As we age, it may seem more challenging to do things that support our creativity. My Mom found this program for those 55 and better, and she has really been enjoying it. Mather offers classes on Zoom and in person to craft a community and build connections.

On the days I drive her to class, they invite me to participate. We recently went to two amazing workshops at Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. One was the creation of fabric art and the other was a poetry writing class. The teachers are really amazing and gently keep us all on task. The tour guides are wonderful, and the guests and artists we learn about have been incredibly inspiring. What’s also inspiring is the other attendees. When we share at the end of class it shows how many truly brilliant people there are out there.

If you are visiting with friends and family for the holidays, ask if they know about the Mather Programs. The classes are free and materials are included for all in-person programs and all online participants who reside in Illinois. It’s a way to help us keep that spark of vitality and age well.

Art is healing… and I believe creativity is key to deterring things like dementia and degenerative illness.

Here is a little from Mather’s website about the classes:

Looking for ways to connect, have fun, and try new things from the comfort of your home? Check out a wide range of complimentary discussions, hands-on art projects, guided wellness classes, and more. One thing these offerings have in common: they provide endless opportunities to explore.

We are proud to offer an environment at Mather for adults 55 and better to find opportunities and resources to age well wherever they live. Our thoughtfully designed initiatives help spark creativity and curiosity, prompt meaningful connections and conversations, and, most importantly, foster a powerful sense of community with ever-changing options that can be accessed in communities across the country. Every Mather program is complimentary, easy to join, and provides helpful instructions and resources; the only decision left is when to start.

Download our latest calendar of free programs.

MAKE CONNECTIONS IN PERSON

Great creative and Age Well together in your neighborhood! Join us for a variety of in-person programs across Chicagoland, and make lasting connections. All those 55 and better are welcome, and all programs are free of charge.

Browse & Register

JOIN OUR AT-HOME ARTISTS GROUP

Sign up for a complimentary Do-It-Together (D.I.T.) Art Kit and receive materials and step-by-step instructions to create six unique fiber arts projects, delivered to your door. Plus, join weekly online meetups!

Available to Illinois residents 50 and better.

Learn More

A VARIETY OF ONLINE PROGRAMS

Mindfulness meditation. Art discussions. Brain health. Log into one of our signature virtual programs and discover personal growth and mastery, meaningful impact, and connections among participants.

Browse Virtual Offerings

Mindfulness and Brain Health

Learn how to boost your brain health, try yoga, or become more mindful in your daily life. Follow the link below for details and a selection of upcoming dates.

Browse & Register

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can have medicinal, relaxing, and rejuvenating effects. Choose from a variety of programs discussing essential oils, flowers, and herbs and their medicinal and health benefits. Necessary materials will be sent ahead of time at no charge.

Browse & Register

Discussion Groups

Join us to learn about and discuss topics from forgotten women of history to the surprising stories of famous artists and artworks!

Browse & Register

Movement and Dance

Let’s focus on the physical—our breath, bodies, and balance. Guided sessions offer a chance to stretch, exercise, and even dance!

Browse & Register

At Ahimsa, we use a lot of dreaddontdie photography. Here’s a little bit more about the artist and ways to connect if you like his work.

dreaddontdie is a personal portfolio designed and developed by me, Kevin M. Gates. I'm a 43 year old husband, father, photographer, designer, developer and Chicago native. I created dreaddontdie in 2001 and invested hundreds of hours to showcase my technical and creative skills.

photography

My LOVE for photography started unexpectedly in 2001, after buying my first digital camera. over the years, travel, events and fatherhood transformed photography into a true passion. In recent years, I've photographed two weddings, produced a music video and have 20+ prints on display at the Microsoft office in Chicago.

education

I started high school at Lincoln Park but eventually dropped out and enrolled at prologue alternative h.s. to earn a diploma. before graduating in 2000, my teacher told me about i.c.stars, a paid business, leadership and technology training program. after visiting i.c.stars to learn more about the program, I bought a book to teach myself HTML. I spent part of the summer building a website for my high school and falling in love with web development. Later that year, I formally applied to i.c.stars, showed them my school's website and was surprised to be 1 of 10 accepted out of 300+ applicants.

i.c.stars

i.c.stars truly changed my life. Writing code felt like a grown-up version of Lego and I was hooked. during my 3 month internship at i.c.stars, I met an amazing person from Microsoft who graciously mentored me and sent me books to read. After completing i.c.stars and interviewing, I started working at Microsoft in January 2001 shortly after turning 20 years old.

microsoft

I started as an Associate Technology Specialist focused on Office and Windows until joining the Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Chicago as a Datacenter Manager. over time, I shifted to an Office 365 Specialist, delivering executive briefings and architecture design sessions for Microsoft's largest customers. I was later promoted to technical director, but after 14 years in the MTC, it was time for a change, so I transitioned to a Global Technology Strategist for Accenture, Avanade and Aon.

In august of 2016, I returned to my technical roots as a Cloud Solution Architect for Azure in the Global Partner Solutions division, helping customers and partners build applications using Azure.

community

Over the years, I've strived to inspire the next generation by mentoring, speaking at numerous events and hosting thousands of students & adults at the Microsoft office for tours, career talks and workshops.

social

You can find me on instagram, linkedin, github, youtube, istock and adobe stock.