As Tucson’s OLLI lifelong learning program prepares to launch its spring classes, it’s also marking its evolution from a small seniors’ group into a thriving community for adults 50-plus.

Seniors Achieving Growth through Education was started in 1989 by Ed Blum as an informal, volunteer-run program for adults 50 and older. Blum came to Tucson from the East Coast, where he was a member of a lifelong learning center. After spending some time in Tucson, he realized the city was in need of a similar program.

“He was relentless at working to make it happen,” said Program Manager Scott Aldridge. “He definitely left a great legacy for our program.”

As the program grew, it began to formalize its structure.

The group, known as SAGE, eventually joined the national Osher Lifelong Learning Institute network with funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation. It changed its name to reflect its new national affiliation, but the principles remained the same.

“In a lot of ways, (it’s) a ‘healthy-aging program’ in disguise, keeping people engaged mentally and active socially, things you need to age in a healthy way,” said Program Coordinator Betsy Labiner.

With only four paid staffers, OLLI relies on its volunteers. It is a nonprofit affiliate partnership with the University of Arizona, with its own board.

Today, that volunteer energy fuels a wide range of classes and activities.

OLLI offers classes, groups or lectures on a wide variety of topics, ranging from “Remembering the Apollo Program” to “Women of the Wild West,” and including talks about art, literature and hot-button issues like artificial intelligence, tariffs and foreign policy.

The group also offers practical classes on investing, life planning, language skills, knitting and more. Class sizes range from eight to 200.

While most classes are hosted at OLLI’s central Tucson campus at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Wetmore Road, the group has a campus in Green Valley and access to different spaces to accommodate larger classes.

The physical space itself has also played a key role in OLLI’s growth.

When OLLI moved into its Central Tucson Campus about 10 years ago, it became the first dedicated facility in the history of the organization and marked a transition to a true community space.

“It’s not just showing up and taking classes. It really is a community, and that social interaction is so important,” Aldridge said. “You can really just spend your day at OLLI, between classes and socializing.”

And while the Central Tucson Campus remains a hub, the program expanded during the pandemic, offering online courses that have become more successful than anyone expected.

“Many people doubted our ability to go online with an older audience, but being lifelong learners, they jumped in,” Aldridge said. “We actually saved a lot of people during COVID who were stuck at home, and were so grateful to have that human connection, and it’s remained a really strong part of our program.”

The advent of online classes allowed OLLI to expand its programming and grow its membership to about 1,200 people each year.

That growth reflects the strong interest among older adults seeking continued learning. While the program is available for anyone 50 and older, the average member age is somewhere in the 70s.

“They’re generally higher-educated people, people that have had educational backgrounds,” Aldridge said. “I think the thing that’s interesting about OLLI, in terms of the members, is all the life experience they bring. They all come from amazing backgrounds, and it really makes the program come alive.”

OLLI also offers a scholarship program for anyone who finds the membership fee to be a barrier.

Much of that member experience is shaped by volunteers who teach OLLI’s courses.

Volunteers are an important part of running OLLI’s campuses, but they’re also the force behind its offerings each session. Volunteer instructors submit course proposals that are reviewed by a committee.

“The staff is pretty hands-off in terms of what the courses will be from semester to semester,” Labiner said. “It really does…depend on the level of interest.”

While OLLI members already share their love of learning, they also forge relationships and build community around their individual courses and interests.

“The community is something that more than one member has said has saved them at times when they felt really alone, or have felt like they didn’t have anybody who was looking out for them,” Labiner said. “Having the lounge open for people to come have breakfast or lunch together, sit between classes, that is just as important as the classes themselves.”

Members like Donna say the program gives them meaningful ways to stay involved.

Donna worked as a hydrologist for the National Weather Service before retiring four years ago, acquiring a variety of technical skills along the way.

“I like learning and not having homework,” she said. “I don’t necessarily want to teach a class, but I’m certainly glad that I can help out behind the scenes. I can be a campus host, I can be a tech host, which is something that a lot of people aren’t comfortable with.”

Others contribute by teaching classes of their own. Judith Rockey is teaching a class called “The Way We Were” in the spring.

“The premise is that people will send me photos of themselves throughout their lives, like children, teenagers, students, careers, all the way up until current times,” Rockey said. “I’ll show those to everyone, and as we’re looking at the photos (the people) can talk a little bit about things like the highlight of when you were in school or things like that.”

Classes begin Monday, Jan. 26 and run through Apr. 15.

Ruby Maldonado is a Pima Community College student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at rhmaldonado99@gmail.com.

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