InterAge at LLI Chesterfield

LLI Chesterfield offers an InterAge program that includes courses, volunteer opportunities, and more! InterAge celebrates the power of connection across the lifespan. It’s about bringing people of all ages together to share wisdom, spark new ideas, and strengthen community bonds. By fostering relationships that bridge age divides, InterAge helps create a culture of belonging, purpose, and growth. LLI appointed E. Ayn Welleford, PhD, as their first InterAge Director and held their first round of InterAge courses in Summer 2025. Anna Buxmann is pursing a Masters in Gerontology and is the InterAge Intern at LLI. 

These course are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome! Please register using the button at the bottom of the page. Thank you!

AD262333 

InterAge Storytelling Workshop for Elders and Youngers

Thursday    

10:00-12:00 

May 14 

Instructor(s): Les Schaffer and Judith Onesty

This workshop will welcome students of all ages to explore how storytelling can serve as a bridge across the age spectrum. Through easy and engaging guided activities, students will uncover personal narratives, family histories, and shared cultural touchstones that connect people across age groups, making this an ideal experience for grandparents and their grandchildren or any adult wishing to share the experience with a younger person. Each class will blend story‑sharing circles, creative prompts, and listening exercises to help students discover common ground, celebrate differences, and preserve meaningful memories. By the end of the workshop, students will have developed a short, shareable InterAge story, practiced inclusive storytelling and active listening techniques, and gained tools to continue meaningful conversations beyond the classroom. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register. All students will be encouraged to register for the InterAge Storytelling course (AD262334).

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AD262334 

InterAge Storytelling for Elders and Youngers

Tuesday    

1:00-2:30 

May 19, 26, June 2 

Instructor(s): Les Schaffer and Judith Onesty

This course will invite students of all ages to come together in a welcoming, creative space to share, listen, and co‑create stories that honor personal histories, cultures, and collective dreams. Through fun, guided activities, students will explore the power of storytelling to build empathy, preserve cultural memory, and spark meaningful connections across generations. This course will extend the work of the InterAge Storytelling workshop (AD262333), though attendance in both will not be required, and LLI members will be encouraged to attend with grandchildren, great‑grandchildren, or other youngers in their lives. Each class will blend conversation, creative exercises, and collaborative projects, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued as students build a collection of shared stories that reflect both the wisdom of experience and fresh perspectives. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.

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EL262109 

Children's Book Review

Thursday    

9:30-11:00 

May 21 

Instructor(s): Rachel and Levi Ramirez

There are countless books for kids to read these days. The Chesterfield County Public Libraries’ shelves are stocked full of options, and Levi has been read over a thousand books already at the age of four. He loves books about dogs, Curious George, Pete the Cat, and any other books with fun characters. He loves the Elephant and Piggie series, Investigators, and Noodleheads. This course will give students an opportunity to share their favorite children’s books with Levi. Levi will also bring his current favorites to recommend to members for their own enjoyment or to share with their grandkids or young friends. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.

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HW262519 

Connecting across Generations: The Turquoise Butterfly

Wednesday    

1:00-2:30 

June 3 

|------Online------|

Instructor(s): Dale Atkins

In this course, psychologist and author Dr. Dale Atkins will return to LLI Online to explore themes from her new children’s book "The Turquoise Butterfly," a story inspired by her mother that highlights the transformative bond between generations. Through the characters of Grandma Sylvia and her granddaughter Victoria, the book reflects on love, courage, grief, and personal growth, offering gentle lessons about resilience, connection, and the grounding power of nature. Dr. Atkins will discuss the ideas that shaped the story, the role of intergenerational relationships in emotional well‑being, and ways families can support one another through change and uncertainty. This course will be a unique interAge opportunity, as students of all ages from the community will be invited to attend and participate in the conversation.

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HW262251 

Brain Power Hour

Thursday    

11:00-12:00 

June 4, 11, 18 

Instructor(s): Rachel Lawson

Challenging the brain is one way to reduce the risk of developing dementia, and interAge interactions are another. Word games, trivia, and puzzles are fun for all ages and offer an easy way to give the brain that needed challenge. In this course, students of all ages will engage and interact with each other through a variety of fun, themed games designed to flex the brain and keep it active. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.

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LE262276 

Balloonology 101

Monday    

11:30-1:00 

June 8 

$8

Instructor(s): Wayne Swatlowski

This lighthearted, hands‑on course will introduce students of all ages to the art and fun of balloon‑making. Students will learn basic techniques, experiment with shapes and designs, and enjoy a relaxed, creative atmosphere. The class will offer opportunities to practice new skills while exploring simple ways to bring joy and whimsy to everyday moments. The course fee will provide the pump and balloons. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.

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CO262235 

Podcasts for All

Wednesday    

1:30-3:00 

June 10 

Instructor(s): Rachel and Lucas Ramirez

There are countless entertainment sources these days. While screentime is the most popular, research shows that it is not the most beneficial. Enter podcasts. Podcasts are an excellent alternative to screentime and have become more popular in recent years with wonderful options from bedtime stories to news, science- and nature-themed shows to hobbies and everything in between. This course will give students insight into the benefits of podcasts for children and adults as well as provide a list of recommendations. Lucas will share his favorite podcasts for kids, such as The Cat in the Hat Cast, Silly Stories for Kids, Gardenkeeper Gus, and Nature Nerds. A few all-age podcasts will be shared with discretion recommended, such as History Daily and Real Survival Stories. This course will also give students an opportunity to share their favorite podcasts. This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.

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EL262108 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Thursday    

1:00-3:00 

July 2 

Instructor(s): Rachel and Lucas Ramirez

Charlie Mackesy began sharing conversations between the boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse on his social media channels in early 2018. He published “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” in late 2019, and the book has since brought comfort and joy to over seven million readers worldwide. In 2022, the short film adaptation of the book was released on AppleTV+ alongside a companion edition of the book: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: The Animated Story.” This course will offer an opportunity for students to view the short film and discuss the book about the characters' journey together and the boy’s search for home. This quote from the author says it all, “I hope this book gives you courage and makes you feel loved. Love, Charlie x.” This course will be a unique InterAge opportunity, welcoming students of all ages from the community; children must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults will need to register.

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