There is always a welcome mat and a "Howdy" for newcomers.

Join Anna for a friendly and uplifting conversation where we will explore good news from across the globe. Together, we'll discover heartwarming acts of kindness, exciting scientific breakthroughs, community successes, environmental achievements, and other positive developments that don't make the mainstream headlines often enough. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn something new, share your thoughts, and connect with others. Everyone is welcome; join us for some good company and a dose of good news!

Anna is a proud New Yorker with more than 20 years of experience and a Master of Social Work (MSW) student at Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work. She enjoys discovering stories that connect us across cultures and generations. Passionate about lifelong learning and meaningful conversation, she looks forward to sharing positive news from around the world and creating a welcoming space for connection, curiosity, and discussion.

Join Michael to discuss Surviving Near-Death Experiences: Reflecting on Probabilities, Destiny, And The Divine. Have you had this type of experience?

Michael has built a career for more than three decades, involved in municipal public health administration and finance. He remains permanent in his civil service tte.

Besides being a Facilitator at VSC, Michael volunteers as a Docent at the Museum of Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side in NYC, as well as a voting volunteer with Bellevue Hospital's Community Advisory Board.

Join Lisa to learn about yourself by tuning in to your ‘soma,’ which is defined as your body when experienced from within. Somatic yoga is a yoga practice that uses a mindful approach to movement called “somatics.” It prioritizes thoughts, feelings, and body awareness over form. The process is what matters, not athletic proficiency.

Lisa has been teaching mindful practices in NYC for about 20 years & was certified in 2021. This same year, she completed her certification in Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapy with Sundara Yoga.

More recently, she completed a certification with the HeartMath Institute in Trauma-Sensitive Healthcare & several certifications in Interpersonal Neurobiology w/ Dr. Dan Siegel. This prepared Lisa to develop class curricula for oncology, general medical & psychiatric patients in her connection to Weill Cornell Center for Health & Wellbeing. Lisa lives w/her husband, Seán, & they care for their dog, Finn MacCool. She enjoys nature & enjoys concocting in the kitchen!

This is a supportive, discussion-based group focused on emotional well-being, connection, and reflection. Each month, we will explore topics related to stress, relationships, life changes, self-compassion, and personal growth in a calm and respectful space.

Participants are invited to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable. There is no pressure to speak, no right or wrong answers, and no judgment. This group is about listening, being heard, and reminding ourselves that we are not alone.

Daniela is a volunteer group facilitator with the Virtual Senior Center. She has a background in social work and a strong interest in emotional wellness, connection, and creating spaces where people feel heard and supported. She is really glad you’ve joined the class and is honored to share this space with you.

Grief, Lightly is a gentle space to explore loss in all its forms—people, places, experiences, and roles. Our goal is to find more joy without burying our grief. We’ll talk about how grief ebbs and flows, how reminiscence can help, and what to do with those folks who keep telling us to “get over it.”!

We’ll take a look at how grief is shown (and sold) in our culture and at movies, music, and figures like Yo-Yo Ma, Lena Horne, Anderson Cooper, and Coretta Scott King for what they have to say about grief and loss. Think culture and conversation, not crying and Kleenex, though those are okay, too!

Anna Kruse is an MSW student at Columbia and a Master’s in Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary. She has led groups for people experiencing all kinds of life transitions. Having lost many people close to her, she knows what it’s like to feel like you’re doing grief wrong! She believes storytelling, community, laughter, and practical care can help create more joy.

This is an excellent class for students with mobility issues. All welcome – We will focus on physical movement, flexibility, balance, and breath work. This gentle form of yoga is practiced in a chair. Some standing poses will be practiced.

Cristina is a SoCal native seeking to expand her yoga practice among several specialized groups, including senior communities.

Join Natalie for this seated class. You will move your feet to the beat & dance out patterns, rhythms, & movements that will make your whole body come alive!

The music will inspire you & bring back memories from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, & 80’s. Working in a chair is more balanced & stable in a non-weighted position to let your arms & legs dance & flow freely. You’ll dance in your socks so we can move the different parts of the foot to be aware of your full body potential.

Natalie has over 30 years of experience teaching dance and fitness as an adjunct professor, dance teacher, and instructor for all ages. After earning her doctorate and Dance for PD® certification, she developed adaptive classes for individuals with physical limitations, including chair-based movement. She works with people with Parkinson’s, MS, dementia, and autism. Natalie directs the Rutgers Dance for Parkinson’s program and teaches inclusive dance and neuroscience courses.

Join Tim to learn what landed near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. Did aliens invade America from outer space? Was it a weather balloon or an alien spaceship? This controversy sparked a host of conspiracy theories alleging government contact with extraterrestrials.

Tim graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science from Carson-Newman College in 1980 and from law school, with honors, at the University of Tennessee in 1984. He worked with a regional bank, managing a real estate investment fund for retirement plans.

Until retiring in 2019, Tim worked for over twenty years as a self-employed consultant, dealing with issues related to new retail developments and major remodeling projects.

Join Barbara for Chair yoga movements done with breath. The class is designed for anyone to participate. No experience necessary, and there will be modifications offered if needed. The goal of the class is to help you relax and enjoy movement!

Barbara started her yoga journey in 2010. She studied and received a 200-hour teaching certificate at Yoga Sutra, NY. She additionally received a 700-hour teaching certificate and a 50-hour Vedic Chanting certificate at The Yoga School, NY.

Join Alice to discuss the impact of current events and cultural trends on our daily lives. Discussions of current topics ranging from what's going on in schools, to the internet and our privacy, to fashion, to scientific breakthroughs in Israel, to how what's going on in China affects us. News items are interspersed with travelogues from trips taken around the world.

Formerly a corporate attorney building and financing major pipelines, storage terminals, and power plants, and negotiating derivatives documentation, Alice now takes history classes through Northwestern University and Florence Melton, practices tai chi, plays mahjong, and indulges in an addictive travel habit. She has visited and photographed places on all seven continents (yes, including Antarctica). Alice also avidly follows the Chicago sports teams and thoroughbred horse racing.

Fall is a season of change, harvest & preparation, a time to notice what we have gathered, what we want to nurture, and what might sustain us through the months ahead. In this fall series, we’ll talk about the people, places, memories, routines, pleasures, and relationships that nourish us; what we’re learning about ourselves as our lives change; where we’re finding joy, gratitude, comfort, and connection; and what we want to carry forward or perhaps let go.

There is no set agenda from week to week. We’ll use the season as a starting point and make room for whatever is happening in our lives now: the ordinary, the difficult, the funny, the meaningful, and everything in between.

Anna is a midlife dual-degree M.Div./M.S.S.W. student at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia School of Social Work, now in the final year of her program. Her work focuses on pastoral care, narrative practice, grief, transition, and creating spaces for connection, reflection, storytelling, and meaning-making.

Join Anna to discuss the ordinary and extraordinary physical challenges of later life, and the adjustments, routines, humor, and wisdom that help.

Anna Kruse is a midlife Master’s in Social Work student at Columbia and a Master’s in Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary. She has led groups for people experiencing all kinds of life transitions. She is an avid reader, walker & traveler. She believes storytelling, community, laughter & practical care can create joy and meaning.

Join Lisa to learn about yourself by tuning in to your ‘soma,’ which is defined as your body when experienced from within. Somatic yoga is a yoga practice that uses a mindful approach to movement called “somatics.” It prioritizes thoughts, feelings, and body awareness over form. The process is what matters, not athletic proficiency.

Lisa has been teaching mindful practices in NYC for about 20 years & was certified in 2021. This same year, she completed her certification in Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapy with Sundara Yoga.

More recently, she completed a certification with the HeartMath Institute in Trauma-Sensitive Healthcare & several certifications in Interpersonal Neurobiology w/ Dr. Dan Siegel. This prepared Lisa to develop class curricula for oncology, general medical & psychiatric patients in her connection to Weill Cornell Center for Health & Wellbeing. Lisa lives w/her husband, Seán, & they care for their dog, Finn MacCool. She enjoys nature & enjoys concocting in the kitchen!

Grief, Lightly is a gentle space to explore loss in all its forms—people, places, experiences, and roles. Our goal is to find more joy without burying our grief. We’ll talk about how grief ebbs and flows, how reminiscence can help, and what to do with those folks who keep telling us to “get over it.”!

We’ll take a look at how grief is shown (and sold) in our culture and at movies, music, and figures like Yo-Yo Ma, Lena Horne, Anderson Cooper, and Coretta Scott King for what they have to say about grief and loss. Think culture and conversation, not crying and Kleenex, though those are okay, too!

Anna Kruse is an MSW student at Columbia and a Master’s in Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary. She has led groups for people experiencing all kinds of life transitions. Having lost many people close to her, she knows what it’s like to feel like you’re doing grief wrong! She believes storytelling, community, laughter, and practical care can help create more joy.

Alan leads classes combining history with literature and has thought-provoking conversations about both! Alan was a lawyer and an investment banker. In 2010 he obtained a Masters degree in Literature/History. He then also became an Author.

Join Barry to look at and discuss paintings, sculpture and decorative art in and around New York, the museums and other places in which they are found. Our goal is to learn a bit more about art and enjoy it a lot.

Barry is a retired attorney who has since March 2020 taught the VSC's “Exploring and Enjoying Art” class. He had been a volunteer at ArtWorks NYC, giving virtual art classes to NYC 4th graders and conducting tours at the Metropolitan Museum.

At the dawn of the 1860s, the country is facing a crisis around slavery, and amid threats of secession. After the failures of several presidents before him, can Abraham Lincoln provide the leadership people need?

Steve has been teaching American History with VSC since 2018. He has had varied careers as a lawyer, Peace Corps Volunteer, and educator. He taught high school social studies in New York City and retired in 2023 from working in administration with the NYC Department of Education, working with high schools in the Bronx. Steve is married with two grown sons, two dogs, and three cats!

Are you surrounded by clutter? Either a little or a lot? Do you wish you could use your dining room table to eat off of and not be a catch-all for stuff? Then come to this class...and bring your clutter!

Felice will motivate you (who are we kidding, the push!) to start saying "Buh-bye!" to your clutter during class. She will also offer great tips for doing it on your own if you want.

Felice is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and professional organizer with extensive experience helping people get rid of stuff and live the lives they want.

Marty Supreme meets The Queen’s Gambit in bestselling author Ben Mezrich’s next smash, Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess. Mezrich, master of the non-fiction thriller, joins us on the book’s publication to talk about this true story of the modern chess world’s most explosive scandal.

Already in development by A24 following a fierce bidding war, with Nathan Fielder to direct and Emma Stone producing, Checkmate tells the 2022 story of 19-year-old American chess prodigy Hans Niemann’s defeat of world champion Magnus Carlsen in a stunning live match, and the bombshell cheating allegation and high-stakes investigation that followed.

Hear Mezrich talk about his dive into the cutthroat world of competitive chess, how a centuries-old game became a billion-dollar industry, his career-spanning fascination with young savants who tango between ambition and abuse in their quest for success, and more.